The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1896-07-28

Written for the MEssENeER:-

lS96.-Our national politics have
had some bad mix ups in the
past, out the present indications
are that those who have been
predicting a general breaking
down of old party lines this year
will prove to be true prophets.
1t would seem that the Chicago
convention by the adoption of a
platform advocating many of the
principles of the Populists, and
nominating ex-Representative
Bryan, of Nebraska, who has al
ways in his State and during his
two terms in the House affiliated
with the Populists, for Presi-
dent, has made it reasonably GER
tain that the Populist and silver
conventions to meet at St. Louis,
would endorse his candidacy,
but it is intimated by leading
Populists that such endorsement
depends largely upon individual
pledges yet to be made by Mr..
Bryan himself.
Although Bryan's nomination
was not expected by anybody
probably not even by himself
until the day before it was made,
it is generally admitted that with
the exception of Senator Teller,
who would have been certain to
get the full Populist vote and al
most the entire silver vote, Bryan
is about the strongest man the
Democrats could have put up,
and the fact that he is the young
est man ever nominated for the
Presidency will have a tendency
to arouse great enthusiasm in
his behalf among the young men
of his party. Arthur Sewall, of
Maine, the Democratic nominee
fol- Vice-President, is well known
in Washington, but is compare
lively unknown elsewhere, out
side of New England.
One of the queer things is that
Republicans and silver Demo
Gratis profess to be equally well
pleased with the platform and
ticket of the Chicago convention.
Republicans now confess that
they were afraid the convention
would nominute Teller and ex-
press the greatest confidence in
their ability to defeat Bryan and
Sewall, providing the Populists
and silver conventions do not
endorse them and the boiling Re-
publicans support them. Both
sides say that all they want is a
square fight between the gold
and silver ticket. Whether they
will get that depends largely
upon the action Of the ST. Louis
conventions.
About the only people who do
not profess to be satifed with
the situation are the Cleveland
or gold Democrats. They ack-
nowledge that they are very
much dissatisfied, but when it
comes to telling what they intend
doing they are mum. 1t is be-
lieved to be probable that the
gold Democrats will put up a
ticket of their own in any event,
and certain that they will do so
if the Populist and silver con-
ventions do not endorse Bryan
and Sewall. If there are two
silver tickets in the field they
argue that Republican success
would then be certain and that
they could safely run a separate
gold ticket solely for the purpose
of keeping up their party organ
ization in the Eastern states.
While there are plenty of
Democrats who like neither
Bryan nor the platform upon
which he stands, there also
plenty who are inclined to en-
thuse over both. For instance,
below are opinions expressed by
Democr; is from three States,
now in Washington /: Ex-Cong-
ressman Brookshire, of Indiana (:
II served in Congress with
Bryan, know him intimately, and
prize his friendship. He is one
of the purest men living; the
whole trend of. his nature is
noble, high-minded and honor
able; and his domestic relations
are happy for he is a devoted
husband and father. feel posi-
tive that he can carry Indiana.
Whatever may be said against
free silver, there is no disputing
the fact that the movement has
the people of the West and South
behind it; they are going to rally
around the 16 to l flag, and in
the person of Bryan they have a
leader who will strengthen their
enthusiasm instead of weakening