The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-11-14
The Case of Missouri.

over the country are surprised at the
great Popocratic victory in Missouri,
and inquiries regarding the cause are
coming to US from many quarters.
Two reasons for the sound money de-
feat here exist-tha early start which
silverism got in this State OF silver's
great apostle. Richard p. Bland. and
the fued between the State Republi-
can bosses. The reason first mention
ed is stronger than it may seem. This
State has been q distributing center
when Bland passed the free coinage
bill through the Democratic House of
Representatives that the Republican
Senate changed into Il limited coin
age measure, which was passed over
President Hayes veto. and which be-
came the Bland-Allison act OF Feb
ruary %, 1878. \ good many Mis-
souri, Republicans became afflicted
with the silver dementia. and outside
OF its big cities some of them are af-
fected with it yet, but they are being
cured Of it rapidly.
The wrangles between its rival Re
publican bosses embarrassed the local
! ".rtv ica6n,e and ~.o"iers, acj ":c-
vented the National Committee from
making a serious campaign in the
State. From the beginning OF the
canvass onward until within a week
or two of the election the State was
abandoned by the National Commit
tee almost as completely as South
Carolina or Mississippi, and when.
in the latter part of October, a few
speakers were sent into the State it
was too late to cover the ground and
do any effective work. Had half the
effort been made to capture Missouri's
seventeen electoral votes was made to
win lndiana's fifteen, the %. 600 votes
could easily have been turned which
would have given the State TO Nc
Kinley. But the National Committee
thought from the quarreiS of the Re
publican magnates here that this effort
would be attended with difficulties.
and it was not made. Moreover. the
Democratic and Populist parties cast
, 1000 more votes inalS32 than the Re
publicans. These two parties fused
in 1896 and yet the Republicans have
reduced this 81. 900 lead down to much
smaller figures.
These explanations are rendered
necessary by the good name of the
State. That 10, O0O plurality or what
ever it may turn out 10 be. for Bryan
does not indicate that the standard
OF morality Or education is lower
here than il is in other States of the
North and West. The ignorance and
the vice which We're banded in Bryan's
interest in Missouri shouted and voted
for him also in Massachusetts. New
York, Pennsylvania and in the other
States of the great Northern tier, but
these elements, separately or in COM
blnatlon, are no larger here than they
are elsewhere in the enlightened sec
ton of the country. Missouri has as
good schools, and as many Of them
in proportion to population, as any
other State in the Union. and it mas
as many churches and they arc as
well attended. The statistics ct its
police courts and its lranal ia-tita-
ti;ns how that c3inc !, 10 o ,l.-
va!eEt here than i! IS III Rev. England
or ia New York, wmcrr Bry auiles are
50 scare Ii 20 DC a@%iUS.tiva. In His /
souri, the standard 0f civilization. u
virtue and OF enlightenment: is as high
Is it is in any other locality whatever.
We know that that Bryanite majority
is susceptible TO the Interpretation
"Hich wc coIubat. bat the majority is
Ter th,. rcssuGs which We
haze set forth. Ia" ropr0ach us Fry
&Gism re: jua 20 uuss .4ncss IL, the
ms,;,s. vi llissou"i'5 voters. bat 10
the cusaedaess OF some o. its Repaid
lic&G bosses. and the Republican mas
se5 will see 10 il that this scandal is
removed long before the next Ircsi-
Dental election comes round - lobe
Democrat.