Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-11-12
the Innnenee Of tho Pros.


In the event OF Bryan's election to
the Presidency. one of the first cries of
bis campaign managers and Of the few
papers Of distinction that supported his
candidacy would have been about the
lack OF influence on the part Of tho
press. For Bryan Populism was reao-
lutely opposed by tho leading news
papers of tho country, regardless of
their political predictions, and defeat
would have been east as reflection
upon them. But the result shows what
can be effected through tho influence OF
the press Of the country. when practi-
caily united and working for good
| cause.
In commenting upon this feature of
the campaign, the Springfield Republic
can shows that the Mckinley pluralities
were proportionally largest in Now
England, New York; Pennsylvania and
New Jersey, where the press was sub
stantially unanimous on the great issue
OF the day. In Maryland, the press of
Baltimore, formerly divided, was now
10 harmony, and Maryland, an old
time Democratic State, was Republican
by an unprecedented majority. Other
instances of cause and effect are cited
by the Republican as follows:
Beginning with Ohio, the region of
unprecedented majorities is broken, and
it is here that the influential press
begins to be more divided. There were
two widely circulated silver papers in
tho Buckeye State, one in Cleveland
and one in Cincinnati, and it now
appears that McKinlsy's plurality will
finally be about $4,000, or much less
than he received when elected Cover
nor, and less by 10000 than Bushnell
received for Governor last year. The
Cincinnati paper also affected West
Virginia, which was more influenced
however, by the Pittsburg press, and
we find West Virginia Republican by
10000 plurality. Both Indiana and
Michigan had strong, aggressive silver
papers, one in indianapolis and one in
Detroit, and the returns show that the
Republicans carried those States by
pluralities OF not moro than 20, 600 in
Indiana or 80. 900 in Michigan. For
Michigan that is not a great Republic
can lead, since Garfield carried the
State by co. and Harrison four years
ago won it by 22,000 The Indiana
figures may still be reduced by the
latest returns.
But farther West, in Illinois, Wis
consin. and Iowa, the press was as
solid for gold as in any section of the
country, aud here, too, we find in each
State Republican pluralities running
up to or even above the 100, 900 mark.
The gold belt in the Northwest ends
with Minnesota and the two Dakotas,
which are influenced largely by the
press Of st. Paul and Minneapolis,
The silver sentiment in those States
was strong and the Republican plurali-
ties we're comparatively modest yet
such as they were they must be
credited, no doubt. 10 tho influence of
the gold pross of the twin citius.
The silver belt of the United States
may 90 likened to an irregularly
shaped crescent of immense terri torial
extent, yet of sparser population than
the gold belt. 1t begins with Virginia
and sweeps south and up through the
trans Missouri country to the Canadian
limo. Virginia mad an able silver press,
and thus the influence of Baltimore,
Washington and Philadelphia was
counteracted, and Bryan had d comfort
able lead at the home OF his patron
saint, Thomas Jefferson. Throughout
the South tho press was more or less
divided. In some cases, as that OF the
New Orleans Picayune, Galveston
News, and the Louisville Courier
journal, Southern newspapers we're
aggressively for gold, yet the silver
press was strong enough, save in Ken.
| tn .tass H.. 81 ~. Il -
the South below Maryland and West
J Virginia, on tho new issues. kentuck,
ia go extremely close that the power o.
! the Courier-Journal is still splendidly
vindicated, for kentucky is normally {
strong Democratic State.
Tho Republican further calls attention
to the fact that Missouri, Kansas,
Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho
Colorado and Nevada, which wer,
! carried by Bryan, were all largely unde
the influence of the powerful ant
aggressive silver papers of st. Louis
Kansas City, Omaha, Topeka, Denve
and Salt Lake City. In California
whore both parties favored free silve
coinage, the press was stronger on tn
!, side Of sound money, and the State
: vote went that way The sound-mone
i press Of San francisco and Portlan
: saved Oregon to Mckinley, but tho pres
! of Washington fought valiantly fo
. FREQ silver coinage and Bryan carrie
u the State.
- Tho result Of the election was coi
u tainY a striking illustration of tn
. power OF the press. II fought the figh
for sound money and carried the cour
)" try. The Republirau adds. that "ha
;. Mr.. Bryan been elected it would hay
- proved that the press has no real Unfit
- ence at all" but this is an assertio
% that will not be accepted IN full. Sue
- a result would have attested the bin
. folly of the people moro than a tot
"a lack Of influence on the part Of the pres
= Change tho System.
SO The lawlessness and outrage thu