New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-09
WHERE is BRYAN!

Wages and the prices of wheat and corn and
cotton and all other farm products, as well as OF
railroad and other securities, are rising, and the
price of silver is going down, down. From
every part of the country comes the welcome in
tegence that business is reviving; that conf
dence is taking the place Of distrust; that unmls-
taxable signs of prosperity are seen on every
hand Here is a sample Of the good news from
Nebraska: Merchants are buOyant, and without
exception declare that business is steadily I'M
proving Our factories and shops are running
ito their full capacity, notably those OF farm
supplements, the force of employees having been
largely increased, while orders are still rolling
"in at an unprecedented tate. Farmers are
"jubilant and Nebraska Is laughing in her fat
ness" Thus writes W. II. Edgar, of Beatrice.
The marked and happy change in the condi-
ton Of the country, despite the steady fall in the
price of silver, suggests the inquiry: Where is
the Boy Orator of the Platte? Only few short
months ago he was filling large space. Every
body was Informed daily. and several times
day as 10 his whereabouts and movements;
where he spoke and what he said: what he ate
and drank and how he slept and so on. Almost
everybody remembers many things that he said
In the several hundred campaign speeches he de-
lyered especially the assertions that the distress
then existing throughout the country was wholly
due to the closing of the minis Of the United
States to the free coinage OF silver, and that con
fidence would never be restored and prosperity
return until the mints were opened for such
coinage at the ratio Of 10 to l "withOut asking
the aid or consent Of any other nation Mill
ions of his fellow -cOuntrymen believed Bryan's
assertions and regarded his defeat for the Pres
idency as public calamity, and he fully agreed
with them. In turn they sympathZcd with
him. and for some months after the election lie
managed to keep himself well before the public
eye He went right on delivering speeches and
prophesying wherever and whenever he could
find an audience, and all his movements and
utterances were faithfully chrOncled In the
Popocratc newspapers Only two short months
ago they were doing this, and his followers were
repeatlng with CustO the question which he
asked In every speech: where is the McKin-
ley prosperity that was promised us!' and his
statement that he was compelled ito say with
regret that he had been unable to discover any
publications Of returning prosperity"
The chief Popocratic apostle of free silver
and general distress and misery was somewhat
slow to perceive what was happening all about
him. but at last he did begin TO realize that
times were actually growing better-better for
the country. but worse for Bryan and his
theories and prophecies His rhetoric was as
ford. his assertions were as loud and bold. and
he faced his audiences with smile as expan-
sive as ever; but he evidently began to feel Il
lack of confidence in his followers, If not in
himself. The trip to Mexico to lay In stock
of fresh illustrations from actual observation OF
the blessings of debased money standard was
abandoned and one through the silver States Of
the Rocky Mountain region and on to the Pacific
| Coast was planned. There. II anywhere. he
could get new inspiration and regain his self
confidence, and his speeches would arouse the
enthusiasm and applause which are as the
breath Of life to bis nostrils. Alas! the journey
had been deferred too long. What was to have
been, IN certain sense. tyiumphal march was