The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1899-10-14
NEXT YEARS CAMPAIGN.
Attack on American
Integrity.


As soon as the returns of the election
of 1896 came in, with the vast number
of 6,502,925 votes polled for Bryan, 1T
was manifest that though defeated
then he had only to live to be renom-
mated by the democratic party In 1000
and that the issue represented by him
in that election would again be fought
out.
1t was not merely because Bryan had
received about 100000 more votes
than were cast for Grover Cleveland at
his election four years before that his
denomination was inevitabl IL he lived
until the democratic national conven-
ton in 1900, but because also he repre-
scented and embodied spirit which had
taken possession Of the democracy to
the exclusion of any other. He had
been their leader in the hottest and
fiercest campaign of their history, and
had carried them to more radical posi-
tons than had ever been fought for by
great American party. The democ-
racy had been inspired to the greater
devotion to him and the politics he rep
resented because of the very bitterness
of the campaign against them. To bor-
row n phrase coined for Cleveland, he
is loved because of the enemies he
made.
The aggregate vote for Mckinley and
Bryan in 1896 was 13,607,704, or 1884,
CTS more than the aggregate for Cleve-
land and Harrison in 1892. This great
increase in the number of votes polled
at two successive quadrennial elections
was unexampled in American history.
The increase during the whole period
from 1876 to 1892 was only 2,414, 191, or
nearly half million less. The gain of
Bryan over Cleveland in 1902 was ex-
planned by the circumstance that the
populist vote, which was over million
in 1892, went to him; it nearly account
ed for the difference. But the increase
in the republican vote since 1892 was
the most remarkable incident, McKin-
ley receiving 7104,77o to Harrison's
5,176, los, or nearly 100000 more.
That is, the election of 1896 was the
most remarkable in our history; II
brought out the greatest vote proper
tionally, and therefore was the cleo
ton in which the interest of the peo-
pie was shown the most profoundly.
1t can never be forgotten; it left both of
the contending parties in new shape.
The republicans became specifically the
champion of the single gold standard
and the democratic party of silver free
coinage. 1t was too bitter contest
to be ended by single election. The
spirit which expressed itself in the
Chicago platform was too radical and
the Bryan campaign kindled by 1t was
too hot for it to be subdued by single
defeat. Free silver was for the first
time the battle cry of the forces of rad
icalism, bent on experiments which in
volved the very reorganization of So
ciety and the destruction of property.
The platform adopted by the Massa-
chusetts democrats had reason to pro-
nounce the Chicago platform 'politi-
cal code written not for one year, but
for all time 1t was distinctively
new and radical departure.
The denomination of Bryan and the
renewal of the contest are consequent
ly inevitable, and the indications now
are that he will be nominated by accla
nation next year, and that there will
be no opposition to him which will dare
express itself, however feebly. The
platform he will stand on will be the
Chicago platform, with added planks
which will be more rather than less rad
ical than it was originally made, and
the subsequent campaign will repeat
that of 1896 in intensity of feeling and
interest. 1t is revolution that Bryan
leads, and in 1900 he will carry the re-
pudiation of national obligations and
his assault of 1896 on the financial cred
it of the nation to the further repudia-
ton of the moral obligations and the
honorable name and prestige of his
country imposed and won by successful
war. 1t will be shameful canvass
against American integrity and patriot
| ism; but it will occur.
That is what is before us next year,
and wisdom dictates that every man
should look calmly at the prospect and
prepare to be counted for or against the
reputation with which the democratic
party is now inseparably associated
| N. Y. Sun.