Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-05
LEST WE FORGET.

The tactics pursued by the organ of
the opposition to bolster up a waning
cause are amazing in the light of his
tory. Notwithstanding former predic-
tions of the World Herald, based upon
brag and bluster, have made that sheet
the laughing stock of an intelligent COM
munity, it goes on with sublime disre-
gard Of the past to utter portentous
representations as to the outcome of
next Tuesdays election. Kiplings
splendid poem, LEST We Forget" is
back number in the editorial rooms
of the democratic organ, forgotten quite
in the desperation of the present cam.
paign to keep the reluctant voters in
line. AS a prophet the World Herald
has not been a bowling success, as his
tory will bear out.
On the night of October II, 1896 ac-
cording to the files of the World Herald,
Editor Hitchcock addressed political
meeting at Boyd's theater, and in the
course of his speech delivered himself
of the following, speaking of the finan.
cial question:
This is a greater issue than any ever set
tied by nation of the world 1t is great
| issue, and / am glad We stand on the side
of the party Offering definite remedy for
| this great period of distress. On the one
side, he said, Mark Hanna with his
! terrible determination to buy men in
order to win the voters. "On the
| other side arises another figure as IL by
magic from the masses OF the people, a
man, young, strong, fearless, man now
| fighting our battles in the middle States
He described the great qualities of the leader
! and concluded when Bryan is elected the
people will have a president. / believe
! firmly that when the votes are counted, the
millions are footed up, majority will be
registered against that terrible Hanna and
for William j. Bryan"
Upon that same occasion the editor OF
the organ of the triple alliance pre-
dicted dire disaster to the great army of
labor should Mckinley be elected. "He
foresaw, as in Il vision, tremendous
upheaval for those who toll, with homes
made desolate for lack of work to do
fires drawn, spindles silent, looms al
rest" And this but three short years
ago. Can those who followed this wise
seer in 96 afford to bank upon his pre-.
diction now?
In the World-Herald of October 10
1896, its editorial leader lore the head
ing, "Cornwallis is Taken-.All is Well
1t was orotund in gray matter, fam
boyant in utterance, picturesque in com
parsons. With swashbuckling all
that would put TO shame the MuSketceri
of Dumas it told the story of Corn
wallis surrender at Yorktown 11S years
ago, comparing the campaign of 1896 t.
that waged by Washington century
and over ago. 1t compared the repub
lican party with the army of Corn
wallis, and the cohorts of William ]
BRYAN as the invincible hosts of tn,
American republic marching to victor.
under George Washington. Witt
prophetic sight, as through the crystal
1t saw these things: But the peopl,
whom CORVALLIS failed to subdue an,
record their verdict on November 3. Oh
that day the British army, under tn
2 leadership of Hanna and Mckinley, wi
! lay down their arms in the stronghold,
: into which it has been driven by an
: other young American leader, William
5 j. Bryan. In the splendid contest h
: has Waged in behalf of American indie
: pendence from the financial domination
a of Great Britain, William j. Bryan ha
\ already advanced to Yorktown. Toda
y the British General Hanna refuses t
!. salute Bryan just exactly as the Brits
5 General O'Hara refused TO salute Wash
c ington. But Bryan has advanced t