Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-11-16

failed utterly, and he injured his own
reputation for sincerity and devotion
to principle without advancing the
cause Of the unfit Goebel. The Ken
lucky lesson is one which politicians
and manipulators Of all parties will do
well to ponder. 1t Is too late in the day
to suppress the American sense Of hon
esty and fair play. The people will
have free conventions and a fair count.
The fusionists carried Nebraska, and
william j. Bryan construes this result
as protest against the policies of the
Republican administration" In point
of fact, the situation In Nebraska has
mt no time been complex or obscure.
Fusion had been losing ground stead
lily since 1892, and last year its candi-
date for Governor had the narrow mar
gin Of 2,T21 votes. Had not sentimental
considerations entered into the cam
paign of this off year this slight major
ity would certainly have been wiped
out and the State would have returned
to the Republican column. But the
chief, If not the whole, issue toward the
close was Bryan himself rather than
Organism. Nebraska is no longer in
sympathized with the attacks upon the
administrators Philippine policy. 1t
stands on these great questions exactly
where Ohio, Iowa and Massachusetts,
stand. But thousands of ex-POpulists
and ex-fusionists evinced their admira
ton for Bryan's personal honesty,
amiability and enthusiasm. This is the
only reasonable Interpretation Of the
Nebraska fusion victory. Any other
violates evidence and probability.
1t is equally important to point out
that the Democratic capture of Mary
land has absolutely no bearing on the
national situation. While some dis
tinguished gold Democrats discerned
the fact that the Bryanites would de-
rive much encouragement from the
election of the Democratic ticket in
Maryland on a platform silent on the
financial issue, the majority of the
sound-money men who bolted In 1896
and last year declined to take this view
of the matter. Col. Smith, the candi-
date of the Democrats, Is gold stand
ard man, and his fitness and integrity
being beyond doubt, they saw no suffi-
cient reason for refusing him their
votes. The Democrats avoided national
topics, and most Of the Republican
speakers pursued the same policy.
Maryland Is as sound as ever, and will
never give her vote to cheap money.
The imperialism Issue attracted little
attention.
In the States where national issues
did play conspicuous part the YER
dict Is decidedly adverse to the assail-
ants Of the administration and unques-
tionably attests the determination of
the people to sustain the policies now
In force. When we turn to Iowa, Ohio,
Massachusetts. New Jersey, New York
(Tammany's Jurisdiction excepted
and South Dakota. the logical deduc-
tions from the returns are too plain
and obvious to admit of any rational
doubt or cavil. The campaign in Iowa
was ideally simple and free from equi-
vocation. There were no local issues,
and Mr.. White assumed and maintain
ed most aggressive anti-war and anti
annexation position. He relied almost
Exclusively on the force Of his appeal
to the antiimperialistic attitude. He
and his managers invented an Anglo
American alliance against Germany
and strove to kindle prejudice and pas
sion. Gov. Shaw supported the adj