Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-11-09
THE CONCLUSION OF 1T ALL.

Apart from campaign finances and
campaign tactics, and upon the sole
question of issues. it may be said that
Mr.. Bryan lost the country for two
reasons-the East was opposed to the
free silver plank in the Democratic
platform. and the masses of the people
did not fully understand the grave
dangers involved in Mr.. McKinley's
Imperialistic policies. There were two
other factors in the campaign, how
ever. that were as potent as these just
mentioned: the improved business con-
ditions and an intense hostility enter
tanned by thousands of men toward
Mr.. Bryan personally.
There is little doubt that the declara-
ton for free silver lost Mr.. Bryan New
York. Maryland, and Indiana, the two
latter States being naturally Demo
cratic. while the tremendous Demo
cratic gains in New York over the vote
of 1896 show clearly that with the free
silver issue eliminated MIR. Bryan
would have had the best of the situa-
ton in that State.
AS the Virginian-Pilot pointed out
some weeks ago. Imperialism as an is
sue did not appeal to the average man,
who could not be made to see the diff
ference between Imperialism and EX-
pansion. as great and essential as that
difference is. Mr.. Bryan, who is won
ular sentiment, devoted more and more
time to trusts and less to Imperialism
as the campaign drew to a close,-a
significant incident to those who fol-
lowed closely the progress of the cam
paign. Imperialism as an issue did
not touch the interests of the average
man closely and Immediately, as the
average man saw it. and he was. there
fore. not apt to be determined in his
political utilization by it.
But 1t was in reality prosperity"
that saved the day for Mr.. Mckinley
and the Republican party. Mr.. McKin-
ley and the Republican party no more
made prosperity than Mr.. Cleveland
and the Democratic party made the
panic OF 1883. which they heired from
the Harrison administration. but the
former got the credit of prosperity as
the latter got the blame of panic.
Thousands of men who knew this per-
fectly WELL yet supported Mr.. Mckin-
ley. though strongly disappearing of
him. both as to Imperialism and trusts,
because they feared that any change OF
administration would "unsettle bust
ness.
The hostility of many men to Mr..
Bryan's personality is at once curious
and potent. He Is too democratic in
his opinions and tastes for very large
element he is too honest and too little
open to Influence" for another large
element. And each of these elements
is influential. With either of them Mr..
Hill or MI German would be much
stronger than Mr.. Bryan. They would
not support Mr.. Bryan on any kind of
platform. The first class have really
mbbed the campaign twaddle that he
is a Populist and red radical. The
second class have axes to grind and
know that Mr.. Bryan would not do the
grinding. The classes stand. respect
lively, for the two most dangerous ten
denotes noticeable in this countryside
growing distaste for democratic ideals,
and the increasing ease with which a
class of men get special fnvors from
the government.
If the Democratic party will put OFF
part OF It's Democracy and part of its
honesty, victory will come more easily
to il. We are not advising this; we are
merely stating fact. Neither of these
qualities is as popular as it used to be.
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