Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-11-09
BRYAN IN CHEERFUL MOOD OVER
THE ELECTION RESULTS.

II
THE ELECTION RESULTS.
Bryan is in his customary cheerful
and philosophical state of mind over
i the election. When his defeat became
apparent Tuesday night he retired
and slept as soundly as he did at the
close of days during the campaign
that seemed full of triumph for him.
1t has been most remarked of him
nothing has disturbed his peace of
mind. This was so during what APP
peared to be the crisis in his life when
the platform of his party was under
consideration at Kansas City. While
his friends were excited and anxious,
he was calm and cool-headed. He
took what to his mind seemed the
right course, and was ready for the
| consequences. The same has been
true OF him during the campaign. He
is disappointed, of course, but not
disheartened in the least. He is sat-
| listed that he followed the dictates of
his conscience and is more satisfied
with himself, more contented in de-
| feat under such circumstances, than
if he had won otherwise. No one
who knows him closely will hesitate
| to attribute to him that true
type of manhood that would
rather be right than to attain the
highest earthly glory. And Bryan
still thinks that he is right.
The result was a surprise to me, y"
he says in signed statement to the
press, land the magnitude of the re-
publican victory was a surprise to
our opponents, as we'll as 10 those
who voted our ticket. 1t is impossi-
Bile to analyze the returns until they
are more complete, but, speaking
generally, we seem to have gained in
the large cities and to have lost in
the smaller cities and in the country.
The republicans were able to secure
tickets or passes for all of their voters
who were away from home, and this
gave them a considerable advantage
We have no way of knowing at this
time how much money was spent in
the purchase of votes and in colonial
ton. But, while these would account
for some of the repu bEcan gains, they
could not account for the widespread
increase in the repu blican vote. The
prosperity argument was probably the
most potent one used by the republi-
cans. They compared present condi-
tons with the panic times of 1898 TO
1896. and this argument had weight
with those who did not stop to con-
slider the reasons for the change. The
appeal. Stand by the president while
the war is on, had a great deal of in
fluence among those who did not re-
alize that a war against the doctrine
of self-government in the Philippines
must react upon US in this country.
I'VE have made an honest fight on
an honest platform, and. having done
our duty as we saw it, we have moth
ing to regret. We are defeated, but
not discouraged. The fight must go
on. 1 am sure that republican poll
cies will be repudiated by the people
when the tendency of those policies is
fully understood. The contest be-
tween plutocracy and democracy can
not end until one or the other is COM
pletely triumphant.
Il have come out of the campaign
with perfect health and a clear CEN
science. l did my utmost to bring
success to the principles for which
stood. Mr.. Stevenson did all that he
could. Senator Jones and the mem
bers of the democratic, popuist, sill
yer republican and anli-imperialisti
committees did all they. could. Mr..
Hearst and his associates in the club
organization put forth their best eff
forts. Our newspapers, our campaign
speakers and our local organizations
all did their part.
Il have no fault to find and no re-
proaches. / shall continue to take an
active interest in politics as long as 1
live. / believe it to be the duty of the
citizen to do so, and in addition TO nv
interest as q citizen, feel that it will
require life time of work 10 repay
the political friends who have done so
much for me-"
AS further evidence of his manli- |
ness, gratitude and courage he de-
clares: II shall not be a senatorial
before the legislature which |
has Just been elected. Senator Allen |
deserves the senatorship which goes
to the populists. Mr.. Hitchcock and
W. H. Thompson are avowed candi- |
dates for the democ ratio senatorship. |
They both deserve we'll of the party,
and am too grateful to them fori
past support to stand in their wayI
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