Washington sentinel., 1900-11-10
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Lbe Reelection Of Tues
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recorded its will at the polls after
a political contest conducted with
extraordinary earnestness, Issues
OF supreme importance were in
volved, affecting the permanency
Of republican institutions and the
rights OF the masses. It was bat
tie royal from start to finish, but,
despite the intensity with which it
was wsged, patriotic men OF all
parties will accept the result as the
deliberate verdict Of majority of
the American people.
1t seems now that the adoption
Of the silver plank by the Kansas
City Convention was an unwise
move and has cost Mr.. Bryan the
Presidency. Mr.. Mckinley has
been reelected, not because a
majority OF the people indorse his
Administration, but because they
were afraid, without understand
ing the situation, that Mr.. Bryan,
if President, would disturb the
financial system OF the country.
There was no ground for this fear,
for Mr.. Bryan, if elected, would
not have had the support of a
majority OF Democratic Congress
men if ne had attempted 10 secure
the repeal of gold standard legis-
lation.
The Presidential campaign OF
1900 will long be remembered be.
cause Of the forces which were
arraYed against each other and be-
cause OF the principles at stake.
The Republican party carried the
country in 1896 upon single is
sue-the preservation Of the gold
standard, purely business ques-
ton. 1t won then not because all
its policies were acceptable to a
majority OF the people, but because
it was pledged to maintain a stable
financial system. During the
period within which il has been in
power--from March 4, 1897, to the
present time-its course has been
revolutionary and in utter conflict
with American principles. 1t pro-
voked and has waged for more
than a year and half a war of con-
quest based upon denial OF the
fundamental principle Of this Re-
public-the consent OF the gov
erned." It has given special priv
ileges to monopolies at the ex-
pense Of the masses. 1t has pro-
NOTED the growth OF trusts and
licensed them to prey upon the
consumers and workingmen alike.
The record it has made merited a
stern rebuke by the American
people without regard to party.
For no man should be influenced
by ordinary political considera-
tions when the safety OF the Re-
public is imperiled or when an
economic policy threatens the
masses with industrial slavery.
In this contest the Democratic
party stood for the interests Of the
plain people. Arrayed against it
have been the trusts and the vast
influence which they exert, the
corporate wealth OF the country.
an army of officeholders, and all
others whose selfish interests have
been promoted by Republican leg
islation. All who have received
favors IN the past, all who expected
favors in the future, exerted the
various influences at their com
mand to perpetuate the power of
the Republican party. The Dem
ocratic party had no friends" Of
this character to assist il in the
contest tor equal rights, in the pro-
lection OF the masses from the en-
croachments OF monopoly and in
the maintenance Of this Republic
as the champion OF liberty in all
lands. IC had no friends" with
big purses to buy victory for it in
consideration OF future iavors. Il
has fought the battle OF the people
with no other resources than those
which it derived from the strength
OF its cause. II has stood for def