The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-03-15
Washington Post, Regarded as
an Administration Orgon,
Saws He is Losing
Strength.
BRYAN GROWING IL FAVOR.

, litical observers admit that President
q Mckinley's chances for reelection
\ have diminished rapidly within che
last few weeks.
The Washington Post this morn
, ing, in its leading editorial, discusses
+ the situation caudidly. The Post is
an independent republican paper,
: which generally has supported the
administra ton. 1t is something o
an authority on political matters,
and, therefore, its view on the out
, look is OF more than usual interest.
The Post states:
''Assuming that the Honorable
William j. Bryan will be the demo-
cratic nominee this year. and there
seems little doubt of it at the present
moment, let us cast his horoscope, so
far as that may be possible in the
light before us. The campaign IL
close at hand Within four months
both tickets and platforms will be
before the people. We all recall the
circumstances of 1896 What will be
the situation and what the prospects
in this year of our Lord, 1900?
| THE SILVER QUESTION
-Four years ago Mr.. Bryan stood
for what many regarded as a propo-
sanda of anarchy. The silver plank
in the Chicago platform, which was.
unfortunately for the democrats,
made the most conspicuous and
threatening feature of the conflict, |
enabled the orators and organs OF
the capitalistic combinations of the
country to proclaim that Bryan's |
success meant dishonest money, the |
degradation of the dollar and rob |
berry of the horny handed son of toll.
What dreadful pictures were drawn
OF the consequences of democratic
success it is now impossible to ade-
quateIy describe. The wreck of enter
prise and industry, the ruin of the
poor man, the determination of agri-
culture and the dawn of a hell-born
carnival-these we're only a few of the
grewsOme prospects dangling before
the eyes Of the ignorant and timid
voter. Newspapers ranted about the
'fifty-cent dollar stump speakers
brayed and howled about the infamy
OF paying the labOrer only half his
wages. Pensioners, persons depend
ing upon life annuities. all the swarms
OF the salaried were told that thew
tottered on the brink ofpenury. New
er was there so simple and SO sharply
defined an issue and never was the
for blantant and insen-
safe cutlery SO inviting We all re-
member how it ended.
But what a difference now The
themselves have deliber-
ately removed the bugaboo of free
silver from their property room. The
enactment of the law fixing the gold
standard part OF our national poll
cy makes silver coinage impossible
Tor at least six years to come No
manufacturer or capitalist or great
merchant or employer need be fright
ened into a heavy contribution to I
the republican campaign fund Were
Bryan to be chosen president next
November, and were a democratic
house TO be elected simultaneously, /
the peril OF free silver, like that of {
Tree trade, would be no nearer or |
more real than it is at this moment i
There would still be majority III the
senate capable OF preventing either {
and no power at the dispo- t
sal OF the executive TO overcome the I
obstacle. Those two grisly night 1
mares no longer throng the atmos- !
phere. No one outside of nurseries |
and asylums can now be frightened I
by these buckram spooks. II
MKISLEY LOSING STRENGTH. I
On the other hand. what strength L
has the republican party gained to
offset this loss of weakness bv the
iemocrev? Very little, we fear. The
splendid and successful conduct Of ,
The war with Spain has been sadly :
elouded by the scandals of Inisman- !.
agement aud favoritism which at
tended that contamination. The
course OF the administration With re-
gard 70 Cuba and the Philippines has
ost the party many stout and po-
lent friends The strange policy
'ecentlv adopted toward Porto Rico =
, 81 --r-c,---s--. !