Mexico Missouri message., 1900-12-06
BRYAN TELLS "
n WHY HE LOST.

future. Inc aftlcle Is cdlleu, nt
Election of 1900" Mr.. Bryan's
first reason for his defeat is that
the Republicans had "A large cam
paign fund. He recognizes the
legitimate use of money i'll cam
paign, and says that while the Re
publcans had plenty the Demo
Gratis had little. His next observ-
alton is that the Republicans were
able to get passes on which to
send voters to their homes. The
Democrats didn't have these and
he thinks some congressional dis
tricts were thereby lost. Then he
suggests colonization and the pur-
chase of votes as two possible fact
ors in his defeat, but he admits
that it is impossible even for him
to calculate their effect.
Another advantage of the Re-
publicans, he says, was that ac-
cruing to an administration while
a war is in progress, but to his
mind the most potent argument
used by his opponents was the
comparison of the present prosper
Gus conditions with those cf 1893
and 1896. He repeats his dcclara-
ton that the Republicans had no.
thing to do with the change and
then he pitches into the trusts,
giving list of the largest ones,
which, according to his figures,
have n capital stock of 0lS% mil
lion dollars. Here he thinks, is
where the Republicans got all their
money and he suggests IA remedy.
Yes, there is a remedy" he
says, "A statute making it penal
offense for any officer of Il corpo-
ration to contribute corporation
funds to campaign fund, limiting
the amount that can be legally eX-
pended by candidates or commit
tees and compelling the publica-
ton of the names of contributors
to campaign funds, together with
the amounts contributed.
Among other things he says:
THE old saying that it is not
safe to swap horses while crossing
stream was used for all it was
worth, Notwithstanding the fact
that in this instance it was an
ocean instead of Il stream that was
being crossed, for Imperialism is
an idea of European origin. Il +
THE work of education must
continue until the great majority
of the people recognize that Il pri-
waite monopoly is indcfcuSiblr and
intolcrablc. +
The voters who rejected the
conservative remedies proposed by
the Democratic party have aided
those who advocate still more rad
zeal measures.
THE most surprising feature of
the campaign was the indifference
manifested 10y many Republicans
to the attack on governmental
principles heretofore regarded rs
sacred.
THE destiny of the American
people must be determined by the
American people themselves. +
The same powerful financial
interests which protect industrial
trusts at home will attempt to force
the nation to join the internation-
al land grabbing trust.
"A joint resolution passed by
Congress will hardly restrain "A
party which SCOTS at traditions
and disregards the limitations of
the constitution. \ X
THE pocket nerve, which at
this time seems to be the most SEN
sitive nerve, is liable to be touched
by the extravaganza of those who
have come to regard the govern
ment as sort of Santa Claus who
turns every day into Christmas.
ITO consider this election as de-
cisive of the money question would
be as absurd as to have regarded
the election of 1896 us decisive of
the tariff question. \ 4 AS a
matter of fact, an election is not
necessarily conclusive upon any
question. 4
when prosperity fails the gold
standard will lose its charm. y
Those who believe in equal
rights before the law and desire a
government which rests upon the
consent of the governed and deals
justly with all who are under its