Washington sentinel., 1900-11-10
MilIlnm j. RrYAn.

y II
lieve their feelings by blaming the
Democratic candidate for sins OF
commission or omission in the
conduct of the campaign. We are
quite prepared to hear that Mr..
Bryan might have done better had
he lodged this issue, evaded that,
and pared down the other. There
are thousands OF Democratic con-
stables, surrogates and county
clerks who could have done so
much better in their minds that
the pity is they did not have the
chance.
To all such persons and to the
world in general, it will he useful
to say a word in explanation OF the
wonderful canvass which ended in
the defeat OF Mr.. Bryan last Tues
day, Citizens generally are aware
that, like his opponent, he stood
on platform, had an alleged party
and national committee behind
him, and was supposed to have
his campaign conducted for him
by his supporters, through their
political organization. AS mat
ter OF fact, however, we are conf
dent that no thinking American
will say that Mr.. Bryan received
one solitary pennY's worth OF as
sistance from mortal man. From
beginning to end he was the fight
and all oil it,
This is a consideration that
should not be lost upon the Amer
lean people. Mr.. Bryan has sut-
iered a most signal and singing
defeat, and the principles and pol
icies he stands for have been ut
terlY repudiated by the country.
Nevertheless. he and they have
been shown to be dear to seven
million voters. Who helped him
to this sufrage1 The Republican
party boasts, and justly boasts,
that it has many able and brilliant
leaders. The Democratic party
has faced the greatest struggle in
its history since the Tilden cam.
paign, with but a single leader, IN
che person OF William Jennings
Bryan.
His antagonist had the advan-
tage OF unlimited money, the ad-
vice and assistance OF the ablest
political collector and manipulator
living, the support OF all the con-
solidated influences Of capital and
social power in the land; OF all
the captains Of industry, and Of the
vast army OF officeholders. Op-
posed to this array, what can we
remember in the way Of backing
for Mr.. Bryan2 There was his
committee, to be sure! Nobody
expected that it could have money
to make a brilliant campaign.
There may have been people who
believed it would develop brains.
If so, the outcome must satisfy
them that they were miserablY
mistaken. The committee Of 1896,
which, as most people recognized
tour years ago, was neither nice
nor wise, practically was the com.
mittee Of 1900. If It exerted any
influence whatever on the result it
was baleiul, and its messages and
documents were innocuous when
not damaging.
Alone, young, poor and un-
aided, William jennings BRYAN
pitted himself against the consoli-
dated forces OF government, wealth,
power and patronage, At the
outset he found nothing in the way |
of an army to lead but the scat |
tered and lately warning remnants
Of a great political organization, |
which. in the course Of two Ad-
it had been the priv
ilege and pleasure oi Grover
Cleveland to destroy. Like a pal
adm of old, this splendid man OF
the people essayed the task oil
leading the people to a victory
which he believed to be within
their grasp, Notwithstanding the
fearful odds against him and them;
which was within their grasp, but
which they did not desire. That
mas nothing to do with our present
Argument,
The progress OF this leader--this
only Democratic leader, ap-
parent or existent-through the
country has been one OF the sur
'rises ofAmerican politics. Every
where the people have rushed in
thousands to see and greet the
champion Of the Constitution and
popular rights. If all the voters
Who went wild over Mr.. Bryan had
,oted for him he would have been
.iven national majority OF two
rillirps q O ma ba,,a g,fJ -. -