The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1900-03-14
IN. Bryan's Chances.

tie de bit of it at the present mo-
ment let us cast his horoscope, SC
far a hat may be possible in the
lights before us. The campaign is
close hand. Within four months
both bkets and platforms will be
before the people. We all recall
the citoumstances of 1896. What
will b the situation, and what the
Hprosp be-, in this year of our Lord,
1901
Fop years ago Mr.. Bryan stood
for wh many regarded as propa-
ganda ef anarchy. The silver
plank the Chicago platform,
which as, unfortunately for the
Democ Is, made the most con-
spicuo and threatening feature of
tue conflict, enabled the orators
and organs of the capitalistic COM
binations of the country to pro-
claim that Bryan's SUCCESS meant
"dishonest money" "the degrada-
ton of the dollar" and the "rob-
berry of the horny-handed son of
toll" What dreadful pictures were
drawn of the consequences of Dem
ooratic success, it is now impossi-
BILE to adequately describe. The
wreck of enterprise and industry,
the ruin of the poor man, the ex-
termination of agriculture, and the
dawn of hell born carnival-these
were only few of the grewsome
prospects dangled before the eyes
of the ignorant and timid voter
Newspapers ranted about the "hfty-
cent dollar" stump speakers brayed
and howled over the infamy of pay
ing the laborer only half his wage
Pensioners, persons depending up.
on limited annuities, all the swarms
of the salaried, were told that they
tottered on the brink of penury.
Never was there so simple and SO
sharply defined an issue, and never
was the opportunity for blatant and
insensate outcry SO inviting. We
all remember how it ended.
But what difference now! The
Republicans themselves have de.
liberately removed the bugaboo of
free silver from their property
room. The enaotion of the law fix
ing the gold standard as part of our
national policy makes silver coin
age impossible for at least six years
to come. No manufacturer or cap
italist or great merchant or en-
ployer need be frightened into
heavy contribution to the Republi-
can campaign fund. Were Bryan
to be chosen President next Nov
ember, and were a Democratic
House to be elected simultaneously,
the peril of free silver, like that of
free trade, would be no nearer or
more real than it is at this moment.
There would still be majority in
the Senate capable of preventing
either calamity, and no power at the
disposal of the Executive to over
como the obstacle. Those two
grisly Nightmares no longer throng
the atmosphere. No one outside
of nurseries and asylums can now
be frightened by there buokram
spooks.
On the other hand, what strength
has the Republican party gained to
Offset this loss of weakness by the
Demooraoy2 Very little, we fear.
The splendid and sucoessful con-
duct of the war with Spain has
been sadly clouded by the scandals
of mismanagement and favortism,
which attended that glorious con-
summation. The course of the adj
ministration with reference to Gu
ba and the Philippines has lost the
party many stout and potent
friends. The strange policy re-
Gently adopted toward Porto Rico
has outraged practically the entire
country. The Hay-Paunoefote
treaty has still further impaired
Mr.. MoKinley's prestige, and the
rumored purpose of the President
to compel it's ratification will, if il
should be realized, not only dis
credit the government, but bring
contempt and odium upon the par
ty. In word, the situation, as il
seems to us, is far more favorable
to Mr.. Bryan and far less 80 to Mr.
Mckinley than it was four years
ago.
What will happen within the
next six months, it is not for us tc
prophesy. We deal with the facts
| - tbo1, ora of fhis mOmant Tn Ou1