The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-12
The Pre.. Now and in ,ee.

cause for peculiar eongratulation to
the Democracy in the present campaign
lies in she change in its favor of leading
newspapers of the country which opposed
its candidates in 1886. Then, with the
exception of the journal" q young paper,
and one which seemed at that time ex-
pressly created for the occasion, the Dem
ocratic candidates were without the sup
port of any political daily in the city of
New York
IN Chicago the situation was still worse,
so far as newspaper support was con-
cerned In Cleveland the leading paper
hitherto OF that faith opposed the Demo
cratic ticket In Baltimore and Washing
ton all the political dailies, including the
conservative but influential old Sun" Of
Baltimore and The Times of Washington,
under its former ownership and manage
mental, without exception, whether their
antecedents had been Republican, hide
pendent. or Democratic. gave earnest sup
port to the Republican cause and candi-
dates
The power Of the press was signaliy IL
Illustrated in that campaign. But really the
wonder is that the Democrats polled so
large a vote considering the narrowed
channels available for disseminating their
doctrines among the people.
Newspapers have great advantage over
other instrumeutalities in spreading and
culuvatlng the principles of a political
party. Particularly is this so of the daily.
The ordinary campaign document deals ex-
clusiyely with political issues; it is known
70 be distributed for a purpose. and at once
puts the independent or unfriendly reader
On his guard to discover weak points. But
he newspaper, containing as it does intel
igence necessary to every citizen OF the
and, conveys its views to and forces them
% the attention Of the reader, willing or
unwilling. Nor is this in the desultory
manner that one would gather facts and
opinions from a volume on the bookshelf
Je may not take the book from the shelf,
put he cannot escape the omnipresent pa
per if he would.
When we consider. then. the almost
solid newspaper opposition four years ago
Il is gratifying to contrast the former with
he present situation. Take Chicago, where
in 1895 Mr. Bryan was without the support
81 any newspaper Of national reputation;
now his cause is earnestly and enthusiast
tieally advocated by the Chronicle and
the American" while the independent
Record supposed to have the largest
circulation Of any paper in the city. warm
iy approves and commends the principles
enunelated in his great indianapolis
speech, thus by disinterested praise CIV
ing aid and comfort TO the cause, which is
often more valuable than direct endorse
mcnt Of the candidate.
In New York City in 1896 the World"
refralned from directly declaring itself
for either candidate until after Bryan's
Madison Square speech Of acceptance. At
ter that event it persistently opposed his
election. Now none Is more cordial than
The World" in its advocacy of the prin-
ciples set forth in the late speech of ac-
ceptsnce, and incidentally in praise of
Bryan himself. The Journal with its
circulation now grown 10 enormous pro-
portions, is. az before, the ayowed sup
porter of both candidate and platform
The Herald, while non-committai as