The age-herald., 1900-08-24
BRYAN WILL BE VICTORIOUS

By Charles A. Towne.
 In my opinion the Democratic party, or, if you will, the three allied parties or pro- gressive politics, never enjoyed so prom ising a chance of victory as this year
 They are united in pushing one common paramount issue, from the discussion or which their opponents recoil. The ques- ton of mlitarism and imperialism is one which appeals to every American-to the parents who can discern way in which may be settled the possibility of their son being forced into compulsory military ser- vice, as are the youth of France and Ger many today; to the taxpayer who knows that the enormous ornaments of military nations place crushing burdens upon the shoulders of those who must defray the expenses To the laboring man who well appreciates the saying that Tn Germany every man who goes to work carries Q soldier on his back" to the humanitarian who cannot believe that trade, even if so obtainable should be bought with blood; to the Christian who will join Mir Bryan in saying that "the gospel of Christ had no Gatling gun attachment"
 
 The strength of the argument is ours. This year, too, we have hearty harmony in all three organizations.
 You cannot pick up newspaper with out nothing the return to the old Demo- cratic standards of men who deserted them in 1896. Mir. Bryan is losing no followers, but is gaining them daily.
 I do not underestimate the astuteness as practical politicians of the leaders to whom we are opposed They have that sort of political cunning which has been manifested in their efforts to hold a spur ious anti-impeliarilst conference at Indi- annapolis on the day before the regular lib- erty conference-although it was called long afterward-in order that the two might be confused and that the action of the great conference might be ignored by such of the partisan press would find profit in exploiting the position taken by the lesser and counterfeit one.
 Nor do I underestimate the enormous power of the money which Hanna and his associates are now wringing from every protected monopoly and every applicant for favors at the hands of government. I believe that in 1896 it was the brute force of money, reinforced by interruptions cun- ming, that carried the election. But to say that this would be repeated time and again would be to say that the republic is a failure and that our system of repre- sentative government is doomed to fall because the electorate will always be purehasable or credulous.
 
 This I am not ready to say. This I do not for a moment believe. I have the greatest confidence in the good sense and in the good hearts of the American people. Some few may be bought, but the vast ma jority spurn a bribe. Many may be hum- bugged, but not with the same trick more than once
 And this year with candidates of in spring intellectual qualities, with plat forms which comprehend everything that reasonable men could ask for in the di- rection of political and social progress I believe from the bottom of my heart that the allied parties will march on to a victory more sweeping than this nation has witnessed since the time when Abra- ham Lincoln founded the party which Mark Hanna has foundered.