New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-21
BRYAN'S INFATUATION.
DISCOUNTING CERTAIN DEFEAT BY
CRIES OF FRAUD.
PARALLEL. BETWEEN THE PRESENT CAM
PAIGN AND THAT OF 1896 CONTINUED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BUNE.l

IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIEUNE.l
Washington, Oct. 20.-Political events of the
last week mark continuation of the parallel
between the present campaign and that of 1896
ahe most remarkable. perhaps, in the country s
history. Now. as then, Mr. Bryan is calling out
enormous audiences wherever he goes. Now,
as then, intoxicated by this incense OF popular
aduatinn lavishly poured out upon the wide
spreading altar of his vanity. he bravely asserts
his personal assurance OF victory in November.
unless the rank and file Of the country are ''in-
Inundated" by the trust bosses or McKinley's re-
election is bought outright by the money
power" But in view of his eye opening
perence of four years ago this is now rather
whimpering appeal, cry of distress. than the
swelling, confident note OF victory. coupled with
a warning such he gave forth IN 1896-then,
of course mere idiotic assertion. unsupported
by comprehensive dsCernment reading from
cause to effect. This is point in which the
parallel fails. for four years ago. after his
meteoric success In the Chicago convention
and the subsequent merger of the Democratic
Populist interests in his support, Bryan thought
the stars with him. With fatuous con-
ceit he shut his eyes to facts in the later can
vass which plainly told the veterans that he
was out of the running. He only the sway
ing, shouting mobs out to view the Boy Orator
of the Platte" and believed to the last that the
masses were with him and that the Presidency
was certainty.
1t is different now. Bryan is scared and his
savage throes about intimidation and cor
ruption" prove that ne is. Retrospectively go
ing over the last four weeks preceding the cleo
ton in 1896. and then turning to the result. he
at last sees the parallel. and Bryan already
knows that he is a defeated candidate.
SIGNIFICANCE OF GREAT REGISTRATION
For again, while this modern demagogue is
playing the grandstand act and tickling his
egotsm by apparently capturing the rabble. he
notes that the Republicans doggedy fight
ing over every inch OF the ground, confident Of
ultimate success. yet bending every energy to
that purpose. Again the days of registration
have come. and again. to Mr. Bryan's conster-
nation. he notes that 1t exceeds all previous
records. Everywhere it then extraord-
nary, but with deep concern he notes that it is
more extraordinary now. Republican apathy
and light vote were Bryan's only hope. Then
as the tremendous outpouring to the regis
tration offices was confined to particular
locality. 1t was even more conspicuous in New
York, where no contest was waged where Nc
Kinley from start 10 finish confessedly had it
all his own way. than out in Indiana, Illinois
and other States of the Central West, territory
which Bryan himself then, now considered
the battle ground with odds presumptively
in his favor because it was precisely in these
States that he had been greeted by the greatest
throngs. Their registration. too, enormous,
and indeed for brief period specifically 1t
looked like Republican detection. But knowing
a full vote was never a menace to Republican
success, the registration figures Of 1896 were at
once claimed by clear headed Republican poll
ticians as practically closing the contest in
favor of Mckinley. The overwhelming victory
three weeks later fully justified their prediction.
So now as the official registration advances,
the determination of the voters to be out on
Election Day is publicly manifested by this pre-
liminary official act with equal emphasis in
Chicago, on the prairies beyond the Mississippi
among the Hooser towns. in the Blue Grass
State. in the mountain Businesses Of Western
Maryland in Baltimore. in NETWORKS up
State districts, as we'll as New-York City
everywhere. 1t is the central event Of the cam
paign. Now, as then. this universal impulse to
vote is reasonably assumed to insure Republi-
can success.
HAS CAUSE FOR UNEASINESS
Bryan undeniably has cause for his disquiet
The great registration is held by politicians here
TO be significant, because investigation of its
various details. as in 1896. shows that IN all
quarters, East AMI West, it is in the Republican
election districts that the most noteworthy in
creases are made Passing by some OF New
Yorks returns and others in Kentucky and
Illinois, take instance the little city of
Cumberland Md. the home of Senator yelling
ton. The increase of a thousand electors. six
hundred Of them Republicans, Is one of the
features of the campaign. There has been not
much excitement Of the effervescing kind as in
1896, but enough is now known to reassure Re
pubicans that their full vote will be out. and
their only msgiving is put at rest. The fusion
candidate did not note all these signs in 1896
when, with his fine head up among the clouds.
aNIz.5
by youthful enthusiasm, he went Keeling through
the country, as it were, self-deceived by the
vociferous lip service of depot crowds. But he
remembers them now only too wildly, and more
over he knows their portent. Wherefore Bryan
and Citizen John p Altgeld. his Socialist trainer
with the searchlight vision. are already dis
counting defeat by the asserted fear of Repub-
lcan frauds. Four years ago that was an after
thought, evolved by Mr.. Altgeld's genius for
discovering dark and sinister things that do not
exist except in disordered minds.
BRYAN Is again on the wing, prosecuting a
ouadrehnial invasion of the "enemy's country. L"
advance agent doubtless their chief object is 10
warn the innocent fusion voters of New-Yorl
state to beware Of Republican temptation
THE SILLY CRY OF INTIMIDATION.
The promised volume OF the vote In the States
this year. as in 1896 in itself confutes their pre-
tended presumption OF the necessity OF fraud to |
defeat Bryan. The whole Nation cannot be in |
undated by the trust bosses. No more can
Il be bribed. If Bryan is defeated he will be |
overwhelmed by public opinion; no trickery will /
avail on either side. After the election OF 1896 |
the strenuous Altgeld jumped to the conclusion /
that the unparalleled increase In the aggregate