New-York tribune., 1900-11-03
THE CLOSING CAMPAIGN.


The Presidential campaign practically ends
to-day with the great Republican and Sound
Money parade in this city and final demonstra-
tions of varying Importance by both parties
throughout the country. 1t has been a rather
peculiar campaign in some respects IN the
first place. il was noticeably slow in getting
under way. which gave machine managers an
excuse for proclainling dangerous state Of
apathy and for rivaing the daughter of the
horse leech with cries of Give. Give" Our
understanding of the situation. which we took
pains not TO conceal that 80 far as this
outburst of warning and entreaty expressed real
apprehension and not the characteristic and
customary desire of bosses to collect large funds
which they could use in strengthening their
own political aScendancy. ii proceeded from
insufficient consideration Of existing conditions.
The people were extraordinarily busy and pros
porous, and that fact had the twOfold effect of
preventing their active enlistment in the con-
test during its early stages and of fOrbidding
them to suppose that an utterly discredited
party and candidate had any chance of succeed
ing TO power. Events have shown that such
superficial indica tons of Indifference had
meaning which was not favorable to Republi-
can success. In ample time for all practical
purposes patriotic citizens made their interest
ard their intentions evident, and during the
last month nobody has even pretended to doubt
that the country would be prepared to vote on
November g.
The Tribune is not in the habit of taking for
granted the political results which it desires.
But we have no hesitation in saying at the end
Of this campaign that we cannot discern the
slightest cause for anxiety in any quarter. From
the moment when Mr.. Bryan. with obstinacy
which looked like moral courage and appeared
TO prove as was said at the time. that he would
rather be wrong than be President. insisted on
an explicit pledge of devotion to free silver in
his platform his fight against reason and expe-
rience has seemed hopeless. And if he ever had
n chance of winning by his audacity more votes
than his delusions would cost him he threw II
away when he stopped to timorous silence and
evasion in 'the enemys country" Nor has he
been more fortunate in any other of the issues
with which his party has been Juggling. The
general sense OF honor and patriotism is re-
volted by his pleading for a betrayal OF duty in
the Philippines. His great antitrust propa-
ganda has only served TO identify his most CON
spicuous supporters with the most rapacious of
all industrial combinations aud to convict his
party of hypocrisy in dealing with conditions it
processes to abhor. His sinister attempts TO
spread hatred and jealousy through the country
have alienated the goodwill of many whom he
hoped 10 pervert. and, lastly. his proclamation
OF gratitude and devotion TO Tammany and
Croker has excited distrust and resentment
even among his own supporters
On the Republican side the canvass has been
conducted. if not with the highest sagacity at
all points, Yet with n fair degree of skill and
energy. The party will PRESENT at the polls a
clear title TO the confidence of the country. 1t
can justly declare that the Administration has
iect rectitude of purpose and with an extraordi-
nary degree of success, and we have no doubt
that its claim will be sustained by an over
Whclming ma jority