The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-07

No thoughtful and observant man
falls to reach one unassaiable political
conclusion as a result of the survey Of
the national field and Of putting himself
in touch with public opinion. This is
that, as Bryan is weaker throughout
the country than he was In 1896, so Nc
Kinley Is immensely stronger. The OPP
posite assertion, that Mckinley has lost
and Bryan gained is possible only
10 men who, like the editor OF the Port
land Oregonian, have sacrificed every
claim to fairness and every instinct Of
decenoy to the blind impulse to deliver
a random blow in the hope that by Some
chance 1t may come home to one VINO
has been obliged, in the performance Of
duty. to humilate them.
This phantasm of the Oregonian IL
based upon the assumption that the
Gold Democrats are weary Of wandering
and ready to return to the fold fancy
that finds its only support In the wa
vering of some newspapers at the South
which bolted Bryan in 1896. This counts
for less than nothing. These newspa-
pers. having always supported the DEM
ocrstic party. continue TO do so. except
in great crises. They must have a con-
stituency: to hold H. they must please
It, They cannot sit on the fence in
definitely. They must return to their
former alliance or go over permanently
to the enemy. Otherwise they have
nothing but bankruptcy to look forward
to- The Louisville Courier Journal Is
n notable example. 1t has no more use
for Bryan than it had for Goebel: but
1t will support the one as II did the
slty. But the same compuIsion does not
rest upon an individual
II Ia childish 20 say that the Gold
Democrat Ia ready now to vote for n
free silver candidate because he knows
that the senate would prevent the fall
Of the country 20 the silver basis. He
our industry. our securities. the SOL
vency OF our institutions would be as
disastrous now as four years ago. That
was the consideration which moved him
then. and IL is stlll real and potent. on
the other hand. Mr., Mckinley IA I'M
mensely stronger with all sound money
men. Many Gold Democrats voted for
him reluctantly in 1896 They had been
cold that he was uncertain himself On
the money question. They would have
preferred candidate who had been
more ardent for the gold standard. Yet
never once has he wavered. lie has been
tower OF strength TO the cause %
financial reform. and Gold Democrats
owe him for that support as sponta.
ueous and confident today as Il was
forced and doubtful four years ago.
The expansion issue has still further
changed the relative positions OF the two
men. There are few Republicans who
oppose II Their strength was measured
last November, and Massachusetts,.
which Is their stronghold. gave over
5000 Republican majority, But All over
the country. ana notably in the West.
Democrats are in bitter revolt against
the unpatriotic and uudemocratlc policy
forced upon the party by Mr.. Bryan.
where there was one Democrat who
refused TO vote for him In 1895 on the
financial issue. there viii be ten who
bolt the ticket in 1900 because OF their
belief In national expansion.
These are the facts borne cut by OBJ
servaaon, by political discussion, by the
declarations OF men OF influence in ev-
cry state OF the Union. and by election
statistics everywhere. The man who.
viewing the condition Of the country
and Of public unrest in the early months
OF 1895 and comparing It with today. as
serts that the Republican outlook has