The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-11-09
THE MEANING OF DEFEAT"

William Mckinley has been re-elec-
ted. but in fashion that can be no
source of pride to him nor of humi-
liation to the Democracy. The enor-
nous Democratic gains throughout
the country show that the party OF
Jefferson is fast emerging from its
long eclipse. Beyond a doubt Mr..
Bryan would have been trlumphantly
electe but for two things
The first was the intrusion of the
silver issue. Free silver was dead, and
SO unpopular that even it corpse was
enough to drag any man down to de-
feat.
The second was the policy of cut
ting loose entirely from the Philip
pines. That was not in accord with
the spirit of the American people.
AS to the Philippines, The Journal
was tue first paper to advocate their
retention, but%it never believed in at
tempting to hold their affections with
shotgun, as Mckinley is doing.
That policy is as repugnant to the
American people as it is to the Jour
nal, but the people clearly thought
that as between two methods of deal
ing with the islands, neither of which
they approved. they would take the
one that could be amended rather than
one that would be irrevocable
The people have evidently made up
their minds to dispose of free silver
once for all. The effort was super
fuous for free silver had ceased to
ex st as a possible policy four years
ago, but the voters We're determined
not to have the remains lying around
any longer.
Mr. Bryan S place in the hearts of
the Democratic millions is secure.
He remains in defeat as he would
have been in victory, a commanding
figure, fine, conscientious spirit, adj
mired and loved by the great masses
of the Democracy. But the attempted
revival of free silver aud the proposed
abandonment of territory that was
already American soil were fatal mis-.
takes, which have cost us this election.
Beyond a doubt a great deal OF
money has been used in this election
and yet we are not inclined to believe
that any State has actually beer
| bought. The result may be accepted
as the will of the people on the
particular issues that the people chose
to consider entitled to precedence
The literature circulated by the Re
DuDllCdu ulduftSOAS SAAOWH NAAeNp VIZ
position of the Journal has been wei
known throughout the country.
The Journal has had its individual
opinions about the unwisdom of fret
silver and the disadvantage of ahan
doning the Philippines, but wheI
the party platforms are finally mad,
it becomes the duty of a newspaper t
decide which programme on the who'll
is more deserving of its support ans
then to work for the success of tn
one it prefers. After election the pape
may again advance its individual
opinions concerning matters who's
treatment in the late platform j
thinks open to improvement, in tn
hope that they may be better handled
in the next one.
The Journal believes in there tentiol
of the Philippines and in the exten
sion to that country of truly Amer
lean form of government, under whicl
the Filipinos would have no provoca
tion to revolt. 1t believes that fire.
silver was dead in 1896 and is tei
times deader in 1900. That is ON
issue, at least, that will not be hear
of again in the immediate future.
Unquestionably the people are OF
posed to Mr.. Mckinley and his policy /
/ the Philippines. But they reason tina