The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-13
Ole Messenger.
WHAT TIE ELECTION MEANT.

Their is no use in crying over split
milk, or weeping owe a fallen Car
thage. The battle was splendidlyI
fought on the part Of the democrats.
but entrenched Power aided, abetedI
and buttressed by the money mag
nates-the ~millionaires n would-be-I
millionaires of all grades and sizes
with bare pockets. Newspapers will
differ as to causes operating to re-elect
Mckinley by such a great majority.
The earnest supporter and .admirer and
-eulogist Of McKinieyism, the Washing
ton Post thinks it vas silver that did
1t with prosperity" and the very su-
perior qualities of Mckinley and his
administration. 1t is true the country
decided that McKinleyism in essence
is the thing for this country-that it
wants all that the Kinleyism means to-
be continued. p~erpetuated into the in
finite. The Post is not SO lad as
Mark Hanna as to trusts but it says
there was no issue as to them. None
so blind as he who will not see. News
papers that a Endorsed McKinley's
course are not the kind to see his fol-
lies, his departures. his usurpations,
his criminal course. If Mckinley
chooses to continue his mad policy as
to foreign affairs he will be fully back
ed by his organs of all sorts and colors.
Nothing good is to be expected from
such a republican Nazareth.
We have no doubt that the attitude
of MI. Bryan had no little to do with
his defeat. But he was strikingly
more open and homes that Mckinley
was. The latter was for silver, then
shifted so IS to bamboozle the more
ignorant and TO catch the money. lords,
and finally appeared as an original
g~O.dbug." Bryan stood bravely by his
guns, made no apologies and promises
"to give up the ship" and thereby injur-
ct his cause. Which of these is the
nobIer, more honest, more trustworthy
man.
The Baltimore Sun did great work
for Mckinley. 1t fought him in 1896, but
this year it stood for him because he
was true to his country, its traditions,
ats free principles. it's constitution and
the Declaration of Independence. That
was wisely, periodically done. Ii =.
with insight and candor:
That ill-judged and unnecessary de-
claration for free coinage has cost Mr..
Bryan the presidency. Mr.. Mckinley
has been reelected. not because a ma
jority of the people indorse his admin
istration, but because they were afraid
without understanding the situation,
that Mr.. Bryan. if president would dis
turb the system OF the coun-
try. There was no ground for this fear,
for Mr.. Bryan. if elected, would not
have had the support of a majority of
democratic congressman if he had at
tempted to secure the repea of gold
standard legislation. In forcing a dec
laration for free coinage IN to the plat
form, he gave his political opponents
the opportunity which they desired to
play upon the fears of the timid."
He needed judgment and foresight.
But no man can say he was not thor
oughly cinscientious, honest, and
brave in his actions. OF McKinley's
course as president, which the Post so
Iauds and magnifes, h able Sun says:
During the period within which it
has been in power-from March 4,
1897, to the present time-itS course has
been revolutionary and in utter con-
hict with American principles 1t pro-
vOked and has waged for more than a
year and a half war of conquest based
upon a denial of the fundamental prin-
-ciple of this republic-the consent of
the governed" It has given special
privileges to mOnOpolies at the expense
OF the masses. 1t has promoted the
growth of trusts and ncenSed them to
prey upon and workingmen
alike The record it has made merited
a stern rebuke by the American people
without regard to party. For no man
should be Influenced by ordinary polit-
ical considerations when the safety OF
the republic is imperiled or when an
economic policy threatens the masses
with industrial slavery"
That is precisely right. 1t is candid
Just, patriotic. 1t preferred to stand
with the people in their fight against
oppression and general wrong doing
1T stood with the old democratic party
because it fought the villainous trusts
fostered and made secure and powerful
by the McKinley-Dingley high tariff
tax, that is a "robber' according to the
United States supreme court, is also
aE opPASoSOA VI NhG pSObNS 02 NH-
most outrageous system that was ever
applied in any land where freedom
ATTAINED. The Sun saw this n hence
sts wise action. It says:
In this contest the democratic party
haS stood for the interests OF the plain
people. Arrayed against it has been
the trusts and the vast influence which
they exert, the corporate wealth of the
country, an army of offceholders, and
all others whose selfish interests have
been promoted by republican legisla-
ion All who have received favors in
the past, all who expected favors in
h future. exerted the various influ-
ences at their command to ~perpetuate
the power of the republican party. The
democratic party had no friends" of
this character 10 assist it in the con-
<est for equal rights. in the protection
OF the masses from the Entertainments
OF monopoly and in the maintenance of
this republic as the champion of liber-
ty in all lands"
The big purses" were all on the 9TH