The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-08

What Die 1t.

What Did 1T.
With more or less interest aud amuse-
ment, we have been reading a large and
well-selected assortment of Democrats
opinions as to what did it Mr.. Croker
is satisfied that it was sixteen to one.
Mr.. Jones. the eminent Arkansaw trav-
eIer, does not care to comment on the
situation, which is properly modest on
his part, as he may well feel that his
relations TO it are of a delicate if not
embarrassing character. Ex-Governor
Stone, of Missouri. IS inclined TO think
that we may be happy yet four years
after date. Everybody feels that pc son
ally he has done his full duty. and that,
If there is any blame alta chable to any
body. it must be applied elsewhere We
do not observe that Mt Bryan is saying
anything except to admit that he Amer
lean people have fairly and unmisiak
ably refused TO endorse his sentiments
and proposed policy, and have ratified
everything Mr. Mckinley has done or
stands Tor, from Algcr and Easan down
to the lowering of our flag in Alaska.
What did it was the American people.
In the face Of sneh a sweeping repudia-
tor it may well be doubted if a much more
intelligent and effective organization and
support than Mr. Bryan had would have
served to vary the result materially. II is
probable that he did not expect more or
better backing than he received. It seems
apparent that he knew he must fight a
personal battle and win OF lose it on the
sole strength Of his own hold upon the
masses. Otherwise, it is hard TO believe
that he would have entered the campaign
handicapped by National Committee
which was in efeet Identical wi1h the one
that assisted at his d=faat IN 1886. NJ doubt
b realized taat ~ could expect no acces-
af5a CT means or force from or through such
q body. ana ne has fousht The good fight
alone and unaaFo@. He has done we'll. and.
al tbtass~roasiderea. better than he had
any just reason for expecting
The campaign Just closed has been an
instructive object lesson in the iaiiacy CT
predfcating political results upon the vo-
cal enthusiasm of the populace. Who
could read of the wild delight with which
the Tribune of the People was everywhere
received in New York. and believe that he
would carry only four counties out Of the
sixty-one into which thu Empire State is
divided? And it must not be forgotten
that, normally New York is Democratic
Who could watch the antics Of Hanna and
Roosevelt On the stump and not lcok for
Republicans losses wherever those bad
tempered and abusive orators appeared?
The conclusion IS Inevitable that personal
appeals to voters by even the most mag
netic of men are wasted. and that cowboy
methods are inadequate to disgust people
whose minds are already made up
Abraham Lincoln. Henry Clay. and 9th
er great leaders of former generations.
were able to sway constituencies and
dominate results by the force OF personal
eloquence and logic. If any statesman
now living could do the same. William
Jennings Bryan would be the man. The
collapse of his cause is the inexorabIe an
swer to any such suggestion. The poll
ties of the present day is matter for far
different treatment. Oratory is at a dis
count. Success lies in the shrewd and
comprehensive methods of leaders like
Hanna. Organization and money without
end are the factors of victory. The pro-
cess has been a little rough. but We have
learned something in this last year Of the
nineteenth century -s'>