The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-30
Stamping for the Presidency.

Mr.. Bryan's notification speech at In
dianapOlis at the beginning OF the cam
paign was admirable in all respects. Had
he contented himself with that well-con-
sidered effort and retired to his home,
permitting others to speak for him as the
representative of the combined opposition
10 the dominant party, We have no doubt
that the prospects Of the combination
would have been more assuring than they
appear to be at this stage of the can
vass. That his stumping tours, notwith-
standing the large audiences he has
drawn IT, many places, have strengthened
the opposition more than the combine is
a conviction shared by many of his dis
erect friends. And If, as now seems prob
able, his star goes down a second time on
the 9th of November. those friends will
not hesitate to avow that belief in pub
lie as freely as they have been expressing
it in private conversation for some time
past.
No candidate ever has attained to the
Presidency Of the United States by stump
ing the country. 1t may well be doubted
that. the future will show an exception
TO this rule, There is a widely prevalent
sentiment in opposition TO such a method
of seeking that office, a position which
the American people rightly regard as
the most exalted on earth. The popular
conception Of its dignity demands digni-
fed demeanor on the part of a candidate
that is incompatible with personal stump
ing. Even If such cSmpaigner inyaria-
bly, addressed himself TO the reason of his
hearers, seorning appeal TO passion and
prejudice, avoiding the acts of the
demagogue, and keeping On the highest
plane, on the mountain ranges OF
thought" his appearance In the hastings
would still be OF doubtful expediency, But
Mr.. Bryan has not done that. He has
cOnspicuoUsly failed 20 keep up 10 the
standard of his notification speech. lie
has given ground for the charge made by
a distinguished gold-standard Democrat
that Mr. Bryan is preaching the gospel
OF hate Voicing that, he appeals to the en-
vious, the disconnected. the improvident,
the incompetent, and the unworthy idle"
Sometimes ignoring, al other times de-
nying, the stupendous fact of such pros
perity as neither this nor any other coun-
try ever saw before. Mr.. Bryan goes
whirling through the Stayes making
speeches intended to array class against
class, the poor against the rich. the
v age-worker against the employer
Seemingly unaware that time and events
have annihilated ali the theories of his
1896 campaign. ana swept away all OF the
predictions he made in advocacy OF free
silver, he now appears with other theories
still mors untenable. other prophecies
even more sinister Speaking 70 the
farmers, who have certainly had their
full share OF the prosperity of TIE last
three years. ne says. The man who
drove black slaves years ago is not half
so msrciless as the man who drives white
slaves to-day with his mortgages"
Mr. BryLn ought 10 know that. since
iS5, there has been an increase of over
ssi0,0oe,ooe IN the amount Of individual de-
posits in national BANKS. and that the
farmers oXn their share OF H. He should
know that. in the same period. the in
crease in savings banks deposits has been
over s3.c000. to which may be added
an increase OF deposits in mutual savings
institutions aggregatlng about si7teDo. 90.
lie should also knoS that the number OF