The Washington herald., 1908-03-23
Analyzes Bryan,s Strength.

Editor The Washington Herald:
To make just estimate of Bryans
strength, the condition of the Democratic
party at the time he was first nominated
must be considered.
In 1892 the Democrats elected 300 mem
bers OF the House and the Republicans
l26 a clear Democratic majority OF nine
ty-four. Two years later, before the
''bane of Bryan" had been thought Of,
and when Cleveland's administration was
the paramount issue, the Democratic ma
jority was obliterated and Republican
majority of forty-two substituted. The
Senate was also changed from d Demo
cratic majority Of eight 20 a Republican
majority Of three. In fact Democratic
conditions grew steadily worse until Bry-
ans nomination. At the time the con-
vention was held il seemed that nothing
on earth could save the Democratic party
from a crushing and what many believed
well-deserved defeat. Not one of the
Eastern leaders. save David b. Hill,
sought the nomination This was the de-
plorable and hopeless condition OF the
Democratic party when Bryan mounted
the convention platform. and. in one OF
the ablest and most imprisoned speeches
ever delivered in a political convention,
resuscitated the PROSTATE and almost de-
funct Democratic party. As if by magic,
the party was terminated by Bryan
The convention virtually created 4 new
party and adopted new declaration of
principles, with Bryan FOR standard bear
er. He made the most marvellous political
campaign ever witnessed. As a moral
and intellectual accomplishment as feat
Of sublime genius. as a glorious contest
against the most powerful and vindictive
opposition, his achievements are without
a parallel in all history.
He received nearly a million more votes
than Cleveland received in 1892. and near
~ a million and half more than Parker
received in 1904.
But ii is only when we come to analyze
the vote OF 1896 and compare the increase
OF the population with the increase OF the
vote that we can have an adequate con-
ception of Bryan's vote-getting ability.
For instance. IN 1892 Cleveland carried
Kentucky by d plurality of 10000 Bryan
received 43, 900 more votes than Cleveland
did in 1892. and yet lost the State. The total
were 436,05l counted. an Increase Of I45O0O
which would indicate an increase in popu-
latiOn Of 725,000. while the census shows
that the population increased only 10000.
which would mean an increase of G,0O0
votes. Where did this Increase of 125. 900
votes come from?
Cleveland lost Ohio in 1892 by 900 votes.
Bryan received 70,O00 more votes In 1896
than Cleveland did in 1882. yet lost the
State by 10000 There were nearly 100000
more votes cast in Ohio in 1895 than there
were in 1892. which would indicate an in
crease Of population OF 100000 In four
years. while the census shows that the
population had only increased 2g3. 92S.
which would indicate an. increase Of the
vote 70 be about 60,0O0 ! Where did the
other 10000 votes come from?
In the fourteen States which Mark
Hanna set out TO capture an abnormal
and pTodigiOus increase of voters, as COM
pared with increase Of population, was
shown, while the remainder of the States
show a natural ratio Of increase between
the vote and the population.