The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-09-17
The Present Outlook.
BY LEO.

take a mind-look upon political
prospects. There never was a
more sanguine candidate for the
presidency than the present Dem
ocratic candidate. He sees eve
rything coming his way; is sure
of success in November. The
trend of things, as he sees them,
is Democratic: and, thinking so,
he works with great energy,
fights almost single handed a.
gainst great odds. One must ad-
mire his pluck when finding much
fault with his judgment. Does
he really believe what he says?
We think so. He is a sanguine
man, an optimist, ay, a vision
ary. He sees what others do not,
and seeing believes.
We need not think that the
candidate really sees things as
they are or are to be. He fan
cies things, and draws on his
imagination and desire, and
hence is sure of winning the bat
tie. We must make allowance
for all this. 1t is his nature. He
has always been sure of success
while the fighting is on, but at
the end finds himself defeated.
We all remember, how in 1896,
he was sure of victory, but how
VIM. Mckinley walked off with
the prize. So again in 1900. He
perambulated the country with
the pose of a conqueror. He saw
nothing but a glorious success;
but again the genial Mckinley
came out victorious in Novem-
ber. Again the peerless" makes
his fight, and a gallant fight he
makes, and gives out the opinion
that this time success is very
sure. "The third time is the
charm" is it not?
Some one has said that a good
dinner is to be enjoyed three
times-once in anticipation, once
in action, the third time in re-
Election. Well, now, if the pres
idency of the United States is to
be enjoyed that way, the Demo
cratic candidate has had his share
of enjoyment, has enjoyed the
anticipation three times. 1t
seems to us that enjoyment in
action is never to be his lot. An
ticipation ends it with him.
We see no prospect of his win
ming this time Look at the facts.
In 1896 he was the head of three
political parties-the Democratic,
the Populist, and the Silver Re-
publicans- then failed to win.
Now he heads but one party, and
there are three or four against
him. To begin with, the Repub-
lican party, in all its prestige and
power is solid against him; then
the Populists have a candidate of
their own; the Independent
Hearst party-comes third; and
fourth, the Socialist party, un-
der Debs. All these parties are
opposed to Col. Bryan and will
, take from him many votes. How
can he beat them all?
Then again, the candidates
record is against him. People
can not, and will not, forget his
vagaries of 1896. His wild pro.
phesies are all written, and al
though he may say nothing this
time about 16 to l, etc., yet we
know what he did say in other
campaigns. Has he changed his
notions? Perhaps he has, and
perhaps he has not; but is keep
ing still in order to win his third
battle.
It is better for the nation to
have a man in the presidency
who changes his political notions
less frequently. The chief mag
istrate of this great nation should
be a man of decided and correct
ideas about national affairs. That
is the common opinion Of think
ing men. The Democratic can
didate is a man of various politi-
cal notions, and is always ready
to change his notions in order to
win. He reminds one of the
stump speaker who said at the
close of his fervid speech, Now,
gentlemen, these are my senti-
ments, honestly believed and