my memories of eighty years-第30章

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y。　　（Loud　laughter。）　　It　was　a　cannon　from　New　York　that　sounded　first　the　news　of　McKinley's　nomination。　　They　said　of　Governor　Morton's　father　that　he　was　a　New　England　clergyman；　who　brought　up　a　family　of　ten　children　on　three　hundred　dollars　a　year；　and　was；　notwithstanding；　gifted　in　prayer。　　（Laughter。）　　It　does　not　make　any　difference　how　poor　he　may　be；　how　out　of　work；　how　ragged；　how　next　door　to　a　tramp　anybody　may　be　in　the　United　States　to…night；　he　will　be　'gifted　in　prayer'　at　the　result　of　this　convention。　　（Cheers　and　laughter。）

〃There　is　a　principle　dear　to　the　American　heart。　　It　is　the　principle　which　moves　American　spindles；　starts　the　industries；　and　makes　the　wage…earners　sought　for　instead　of　seeking　employment。　That　principle　is　embodied　in　McKinley。　　His　personality　explains　the　nomination　to…day。　　And　his　personality　will　carry　into　the　presidential　chair　the　aspirations　of　the　voters　of　America；　of　the　families　of　America；　of　the　homes　of　America；　protection　to　American　industry　and　America　for　Americans。〃　　（Cheers。）

As　every　national　convention；　like　every　individual；　has　its　characteristics；　the　peculiar　distinction　of　the　Republican　convention　of　1896　was　its　adoption　of　the　gold　standard　of　value。　An　amazing　and　illuminating　part　of　our　political　literature　of　that　time　is　the　claim　which　various　statesmen　and　publicists　make　to　the　authorship　of　the　gold　plank　in　the　platform。

Senator　Foraker；　who　was　chairman　of　the　committee　on　resolutions；　devotes　a　considerable　part　of　his　interesting　autobiography　to　the　discussion　of　this　question。　　He　is　very　severe　upon　all　those　who　claim　to　have　originated　the　idea。　　I　have　been　asked　by　several　statesmen　to　enforce　their　claims　to　its　authorship。

The　silver　craze　had　not　yet　subsided。　　Bimetallism　had　strong　advocates　and　believers　in　our　convention。　　I　think　even　our　candidate　was　not　fully　convinced　at　that　time　of　the　wisdom　of　the　declaration。　　It　went　into　the　platform　rather　as　a　venture　than　an　article　of　faith；　but　to　the　surprise　of　both　the　journalists　and　campaign　orators；　it　turned　out　that　the　people　had　become　converted　to　the　gold　standard；　and　it　proved　to　be　the　strongest　and　most　popular　declaration　of　the　convention。

When　the　campaign　opened　the　genius　of　Mark　Hanna　soon　became　evident。　　He　organized　a　campaign　of　education　such　as　had　never　been　dreamed　of；　much　less　attempted。　　Travelling　publicity　agents；　with　wagonloads　of　pamphlets；　filled　the　highways　and　the　byways；　and　no　home　was　so　isolated　that　it　did　not　receive　its　share。　Columns　in　the　newspapers；　especially　the　country　papers；　were　filled　with　articles　written　by　experts；　and　the　platform　was　never　so　rich　with　public　speakers。

Such　a　campaign　is　irresistible。　　Its　influence　is　felt　by　everybody；　its　arguments　become　automatically　and　almost　insensibly　the　common　language　of　the　people。　　But　the　expense　is　so　terrific　that　it　will　never　again　be　attempted。　　There　was　no　corruption　or　purchase　of　votes　in　Mr。　Hanna's　management。　　It　was　publicity　and　again　publicity；　but　it　cost　nearly　five　millions　of　dollars。　To　reach　the　one　hundred　and　ten　million　of　people　in　the　United　States　in　such　a　way　would　involve　a　sum　so　vast　that　public　opinion　would　never　permit　any　approach　to　it。

Mr。　McKinley's　front…porch　campaign　was　a　picturesque　and　captivating　feature。　　The　candidate　was　a　handsome　man　and　an　eloquent　speaker；　with　a　cordial　and　sympathetic　manner　which　won　everybody。　　Delegations　from　all　parts　of　the　country　and　representing　every　phase　of　American　life　appeared　at　Mr。　McKinley's　residence。　　His　address　to　them　was　always　appropriate　and　his　reception　made　the　visitors　his　fast　friends。

I　received　a　personal　request　to　visit　him；　and　on　the　occasion　he　said　to　me：　　〃In　certain　large　agricultural　sections　there　is　a　very　dangerous　revolt　in　our　party；　owing　to　the　bad　conditions　among　the　farmers。　　Wheat　and　corn　are　selling　below　the　cost　of　production。　　I　wish　you　would　go　down　among　them　and　make　speeches　explaining　the　economic　conditions　which　have　produced　this　result；　and　how　we　propose　to　and　will　remedy　it。〃

〃Mr。　McKinley；〃　I　said；　〃my　position　as　a　railroad　president；　I　am　afraid；　would　antagonize　them。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　your　very　position　will　draw　the　largest　audiences　and　receive　the　greater　attention。〃

The　result　proved　that　he　was　correct。

I　recall　one　meeting　in　particular。　　There　were　thousands　present；　all　farmers。　　In　the　midst　of　my　speech　one　man　arose　and　said：　〃Chauncey　Depew；　we　appreciate　your　coming　here；　and　we　are　very　anxious　to　hear　you。　　Your　speech　is　very　charming　and　interesting；　but　I　want　to　put　this　to　you　personally。　　We　here　are　suffering　from　market　conditions　for　the　products　of　our　farms。　　The　prices　are　so　low　that　we　have　difficulty　in　meeting　the　interest　on　our　mortgages　and　paying　our　taxes；　no　matter　how　seriously　we　economize。　　Now　you　are　the　president　of　one　of　the　greatest　railroads　in　the　country。　　It　is　reported　that　you　are　receiving　a　salary　of　fifty　thousand　dollars　a　year。　　You　are　here　in　a　private　car。　　Don't　you　think　that　the　contrast　between　you　and　us　makes　it　difficult　for　us　poor　farmers　to　give　you　the　welcome　which　we　would　like？〃

I　saw　at　once　I　had　lost　my　audience。　　I　then　ventured　upon　a　statement　of　conditions　which　I　have　often　tried　and　always　successfully。　　I　said：　　〃My　friend；　what　you　say　about　me　is　true。　Now；　as　to　my　career；　I　was　born　and　brought　up　in　a　village　similar　to　the　one　which　is　near　you　here。　　My　father　gave　me　my　education　and　nothing　else　with　which　to　begin　life。　　As　a　young　lawyer　I　was　looking　for　clients　and　not　for　office。　　I　made　up　my　mind　that　there　were　no　opportunities　offered　in　the　village；　but　that　the　chances　of　success　were　in　the　service　of　corporations。　The　result　is　that　I　have　accomplished　what　you　have　described。　Now；　my　friend；　I　believe　that　you　have　a　promising　boy。　　I　also　believe　that　to　your　pride　and　satisfaction　he　is　going　through　the　neighboring　college　here；　and　that　you　intend　on　account　of　his　brightness　and　ability　to　make　him　a　lawyer。　　When　he　is　admitted　to　the　bar；　do　you　expect　him　to　try　to　do　what　I　have　accomplished　and　make　an　independent　position　in　life；　or　fail？〃

The　farmer　shouted：　　〃Chauncey；　you　are　all　right。　　Go　ahead　and　keep　it　up。〃

My　arguments　and　presentation　were　no　better　than　many　another　speaker's；　but；　as　Mr。　McKinley　predicted；　they　received　an　attention　and　aroused　a　discussion；　because　of　what　the　old　farmer　had　said；　that　no　other　campaigner　could　command。

Mr。　McKinley　sent　for　me　again　and　said：　　〃Sentiment　is　a　wonderful　force　in　politics。　　Mr。　Bryan；　my　opponent；　has　made　a　remarkable　speaking　tour　through　our　State。　　He　started　in　the　early　morning　from　Cleveland　with　a　speech。　　His　train　made　many　stops　on　the　way　to　Cincinnati；　where　he　arrived　in　the　evening；　and　at　each　place　he　addressed　large　audiences；　traversing　the　State　from　one　side　to　the　other。　　His　endurance　and　versatility　have　made　a　great　impression　upon　our　people。　　To　meet　and　overcome　that　impression；　I　have　asked　you　to　come　here　and　repeat　Bryan's　effort。　　You　are　so　much　older　than　he　isI　think　we　may　claim　nearly　twice　his　agethat　if　you　can　do　it；　and　I　hope　you　can；　that　sentiment　will　be　dissipated。〃

I　traversed　Mr。　Bryan's　route；　stopped　at　the　same　stations　and　delivered　speeches　to　similar　audiences　of　about　the　same　length。　On　arriving　in　Cincinnati　in　the　evening　I　was　met　by　a　committee；　the　chairman　of　which　said：　　〃We　have　followed　you　all　along　from　Cleveland；　where　you　started　at　seven　o'clock　this　morning；　and　it　is　fine。　　Now　Mr。　Bryan；　when　he　arrived　here；　had　no　meeting。　We　have　seven　thousand　people　in　the　Music　Hall；　and　if　you　will　go　there　and　speak　five　minutes　it　will　make　your　trip　a　phenomenal　success。〃

I　went　to　the　Music　Hall；　of　course　had　a　wonderful　time　and　wild　ovation；　and　spoke　for　an　hour。　　The　next　day　I　was　none　the　worse　for　this　twelve　hours'　experience。

President　McKinley　had　spent　most　of　his　life　in　the　House　of　Representatives。　　He　loved　the　associations　and　life　of　Congress。　The　most　erratic　and　uncertain　of　bodies　is　Congress　to　a