The broad truth seems to be that if the Democratic
party had not as an organised party accepted Mr. Bryan, his special ideas would not have secured him more than two millions of voters. It was the party, not the platform, which carried for him the almost solid South ; and the party, not the platform, which everywhere swelled and gave solidity to his otherwise thin personal following. The party, how- ever, was not unanimous, those who bolted voted for McKinley as a rock of defence against revolution, and it is the vote of the bolters which made the Republican majority so unprecedentedly heavy. As Mr. McKinley and his supporters will wish to keep this heavy rein- forcement it is probable that they will not risk alienating them by an excessive tariff. It is probable, we say, not certain, for the President-elect is a fanatical Protectionist, and it is certain that the owners of "Trusts "—that is, monopolies—who have swelled his campaign funds look to a high tariff as their first rampart of defence. .Free-trade would kill them, and imports on any terms limit the amount of their gains. It must not be forgotten that Mr. Cleveland is
President until March, and that the old Congress with its silverite Senate sits till November, 1897.
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