The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-01-01
Political Poker.
LFrom the sunday American.l

peliei that the legislature to be elec
teu next November would be in
sympathy with him and his policy.
w hether he gave expression to these
sentiments or not. it is csrtain that
the Goyernor's supporters share with
MIN the enthusiasm and the hone
tnat the tables will be turned at the
next session and they placed in po-
sition to control the legislation of the
BODY, rather than to see their oppo.
nents win nearly everything worth
having. The leaders of the division
IN the Democratic party, standing in
open hostility to the Governor, are no
less sanguins. They cannot see how
1t Will be possible for any faction to
briag about their downfall, and they
already manifest feeling of sxulta-
ton over the victories which they
ie"l are waiting for them. The Re-
publican party is not without hope.
It's members think they have right
IT, EXPECT a large increase in the
number of their representatives in
the General Assembly. They indulge
the hope that the people will become
so weary and Disguised with the fac
! tN}n and wrangles in the Democratic
party thai they will turn away from
it, satisfied that neither wing means
to accomplish anything in the way of
reforming the administration of the
State government. aud that the sole
object of both is the distribution of
the patronage, everything else being
a matter of secondary importance.
Whichever of the two wings secures
the control of the two houses of the
legislature, the fight for spoils will be
the first consideration, and of more
absorbing interest to the victors than
any or all legislative measures. The
leaders of both factions of the domi-
nant party can doubtless prove by
figures the causes of their belief that
each will have a majority in the two
houses next winter.
1t is patent, however, that the
managers faction has the advantage
over the government wing in the
State Senate, where large number
Of senators friendly to the leaders
hold over for another term, while
the number of the other wing in the
same position is rather limited. There
has been some talk of late among
members of the weaker ring in the
Democratic party that combination
may be effected with the Republican
party by which the managers faction
could be defeated. There is no dis
position among the leaders or the
masses of the Republican party to
form an alliance with any portion of
the Democratic party on the same
basis of the combinations of recent
years. The members of the party
are in favor of an alliance on one con-
dItion emily. and that is that the dis
satisfied portion of the Democratic
party those who contend they are
disguised with the party's manage
ment-go over to them and aid in the
election of the Republican ticket.
This would be the easiest way to
break the ring rule, which the MEM
bers of the anti ring faction claim
has been welded by these in author
ity with an iron rod. Whether the
latter will accept such an offer has
not been ascertained. There is no
question but that the Republicans
would receive these concessions from
the opposition ranks without hesita.
ton. 1t is held that the Republican
party has never gained by coalition
with dissatisfied Democrats. and that
had such union resulted in victory,
it would have been barren one for
the Republicans. Their votes and
influence would have been accepted,
but the fruits of a triumph would
have remained with those who could
not have succeeded without the as:
sistance of Republican votes. The
Republicans of the State, to all pres
ent appearances, propose fighting
next years political battle on their
own account. They will place their
own candidates in the field and do
the best they can with them. They
expect to have respectable delega-
ton in the next General Assembly
both as regards their number aud
character. Out Of the ninety.two
mem hers in the next House of Dele
gates they think they will be able to
elect at least thirty. and possibly
nOre than that number. Under these
circumstances. they will held the bal
ance of power in the House, and will
be able to defeat or carry such meas
ureS which to them seem wise and
proper. AT the last session it would
have been impossible for the Hamil-
ton wing to have made a struggle on
any pending measure without the
aid of the Republican members oil