The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-11
WEDNESDAY, OCT. II, 1898
POLITICS IN THE UNITED
STATES.

1896 will become Of great interest to
the Hawaiian group.
These prospects are now good, first,
because e the panic which uod upon
the heels Of the new administration.
Than hard times there is thing more
potent in America to change political
conditions. In 1860 the Democracy,
which was held responsible for the
business collapse Of 1857, succumbed
to the new party of Lincoln and
Seward and in 1876 the Republicans,
because of the financial ruin wrought
in 1873, were ousted from Congress
and defeated in the Presidential field
by popular majority of $50, 900,
though Mr.. Hayes managed to gain
the White House by an award which
has been called into legal question
since. But for the revival of business
in 1879 it is conceded that General
Garfield would have been beaten by
General Hancock.
The issue upon which Mr.. Cleve-
land secured a second term was almost
purely industrial To be sure, Cond-
tons were not bad, but by reform of
the tariff he promised even better
times than had prevailed during the
four years of General Harrison's in
cumbency; and though he failed by
$1,000 votes of popular majority, he
captured the Electoral College. With
his induction the hopes Of workingmen
ran high, but their disappointment was
bitter. a widespread panic ensued,
mines and manufactures shut down,
hungry men became legion, banks
failed, import duties fell off, gold grew
scarce, the checks of even so great a
corporation as the Standard Oil Com
pany could not be met in cash, while
confidence, erstwhile Towering plant,
was cut at the roots. In the silver
States public distress has been SO gen
eral that secession has been talked of
as a remedy, and Governors have
spoken Of riding in blood up to their
horses brides. With some modifca,
tons this industrial condition yet pre-
walls, and we do not see that its effects
can wear off before the election of
1896 unless an European war should
begin and create an artificial and fever,
ish demand for American products and
wares.
Thus the Democracy has lost, in the
space Of seven months, the greater
part of its strength among the laboring
classes. We think it doubtful if it Can
regain its prestige and support Al,
ready Democratic wurkingmen are
clamoring for the protective policy
under which such great measure OF
public welfare had been achieved.
They confess, in advance of trial OF
the experiment, that they were deceived
as to the log cal sequence Of such al
assault upon invested capital as the
substitution of free trade for protection
would imply. They are ready now fol
another political change.
The continuance of Democratic rule
at Washington is also menaCed by in
ternal party feuds. The next mail from
the pivotal State of New York vii
show the issue of a gigantic grapple fl
control Of the Democratic organization
there by the friends of Cleveland anc
Hill. The fight between these leader,
was acute two years ago and S-natol
Hill won. The recurrence of the con
test is now marked by a persona
ascerbty which wildly calls tc
mind the suicidal fight between
the Republican Stalwarts and
Halfbreeds in the Empire State
twelve years ago. There had been Z
proud Republican mai rIty there, elect
ing Senators and a Governor bu
pride went before fall Senator
Conkling raised an issue against Presi
dent Garfield as Senator Hill is d los
against President Cleveland, and the
defeat Of the Republican party followed
To-day history is beginning to repea
itself even in matters Of detail. 1t il
now war to the knife and the knife tC
the hilt between the Democratic fac
tons, and the outcome is quite likely
to be to the party now in power wha
it was to the great organization which
divided its strength between the ad
herents of the Garfield and Conklinl
ideas in politics in 1881 and until the
Waterloo Of November, 1884.
What with workingmen going out q
the ruling party in baualions; with