The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-17
DANGERS OF ovER.CONFIDENCE


The big tidal wave of Republicanism
that is sweeping over the country shows
no sign of diminution, and the disposition
on the part of the people to repudiate
the Democracy for its inability to
govern grows with the continued evil
dences on the part of the Democrats OF
their utter incapacity to formulate and
carry ont legislation of any kind. There
are many reasons for Republican rejoic-
ing as election after election takes place
and the Democracy is routed foot, horse
and dragoon.
But it must be remembered that the
Democracy is in control of Congress and
that the conditions necessary for its
overthrow are vastly different from any
that have obtained heretofore.
That the Republican party will poll
the largest popular vote in its history is
unquestioned when the fall campaign is
reached, but they could win by large
popular vote and not secure control of
the House. Congressman Babcock of
Wisconsin, the chairman of the Repub-
lican congressional committee, shows
this very plainly in an interview in
which he sounds note Of warning
against over-confdence.
After stating that the result Of the
election this fall will be of greater i'm
portance, and there is more at stake than
at any election held since the war, he says:
"At present there are 20 states that have
been apportioned by the Democrats and 1
by the Republicans. The remainder
elect at large, having only one or two
members each, and have not been ap-
portioned. The vote that elected Benja-
min Harrison in 'sS gave us majority Of
three in the House, but the same vote
today, which was then decided Repub-
lican victory, would give the Democrats
from 10 to 12 majority in the House.
This result is brought about by gerry
manders made in large Northern States
since then, among which are New York,
Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin"
cans to avoid the sock of overconfidence
against which so many barks carrying
full cargoes of bright hopes have been
wrecked; his advice is timely. No
effort should be relaxed in order 10 make
sure Of Republican control. Eternal
vigilance is the price of liberty.
That his words are timely no one can
dispute. Careful observers, both
Democrats and Republicans, have con-
ceded that the Republicans would carry
the House at the fall elections, and it has
been 10y no means an unusual statement
that the Republicans will control the
House by from 80 to 100 majority. 9
But the chances against such a majority
are many and there isn't any use in en-
deavoring to deceive ones self or the
public. In addition to the gerrymanders
in the Northern States made by the
Democrats, to which allusion has been
made above, il must be remembered,
as Mr.. Babcock points out, that
the Democrats now have 100 members
and the Republicans 4, from the solid
South. They need only SO more to
make a majority and have % Northern
States To elect them from, while the
Republicans must secure 172 members
from these same States 10 organize the
House, or, in other words, must elect
172 members out of 229 districts, OF
three members TO their one; and under
the present gerrymanders the problem
is can the Republicans elect as per
cent. Of the members in the % Eastern,
Western and Northern Statesg
Mr. Babcock, in discussing the proba-
bility of the Republicans doing this,
says:
The present indications are that we
can elect in over so per cent. OF these
districts, but 10 do this we must contest
every iuch of ground. The race for the
control II the next House, / believe.
practically determines the coming Pres.
idential election, for IL the Democrat
control the Fifty-f0urth Congress
by majority Of States their plan
II campaign for '06 will be TO indOrse
the Populist ticket in enough Northern
and Western States TO prevent the Re
publicans from securing majority OF
the Pres Dental electors, and in this
way throw the election OF the President
into the House.
So You will nc once see that IL we lose
the Fifty-fourth Congress we will 60
into the Presidential campaign badly
handicapped. We DO not look for any
great gains from the South. for
! believe that the legislation so far en-
acted, and the pending Wilson bill. to
gether with the income tax provision,