Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-24
INTO TWO CAMPS
How the Democratic Party is at
Present Divided.
WORK FOR NEXT MONTHS. GASEOUS
Shall the Currency Question Be
Settled at This Session?
< FOR NEXT MONfHSS..GagCU
NEXT YEARS ELECTIONS S

The democratic caucus proposed upon the
Teassem5line of Congress will, there is
high authority for asserting, represent
very much more than an opportunity for
the expression of views on the part of con-
gressional leaders. The views, also, os
prominent democrats not in Office will be
represented through the medium of those
entitled to attend, and in this way the con-
ference Gnd the decision reached be made
to reflect the best and widest obtainable
PARTY opinion as to what should be at
tempted during the session.
Serious Concern for the Pnrty's
Future.
Democrats of national reputation openly
express the most serious concern for their
party's future. Following the November
elections, which went so Overwhelmingly
against them. has been period of several
weeks discussion in Congress, developing
wide differences of opinion in the ranks of
their party, ard spirit. the want of it.
too strongly resembling helplesSneSS They
are making a sturdy effort to get together,
and number of them have gone home for
the holiday recess resolved TO sound scnti-
ment in both business and political circles
as to the necessities of the hour. This sem
ttment, as obtained. Will be laid before the
formal conference or caucus when held in
January.
Divided Into Two Camps.
The democracy today, as old observers
see 1t, is divided into two camps. In the
one are to be found the men who hold that
nothing should be done at this session but
the routine business. This, as they think,
is not the year for an issue of any kind.
Let everything go over until next year,
when the great occasion will require of the
new Congress some definite and compre-
hensive line of policy, and when the de-
mocracy, being then the minority party in
Congress, will not be weighted with the
responsibility of proposing a policy.
In the other camp are the men who point
to the one question affecting the Treas
ury Department, and declare that that,
at least, at this session must receive
some attention. They will consent to a
postponement of the still disputed features
of the tariff until next winter, but they in
sist that to send the currency question over
until then, without making an earnest ef-
fort even TO agree upon bill, although de-
signed only for temporary effect, would be
tantamount to a confession of complete in
capacity. and result practically in dis
bandment of the party.
Next Years Elections.
These men have in mind and point, too,
those states that will hold elections next
year. There ere a number of them, and
some of the elections will be important.
The condition in two of the states is cited
illustrating the general situation. Ohio
Is a republican state, and was carried by
that party last month by one hundred and
forty thousand majority. The republican
leaders there are declaring their ability to
repeat this performance for their state
ticket next year. Kentucky, for thirty
years, until last month, had given demo-
ere tic majortles ranging from thirty to
fifty thousand. The republicans claim to
have polled three thousand more votes in
November than the democrats. They gain
ed four Congressman, and the result of a
contest may give them five. They are
preparing for next years fight with much
Spirit The democratic local leaders con-
cede their danger. They are already con-
sidering the probable necessity of changing
certain plans heretofore made and putting
their very ablest men in nomination Sec
retary Carlisle, even, the pride of his party
at home, is mentioned for governor, upon
the ground that IT may take the strongest
man i'm the state to carry the democracy
to victory.
Action On the Currency Question
In view of such a condition of affairs
those democrats who are insisting on some
action by this Congress on the currency
question are attracting attention. AS they
put the case, postponement of all action
will mean humiliation. The party will not
be able to make even a respectable show
of a campaign in any state. The game of
putting gold into the treasury, and then
releasing 1t upon the demand of legal ten
der holders, will have to be kept up. The
selling or bonds Will have TO go on, and
Will go on. AT least three more sales Of
fifty millions each viii have to be made be-
tween March and December unless some
thing is DONE The state campaigns will be
in progress. and these democratic leaders
want to know how an effective answer
could be made from the stump to the re-
publican speakers who would entertain the
crowd reading one of these treasury pro-
posals for bids. No answer, in their opin-
ion, could be made and the result would
be another republican tidal wave sweeping
over all of the territory involved. And
then, they ask, where would ne the
democracy? and where could hope find
Judgement for 1896?