The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-05

IN the Southern States, except in West
virginia, where they have fighting
cnance, nearly, if not quite, all the neces
sary gain of 81 seats must be made in
the North-that is, the Republicans
must hold all the seats they now have
from the North and carry almost half
as many more. This, of course, is not
an easy task, especially as many of the
Western States have been redistricted
recently by the Democrats to the dis
advantage of the Republicans. Never
theless, the prospect is bright for the Re
publicans to control the next House. Ii
there were nothing but Democrats to
reckon with, there would be little hest
tation III predicting Republican ma
jority The existence of the Populist
party creates the only doubt that there
is about it. 1t is an unknown factor in
the contest, which may be potent, and
which may not Its influence will be
felt, if felt at all, principally in the far
Western States. The party has no strength
worth considering east of the Allegha-
MES, and in the central West it is not big
enough to need to be taken into account,
but in many of the states west of the
Mississippi there is enough of it to COM
plicate the situation and to make the
results in good many congressional
districts, which used to be strongly Re-
publican, very doubtful. Whether Pop
ulist strength has declined or increased
since the last oaneraJ eIactiop is q oruac
ton which it is difficult to answer be-
fore election with any considerable de-
gree of certainty. In the states where
it was strongest and accomplished the
most, such as Colorado and Kansas, it
has probably declined by reason of the
antics of Waite and Llewelfing, b7t in
some of the other states in that section
there is reason to fear that it may have
increased. At any rate there is no ques-
tion but it is the existence of the Pop
ulist party that is responsible for all
the doubt that the Republicans enter
tain as to their controlling the next
House.
AS regards the second questiou-the
result of the election in New York State
there seems to be little reason for
doubling the election of Morton by
good plurality. Thanks largely &c an
energetic candidate, the Democrats have
been reused somewhat from the lethargy
and Indifference that have settled down
over them in other states, and there
will be no such slump in their vote as
was witnessed in Vermont and Maine,
On the other hand, HIPS candidacy
vote bids fair to fall a good deal short
of the full Democratic strength. Hill's
predictions AS TO the result have been
very guarded, and it is evident enough
that he is not sanguine of victory Of
course his henchmen profess confidence,
is their wont. A signif cant straw, which
shows which way the wind is blowing, is
the betting, which is two to one in favor
of Morton.
AS regards the city election, the pre-
vailing opinion is that Tammany is
destined to be defeated. The REGISTRATION
points in that direction. The revelations
OF the Lexow committee have created
tremendous public sentiment against
Tammany, and it looks as il there would
be union of all the respectable ele-
ments of society, without distinction of
party, to down it. Since Tweed's pecu-
lations were exposed the feeling against
Tammany has never been SO strong, and
the opposition to it was never so tho
roughly united. Generally it's opponents
have not been able to consolidate, but.
this year they are all united on one can!
didate. If Tammany can not be beaten
this year, New York city might as we'll
make up it's mind to submit to its dicta-
ton Indefinitely.