Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-14
THE FIRST GUN
It Will Be Fired by Louisiana Next
10. Year.
rs .
PROPOSED REPUBLICAN, ALLIANCE
Democrats Divided on Both Silver
and Protection.
PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCES

Louisiana will fire the first gun in next
years engagement. An election for state
officers and members of the legislature will
take place on the 23d of April, and the
conditions are such that national interests
will to some extent be involved. Silver,
protection and the franchise respects
the negro will all receive attention, and
not unlikely presidential preferences of
both parties will be disclosed during the
campaign.
The democrats will hold their convention
on the Sth of January-Jackson's day-the
populists on the 10th, and the republicans
will probably follow on the 18th. A meet
ing of the republican state committee has
been called for the 18th instant at New
Orleans, and ex-Serators Kellogg and
While there are four political organiza-
tions in Louisiana, circumstances~may re-
suit in the bringing of but two tickets into
the field. In that event the campaign will
be one of unusual energy.
Al Alliance Indicated.
Present indications point to the renom-
iration of Gov. Foster by the democrats
| on a platform reaffirming the last national
platform to silver, declaring for a reve
nue. tariff. and in favor of a property and
educational qualification for suffrage. The
design Is, as in South Carolina and Ms
sissppi, to disfranchise the negro to a very
large extent To oppose this the republi-
cans, the pCpul!StS and an organization
known national republicans-composed
of white sugar planters demanding pro-
lection for their staple-wil endeavor to
form IN alliance. and If they succeed in
the undertaking they will be able, 1t is
thought, to put up pretty stiff fight
Difficulties In the Way.
1t is conceded, however, that many diff
culties present themselves in the way of
the proposed alliance. The chief of these
is the silver problem. The populists are for
free coinage, while both the regular re-
rublicans and the national republicans are
opposed to it. The populists incline toward
a revenue tariff while the two republican
organizations advocate protection, AMI es-
pee ally regards sugar. Tie hope, there
fore, of the forming of an ant-democratic
alliance rests upon the declaration. which
all three organizations unite in making,
| tBat no amendment to the state constitu-
| tion should be adopted having for Its OBJ
ject the abr.dgment of the right of suf-
frage within the commonwealth.
Democrats Divided.
The democrats, while united on state is
| sues, have their divisions, too, on national
issues. They are not agreed either as to
silver or the tariff. Sound money senti-
ment predomiuates in New Orleans and the
adjacent parishes, but in the upper portion
cf the state-of which Shreveport the home
of Senator Blanchard, is the metropolis
silver has good many friends. MIR.
blanchard himself Is ciassed as a free con-
age man. But, for the time, the effort will
oe made to hide this by the adoption OF the
nnaEcial strGcdle of the last national plat
| form, and thus send the question over to
| the EeXt rational convention. The tariff
question is likewise troublesome. The
gar section-which is the lower section of
the state-is for tax on sugar, and even
a bounty, while the upper section is pas
SiVe on tn ; subject.
Presidential Preferences.
AS to the matter of presidential prefer
ences, interest attaches to the republican
organizations. The democrats in company
with their brethren in other states, in con-
sidering next years possibilities hardly
dare to lift their eyes as high as the White
| House. But the republicans are in such
high clover now they are reaching for
everything in sight. The contest is thought
| to be between Reed and Mckinley, with the
| chances at present in favor of the former
The Mckinley sentiment is based on the
| bounty feat of the Mckinley tariff bill
which proved to be 80 advantageous to the
sugar planters. They prospered under it as
| never before, and to such All extent that the
| organization known National Repubil-
| cans is composed Of planters who left the
democratic party solely because of it's free
| trade professions and tendencies. These
| men are for Mckinley, ard will exert them
selves in his behalf.
The Leaders for Reed.
: But the leaders of the regular republicans.
| headed by ex-Senators Kellogg and Pinch
back, are for Reed, and their effort Will be
| to give the Maine candidate solid delega-
| ton from the state They are all hard
workers. and, the regulars, will have, of
| course, the recognition of the national COM
| mittee. The program is to have the dele
| gates named at next months state conven-
| ton and instructed. IL is regarded as al
| together likely that both Mr.. Kellogg and
| Mr.. Plnchback VIII be among those chosen,
| and that Mr.. Kellogg will be made chair
| man of the delegation, and II tbs program
| goes through sentiment in the surrounding
| states Will, 1t is predicted, be favorably af-
| fected toward Mr.. Reed. The November
| returns have filled southern republicans
! with new spirit, and the first manifesto
| ton Of this next year is looked for IN the
| pelican state, and in the Maine candida te's
| behalf.