Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-09
WHY DEMOCRATS SMILE
They Think They See Brighter Prospects
Ahead
SMILE
The Gloom Disappearing - Several
Things That Have Given New Hope
to the Party Leaders.

Within the last few weeks there has been
a pronounced revival of hope among demo-
cratic leaders of bright prospects for the
party in the elections next fall. This fact
is shown by conversations with the po-
litical leaders who have visited Washing
ton at intervals during the past month, and
with those who remain in the city but keep
in touch with the country at large. The
unanimous opinion of these people is that
the democratic outlook is not nearly so
gloomy as 1t has been, but on the contrary
is actually beginning to take on something
of a rose color. The old simile of the ''sil-
yer lining" ETC., is not used any more.
The revival in business. of course, is the
basis Of their hope. There Is no dis
count the revival, and the democrats are
claiming the credit for it. The protection
democrats Of the type formerly represented
by Mr.. Randall, and now personified by
MIR. German ard others, say that the good
times result from their tariff bill The low
tariff democrats claim the result as theirs.
They say that # such prosperity can come
from partial reduction of high duties,
how much greater would it have been if
their ideas had been carried out in full.
AT any rate, it is claimed as a democratic
victory.
Counting on Republican Dissensions.
Another feature of the situation which
gives the democrats hope, is the dissen-
sion existing or threatening among the re-
publicans in certain sections. In Pennsyl-
vania, for instance, they hope the great re-
publican landslide may be partially cleared
away by the fight between Quay and
Hastings, ard the general dissatisfaction
with the state administration which it is
claimed exists. In New York great results
are expected frcm the factional troubles
In Illinois, it is claimed, the action of the
republican legislature is sharply criticised
throughout the state, and the same COM
plant is made in Indiana
OF course, while counting upon the fam
lily troubles of their opponents, the demo-
Gratis do not speak of the differences in
their own party over financial questions,
but when they are lkened to the man who
saw the mote in his brothers eye and yet
failed to discover the beam in his own
optic, they say that the republicans will
also get into difficulties over the silver
issue in due time. and that In this respect
1t is standoff between the two parties.
The sGministrotion's Stand.
Administration democrats cherish the
hope that some prestige will accrue to the
party by its stand upon the silver ques-
ton. They say that the free silver mania
will soon become a thing of the past
laughing stock and object of derision in
politics, and that when this occurs the
people Will remember that when the craze
was at its height the democratic leaders
had the courage to come out boldly and op-
pose it, while republican leaders and repub-
ican conventions lodged the issue Upon
this recollec ton the administration men
Will mako the claim that the dominant ele-
ment in the democratic party is the sound
money party of tie country.