Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-11-09

Result Awaited win conNdeacs Prosperity
Assured Aaeihsr Fight n 1900.

| following: Henry Watterson was seen
! by the Herald correspondent. this af-
| ternOon, at the Hotel Dominica. where
he has been stopping for about week
past, en- route from Geneva to the
United States. He gave the following
| interview.
In reply to the question what he
fought of the result Of the Presidential
election. Mr.. Watterson said:
II have not had the least doubt from
the beginning of the overwhelming de-
feat of Bryan. Having had no anx-
iety on the subject. I experienced no
excitement in the result. l got to bed
on Tuesday and went to sleep. l slept
soundly, confident that the morning s
news would be all one way.
1.-The virtue and intelligence of the
people were on trial, and they have
been indicated. Conservative gov
eminent was in issue. and the re-
Spouse of universal suffrage is all that
the friends of public order and ma
tional credit could desire.
I'm this regard the victory will be
of incalculable value to the prestige
of the country in foreign lands. and to
its material prosperity in so far as
that may be affected by foreign in
vestments."
What, in your judgment, Mr.. Wat
| terson, will be the effect of the cleo
ton on affairs at home?"
THE business of the country has
been subjected to serious and pro-
longed strain. This strain being al
ready lifted, money held back from in
raSty IN U.an
of rest from political agitation inter
vening between now and the meeting
of Congress is indispensable to all
classes. This, l imagine. we shall
have.
! "Admonished by Clevelands msad-
ventures With Congress- Mr. Mc-kin-
F, ley will hardly risk an extra session,
| but too much must not be expected.
| The country has escaped an imminent
peril, but the elements of disorder still
| exist, with their temper undated. On
| the other hand. the friends of credit
and order embrace many differences
| of opinion and may not be brought in
, to concurrent action except under tao
pressure of necessity.
1T may require four years more to
| bring the country to a sense of where
| its danger truly lies. | do not expect
| tho decisive battle will be fought or
won before 1900
| But what about the deficit In orr
revenues. Mr. Watterson. in view of
which Mr.. Mckinley might feel 1t
! necessary to call an extra session."
| That was the reply, SIS likely to
he cured for the time being. at least.
/ a a
BY the short crops in Europe, all tend
ing toward the increased prosperity of
our people. and consequently, to ris-
! ing revenues"
| next put to Mr.. Watterson the
question: What are your views re-
| specting sound money. the future of
the Democrats and the parties in the
| United States generally"
| That is a question not easy to an
swer. Much will depend on circum-
stances. which cannot be clearly fore
seen.
| Sound money Democrats have
| aided the Republicans to rescue the
| country from the serious dangers
which threatened it, Whether the al
| lance thus formed will last--and for
| how long-depends partly upon the
course which the new administration
takes and partly upon the disposition
of those Democrats, who. though they
supported Bryan on grounds of party
discipline, did not approve of the ex-
tremes of the Chicago platform or
| sympathiZe with the excuses of the
| campaign.
| Mr.. Mckinley. who is one of the
| best of men and most patriotic of citi-
zens, is still a radical protectiOnist. and
if he should insist on the assertion OF
his doctrine and its embodiment into
law there are thousands of men equally
patriotic and sincere who cannot go
+! along with him.
'On the other hand. the proscriptive
spirit of the Bryan Democrats makes
an immediate effect upon the Demo-
cratic element uncertain, if not unlike
ly. The line of the Indianapolis plat
form is the only platform upon which
the party can be reorganized. Those
| Democrats who cannot come to that
will go into the camp of the POpulists.
Meanwhile there will be a good deal
of independent politics among those
who have hitherto called themselves
Democrats. And this may not be a
wholly bad thing for the country"
What people need is less partyism
and fewer contests of the kind we have
just passed through. The constitution
should be amended and the Presidency
limited to a single term of six or eight
years"
DO you consider the money question
as definitely settled. Mr. Watterson?"
THE free silver question is settled,
was the immediate response. Vienna
Mr. Watterson added. continue to hear
talk of international bimetallism. but ii
will be mainly talk. There is really nc
likelihood that England or Germany
will consent to further experimentation
in monetary standards. and the silver
agitation in America will merely serve
to keep a few congressman more or less
at Washington so as not to disarrange
the commercial or financial conditions
|