The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-15
PARTY PROSPECTS.

Depew is quoted as having said few
days since that three months ago the
republicans had an apparent walkover
In the campaingn Of 1896, but now that
the chances we're even between tho two
great parties with democratic hopes well
In the ascendant. Mr.. Depew Is "a very
astute politician, and this was q remark
able confession for him to make what
is more astonishing perhaps Is that his
opinion is borne out by the most thought
full and conservative members of his party
here.
When the Fifty-third congress I'D
journed on the 9TH OF March. 1876. there
was not a republican In Washington who
was not willing to bet his last dollar that
the republican victory In 1896 would be
more complete and far reaching than the
democratic victory Of 1892. Tho result of
the elections last November enhanced
republican hopes and made tho party
lcaders more arrogant and arbitrary
They easily convinced themselves that the
democratic party was hopelessly divided
and that any man the republicans chose
20 nominate for the presidency would be
elected aimost without IA struggle Con-
ditions have changed. 1t has been dem
onstrated here that the republican party
Is moro hopelessly divided than the DEM
ocradc party, while the rival ambitions
OF republican leaders make It well nigh
Impossible for anything like harmony to
Such democratic discussions as nre an
parent here arc not deep and profound
and sore There Is considerable dlssatis-
faction on the part of the rank and file
OF tho democrats with the admiulstrn-
tons, but this disaffccton is caused by
disapproval of the policy of the admin
istratlon rather than OF any nriucipl.
Working democrats are sore over good
Ionny little things They differ with the
administration on some big things but
the difference Is by no means irrecon-
cilable. There is better feeling here now
between the sound money ana free coin
age democrats than have seen before
for 1--WE years. The FREQ coinage men are
not as hcllIcose as they were. nor are
the sound money men so arrogant and
presumptuous Thero is n disposition to
give aud take and get together. 1t IS al
ready conceded that the National plat
form VIII demand himetalllc sound money
There arc more democrats growing nj
Cleveland because OF his civil service rn
form theories than because of his reputcd
love ana vonsrntlon for the gold standard
AZ any rate, the presidents Monroe doc
trine message sent a thrill Of life through
the party and convinced the republicans
That reliance on dcn,ccrntic feehleness or
disatecton might cause them some dis
appointment.
The reception by the country Of the
PRESIDENTS reafiirmAtiDn Of tho Monroe
doctrine proved conclusively that an in
t"ruRtlunal question would c0rnpletelv
oVer2hndow ana minimize even the most
absorbing domestic question When MIR
cleveland lad his firm hand on the tail
OF tho British lion, free coinage was for
gotten. civil service reform was neglected
disanpontmcnts were lost sight Of and
every democrat was ready - shout for
tho president and back him up to the
bitter end. The evidence OF republican
discussions has acted like tonic on the
democrats. When Teller and John Sher-
man begin T. battle contending demo
Gratis are very apt TO declare a truce nni
watch tho republican enlargement Tho
friends 81 Reed. Mckinley, Morton ana
Allison arc engaged in throat-slitting
oporatio ls Just ~ present The FREQ coin
axe republicans OF tho Wost have formally
parted company with the protection re-
puhiirans OF tho East.
Tho siivor fight Is much more Intense IN
the republican than in tho democratic
pnrty Tho reason Of this Is that there
are 40 millionaire democrats Tn congress-
All the representatives Of the ailycr rnlue
owners ars republicans. Tine democrats
Of the South who adhere most strongly
10 FREQ coinnwr, do "a on principle. The
Western republican advocates II free
coinage are prompted largely by business
ana urolt. There ARE no silver mncs IN
the south and tho democratic party has
no serioua expectation OF carving any
" thH silver producing States IN the West
Without the votes OF the silver producing
States thc republicans would bc "a hopeless
minority in tho senate, while the house
IA only republican under ahnorm ~ c0udl
lions aud circumstances In twenty years
the people ~ the United States have not
given fha republicans the house Of repre-
scntHtiYes twice In succession. In spite
OF en- their boasts, the republican leaders
sta toe rrt..
New f1tK and New Jersey next IAN and
they can not win a victory without tho
support of tho Western states NOW r0pre-
scented iu the senate 10y free coiuUgo re
ullichus. The embarrassment of tho re-
puNlicus has hHd the erect of harmonic
ing tho demo rats ! don't mean to con
Scv tHo impression that everything is
harm 1uipus and lovely iu the democratic
PARTY, hut I do assert most emphntcnily
TINT there IS more discpntent disagree
mcut and insiiious quarrcling now going
on anoui. tho republicans than among the
democrats | am convinced too that Il
is much easter to completely harmonic
tho democrats than 70 partially harmonic
the republicans,
had a conversation last night with
friend of mine from New York, who Is
the editor NJ one 81 the most Influential
republican daily papers in the interior Of
New York State. lilo told me that he was
satisfied that some of the republican lea1-
crs We're now engaged IN n desperate. dis
reputable and destructive game OF politics.
no referred particularly to Morton's cam
pnlcn for tho presidency, II is well under
stood In tho timer circle OF tho New York
republican machine that Plat ana those
who arc acting with him have no infection
10 permit Mortcn'S nomination. Slr. Nor
ton himself is dnod serious, however, and
my friend informed me had madn con-
siderable Of an appropriation for the pur-
chase Of Southern negroes I'm the National
convention Fihtt. Mauley, Quay, Fessen-
don. Hobart aad Clarkscn have formed a
combination 90 control the National cun-
vcntioD and nominate Reed, The UNDER
standing ~ that Plat has been assured the
secretaryship Of the treasury In the event
of Reeds election.
To control the treasury department is
the great ambition OF Mr.. Platrs llce In
1853. Mt Chicago, after Blaine had elm
phntcany declined 80 accept thu nominal
ton, the New York republicans were at
sea. II was apparent that either l,nrri-
SON or Allison would have to he nominated.
2 l.