New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-26

circumstances, w
posed to base very slender EXPECTATIONS "PoN
force composed Of such homogeneous no' ~ '"'
Incompatible, material The sugar p'''n'ei. az.
of course, opposed to the Popuiists III ever ,"N-
that enters into the theory OF government
are Protectionists, they uphold the so'u ',
ard. they antagonize every form Oh 'o.'''','
The Popusts naturally conflict WIN ''e va
tional Republicans AT every point anu '"'.'' "
make the confusion more bewlld"rihs' h'."''
the Popullsts nor the National Repnbhcahs nave
ANYTHING political in common WIN the h'Si" VI
entertain the slightest idea or eXpec'a'lon VI
admitting him to permanent poli'lcal ie"o"
shin The Populist is bulldozer. Inc sugar
planter is an aristocrat
Nevertheless. these three forces nave cVhi-
bined in seeming good faith TO over'n'o" 'u'
tvrannica and oppressive rule OF tne Deiiooi".'.
machine and each one of them has powerful
mo,ive-a motive possibly powerful enough 10
hold tho coalition together for this one campaign
ot ,oost The sugar planters have left the Dem
ocrat,c marty on perfectly plain economic issue
1,bov 600 that the great industry In which their
sortunes orc all embarked has nothing but ex-
.,rc,,on N exnect nj the hands OF Mr.. Cleve-
land ond Mr. Wilson, and nothing to hope Tor
outside the party of Mckinley Reed anu AZ
lson. The POpulists have LEFT the Demorauc
ro,tr hocouse they hate even such conservatism
as that party still ventures to aiiec' Inc
nogroes have ALWAYS been Republicans. But all
.,,oso +broo have much 10 work for in this effort
10 destroy the rule Of the Democratic ors'hH'
ton. None Of them has plan or an ASPIRATION
which can by any possibility be prosecutor eA-
ccpt over the ruins Of that arrogant ana "h-
scrupulous machine. The sugar painters WANT
honest elections, limited ballot REFORM the righ'
10 send their own representatives 10 congress
and to vote for the Republican candidate IN the
National elections. The Populists want pollticai
office free silver, Government banks and an
opportunity TO exploit their various crazes ana
caprices in Washington. 1t Is credible that theSe
two factions Will stand by their agreement nj
least long enough to overthrow the Deihocrauc
orgo nization. gain control Of the local govern
ment and enact such legislation as Will give 10
each the domination Of It's own section OF the
State.
The negroes are the uncertain quantity, ana
/, IS upon them that the fate OF the antl-pemo-
cratic combination depends. If their white lead
crs such as Kellogg and Leonard. really want
ballot reform and homes, elections. ana can IN
duce the colored contingent 10 vote with the
whites 10 that end. there can be no DOUBT thal
the Democrats Will be in hopeless minority ~
the polls next month The question Is whether
they want these things and whether, wanting
these things. they can persuade their followers
10 want them. The negroes. OF course. under
stand that ballot reform on the Australian plan
means dsfranchscmcnt of NJ least two-ihlrds
Of their number AT present. Their leaders fully
understand that such a reduction In their fol
lowing would for the time being produce seri-
Gus curtailmcn, of political power The only
chance Of holding this peculiar drcibund to-
geiher IS the knowledge on the part OF all It's
members that under the machine dspcnsaiion
their right 10 vote j. mere hollow mockcry, ana
that oven after n discount If 20 or ~ per cent
the negroes could. under honest election laws
poll more counted votes and exert more actual
political influence than they 10 now. In tliis
trembling balance hangs the political destiny Tor
the next four years AT least. tn" incumbent
Governor of the State who j. also the party
leader is a strong. shrewd. bold and able poll
ticIan. He has N his disposal the election ma
chinery and a compact and experienced party
orgnnlzatlon and he has already shown that he
is capable Of using both without scruple or hest
tation In the attainment Of his ends. The coal
ton has the majority The machine IL In pos
session Everything depends upon the sincerity
Of the trpaiTite alliance and the determination
In the opposition 10 defend themselves against
election laws Of Louisiana are 50 nicely calcu-
lated to encourage and which the Democratic
leaders are skilled in realizing