The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-01
POLITICAL FUTURE A PUZZLE.
40 ONE ABLE TO TELL WHICH
PARTY WILL WHY.

Ola Lines SO Badly DemoraIized
That the Leaders Cannot Say
which Side VIII Lose the Most
Votes - The Republicans Very
Doubtful OF Mckinley should He
De Their Nominee.
Washington. May a.-The republicans
in congress are anxious TO go home and
look after their political fences. while
many OF the democrats seem to take but
little interest ln the approaching cam
paign. Never before In the history Of the
republican party. has there existed such
"a strong feeling of doubt as 20 the cleo
ton Of a candidate, who has such wave
OF popular sentiment behind him, as IS
displayed IN the case OF Mckinley. The
remarkable spectacle IS presented OF the
republicans being afraid they VIII not sue
cecd, while on the other hand the demo-
cratic congressman here are thoroughly
discouraged at the outlook for their par
~.
/ have endeavored to ascertain the cause
Of this peculiar condition Of affairs IN the
political world. 1 have discussed the sub
jcct with leading republicans and demo-
Gratis in both branches Of congress. and
have been astonlshed 20 learn that neither
side Is possessed with that amount Of con-
ndence that Is usually displayed on the
eve Of the national conventions.
senator Lodge is Il careful student Of
national affairs ana when he lays aside
his partisan feelings ne can view a pohti-
cal situation as fairly as any man In con-
grcss. IL Is well known that he has no
personal interest IN the nomination OF Nc
I1inley, for Speaker Reed Is his FIRST
ola If "a rfIrF VI l.
though the name OF Speaker Reed viii be
presented TO the convention his best
friends DO not expect to see him overcome
mistakably behind Mckinley. OF course.
Senator Lodge desires TO see a republican
President In the white house. be he a Reed,
q Mckinley or an Allison.
Looking over the political field, from q
purely non-parusan standpoint, senator
surrounding political campaign so cloud
Cd with uncertainty as at present He
says he -antlclpates break IN the old par
~ lines ana the contest Waged on the
financial question. lie would have pre-
ferrcd TO see the fight made on the tariff
question alone, for on that issue he con-
tends that the republicans and a large
number Of democrats are Of one and the
same Opini0n-in favor of protection. Efs
says it win be very interesting 20 watcn
the movements OF the two great forces
behind the gold and the silver parties. He
is certain that the republicans will declare
for a gold standard at ST. Louis, and hs
predicts that the democrats viii declare
Tor free silver. he fears the democrats
may 80 a step further and also declare for
revenue tariff. with incidental prOtec-
tlon. In that event he cannot derive much
Of his party
III you leave. Senator Lodge and seek
Senator Hin Of New York, the latter viii
probably tell you that there is not tho
slightest ground for hope In the demo-
cratic outlook. He Will tell you that the
democratic forces are discouraged and de-
mOraliZod In almost every state. and that
the men who have formerly been active In
the party organization, now decline to give
their time or attention to what they deem
70 be fOrlorn hope. Ha vii tell yOu that
the democrats cannot hope to win with
the great states Of New York. New Jer-
sey, Connecticut, Maryland and Massa-
chusettB against them. In accounting for
the unhealthy condition Of the party, he
may tell you that the lack Of interest in
the democratic cause arises from the fact
that the administration has not been wise
or judiciors In the distribution Of the fed
eral patronage He may also tell you that
the fear of a third term turks IN the
breasts Of large army Of democrats, who
do not sanction the thirh-term idea.
Turning from Senator Hill to Senator
Burrows of Michigan you are again con-
fronted with the fear that the free silver
men Of the south and the west NAV be
strong enough to combine and overturn
the plans Of the republicans OF the east
ern and middle states. Senator Burrows
processes to be sound money republican,
but inwardly he fears the silver issue IS
stronger than the party lines in HIS state,
and also In other states. He Is for Nc
Kinley. or anybody who may be nominat-
ed at st. Louis, but he cannot convince
himself that the republican candidate will
have a walk-over il the democrats take
advantage Of the opportunities at hand.
Senator Mills of Texas cannot see any
thing but discouragement ahead for the
democratic party, divided, as it is, on the
one great question now before the coun-
try. He says he has begged his people to
beware of the fate that awaits them II
they insist upon dividing the party upon
this issue, but, as the people of Texas are
determined TO follow the silver standard,
he will go with them, even at the sacri-
fice Of his political life.
Thus opinions differ so widely that one
mans judgment on the situation is about
as good as another The strange part of
the situation is that the shrewdest polit-
ical leaders in both parties are utterly at
sea as to what the result may be IL
political lines are obliterated, and the
fight IS made for sound money as against
free silver.