The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-10-15
Communicated.

fortunate in sense in being outside
of the world of strife and removed
from the political arena, Even in
national elections they have no di-
rect voice or interest in who may or
may not be elected to office, and yet
on the other hand they have the adj
vantage Of living in city to which
there is no counterpart in the land,
and one, while not a political center
itself, sees the reflections of things
political from all over the country,
Especially is this so when Congress
is in session and repl esentatives from
all quarters congregate to make laws
for the people and also to engage in
ardent and eloquent championships
of principles and politics, Even
when Congress is not in session,
there are of necessity many distin-
guished and reputable men stopping
at the capital, for more or less pat
ronage is being at all times distribu-
ted and wires are always being pulled
by the initiated and experienced.
There is no national campaign this
fall, but there are campaigns which
are of national importance. The
Senate of the United States is now
very closely divided, it being consid-
cred that it was by only the most
consummate generalship that the tar
iff bill was passed as advantageously
as it was, in the face of a direct ma
jority opposed to the Republican
party, and now, in Marylandi and
Ohio, Senators are to be elected, and
it remains with the citizens of those
States to say whether the complexion
of the upper house of the National
Legislature shall be Republican and
progressive or Democratic and OBJ
structive. So that considerable in
terest is felt here in watching the
progress which the campaigns are
making in those States. Interest
centers specially in Ohio, the home
of the President, and in the candi-
dacy there of Senator Hanna, the
chairman of the Republican Nation
al Committee of 1896, who led the
party to the greatest victory within
the recollection of its members. The
party has gotten well together in
Ohio and is pulling along a good
stroke, while on the other hand the
Democrats of the State are divided
into factions and pulling in various
directions. The gold Democrats are
working vigorously against The sue
cess of the silverites, and the Popu-
lists have placed a regular ticket in
the field and are fighting the Demo
Gratis at every point. And last the
silver Republicans are sore on the
Democrats and refusing to co operate
with them in the election of free sill
yer John Mclean to the Senate.
The free silver proposition seems to
be steadily losing ground and none
know it better than does Mclean.
This would seem to account for his
silence as we'll as that Of other Ohio
ans on the silver subject, nor is this
gradual dropping of silver the case in
Ohio alone. 1t is perfectly apparent
that the silver issue is child of hard
times and that it cannot thrive under
the prosperity which seems to be re-
turning to the country and which it
is useless longer to deny. 1t is the
generally expressed opinion among
all classes of politicians visiting the
capital from various sections of the
country that the free silver sentiment
is gradually contracting and losing
ground.
"High prices and plenty of work
are knocking it out, said prom-
nent statesman the other day. 81
come myself from rural district and
| own farm myself and L can say
that l know of lots of old-time Dem
ocrats who voted for free silver and
Bryan who will never do SO again, no
matter how regular the ticket is.
They never believed in it as princi-
pie and they see the mistake it would
have been if Bryan had been elected.
They see that all the representations
that he made as to low prices and
ruin, ETC., 10 case of Mex inley'
election have proven false, and that
on the contrary the promises of the
Republican party have been and are
being fulfilled as rapidly as possible
and satisfactorily too, and the result
is that though they may still always
be Democrats they will never be free
silver Democrats again. And many
of them would vote with the Repub.
licans rather than be forced onto a
silver ticket. The silver cause has
irrevocably lost its hold upon the ag-
ricultural classes of the country, and
will in future find no sympathy
among them Last ypar woo tho haSt