The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-04-17
DEsTURBED REPUBLICANs.
ITimes.pe moornt.l

ktmes-Democrae.I
For a party which swept the cOun-
try ave months ago, the Republicans
are already 10 a very distressed ON
dition.
We have seer that, owing to the
Dissatisfaction Of their own friends
with the duties imposed in the Ding
ley bill, Il is prOblematical whether
TINT bill will pass the Senate. And q
failure to pass the hill, without regard
to the effect which suCh failure would
have ON the indnatries Of the country,
could not avoid having % disastrous
effect on Republican pTOsPects in the
fall elections. For the adjournment,
without accomplishing les object, ola
session Of Congress summoned espe-
cially to enact a tariff protective
measure wOuld be an object lesson in
Republican h~elplessDess that the
country would certainly not set down
to the party's credit.
But a keener cause Of disquIetnde
to the Republicans than even the un-
certainty Of tile tariff bills fate, we
learn from Washington, is the result
Of tlleNmunicipal elections in Ohio
last week, These slectiOns, it seems,
were looked forward to with unusual
expectancy by reason Of the factiOnal
strife which has prevailed for years in
Ohio within the Republican lines, the
cOntending factions being headed on
the one side by Hanna and President
Mckinley and on the other side by
Foraker and Gov. Bushnell. Every
body knows that it has been the ambi-
ton Of Hanna to be elected tO the
United States Senate. When Sherman
took the State portfolio, Gov. Bushnell
to crafty the expressed personal wish
of President Mckinley, albeit it was
contrary to his own intention, ap-
pointed Hanna to fill out the unexpired
term of Mr.. Sherman in the upper
house Of congress. But as SherInan's
term will expire next March. Hanna
would have but a brief tenure of the
senatorial seat, unless he could secure
q reelection to succeed himself.
For several months past the Repnb-
lican factiOniRts in the Buckeye State
put out all the efforts of which they
we're respectively capable to carry the
municipal sprihg elections, as a pre-
liminary and earnest Of carrying the
State 10 fall. The municipal elections
were accordingly fought on strictly
political lines, ard with a bitterness
not often . in municipal elections,
The result was . stunuing blow to the
Hanna Mckinley faction. which wac
buried under an avalanche Of adverse
ballot; MCKlnley's own muhicipality.oi
Canton going against him, aud Hanna
being heavily thrown IN his bailiwick
Of Cleveland.
But the Republicans had not the
cold comfort wherewith to console
themselves, that they were beaten by
their own intestinal qnarrels. The
Foraker faction, it is true, carried
Cleveland 10y a meagre majority; but
this MANNED victory was ever so many
times Offset by the victories won by
fl,a namnarofS IN mann rartS ~ khs
State, particularly in Cincinnati ana
Canton, where the Democratic MAORI
tics were overwhelming.
Hanna's chances Of getting a Legis
lature in the fall to elect him hav'
therefore Sg"ne Gglimmering, unles
some political cataclysm take place
that will upset all present calculations
The Foraker Bushnell faction hassde
mOnstrated its possession of o create
hold ON the State than 10 possessed by
the Hanna. McKinleyites; ard it
Republican Legislature DO elected il
the fall, it will be to a certainty
Foraker BushCell Legislature, whicl
will return Bushnell tO the United
States Senate and not Hanna. Not un'
naturally, therefore, the result of last
Mondays elections has produced con
siderable weeping aud gnashing q
teeth in the Hanna-McKinley camp.
But it 10 not into that particula
camp alone that the municipal cleo
tiOns of Monday sent a cold chill. Thu
Democrats won many victories in tin
municipalities Of Ohio, as we hav'
said, the majority they obtained il
Hamilton county (~Cincinnatil being
staggerer. Hamilton county las
, November gave Mckinley a pluralit
/ of 5000; and last week the sam
county gave the Democratic candi
) date a plurality Of 75OO-a change
23,5OO votes in tho course Ut fv
i mooths. It Is quite on the cards, there
: fore, that the Republicans will los
fAh;., In the fall aud that. IA haa haI