The Republican journal., 1897-09-16
Our Washington Letter.
[ Correspondence of The Journal.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. -, 1857.
The political campaigns in the various
States are warming up-growng very
warm, in fact. Parties arriving here from
New York, Nebraska, Kentucky, Iowa,
and Ohio report extreme activity and in
terest in the fight which is to be made in
those States. Remarkable as it is that
the silver cause should still have any life
left in it, it is a fact. 1t is to be made
the basis of the battle in every State
where there are important elections this
fall One year ago one ounce of silver
would buy one bushel of wheat in New
York; now it takes two ounces, and silver
is still falling and wheat still rising. 1t
would scarcely seem possible that any
body could successfully argue in favor of
currency made from metal whose value
has fallen over 25 per cent. in eighteen
months. Yet that is a fact as to silver
On March It'll of last year it was worth 70
cents an ounce in New York, now it is
worth 50 cents.
How it is that any party can now as
sumo to win battle with silver as the
chief issue in States where they could not
win on that issue year ago, is hard to
understand. On last Presidential election
day silver was worth 657. To-day it is
worth 81 cents, fall of over 20 per cent
If the Democrats could not carry Ohio,
Kentucky, Iowa, Maryland or New York
on the silver issue in November, 1896,
with their proposed dollar worth 81 cents,
how can they expect to win this fall with
dollar worth only 40 cents? Yet they
are going into the fight for it everywhere.
though there are signs of weakening in
spots.
The Democrats, it seems, from reports
received, are trying to run away from
their platform made but a short two
months since. This action, however, is
not to be wondered at in view of the fact
that silver has fallen Is per cent. in value
even in that short space of time. July 10th
an ounce of silver was worth in the New
York markets 60,6 cents, and it is now
worth but 50 cents and still going down.
Small wonder then that the Democrats
are ashamed of their platform and are
trying to get away from it when, within
two months after its adoption, the metal
| which it advocates as money declined Is
per cent 1t goes without saying, how
ever, that the Republicans of the State
will not let their opponents get away from
the issue which they have made. 1t also
goes without saying that the Republicans
will sweep the State now that they have
the enemy on the run, providing they are
not over confident.
New York City is the coign of vantage in
the State contest. The fight in New York
this fall relates to the mayoralty, but it is
| for first mayor of the largest city in the
United States and second largest city in
the world, and will decide whether or not
Tammany Hall shall control Greater New
York. If Tammany gets control it will
greatly endanger Republican prospects in
the State indefinitely. Those opposed tc
Tammany and free silver must therefore
combine on one good man. By refusing
to do so they give Greater New York and
probably the State over to the Tammany-
silver Democrats indefinitely.
There is good reason to hope that the
party in Maryland will fall into line, now
that the factional fight in the Republican
ranks is over, and with the aid of the gold
| Democrats and the anti German men win
in the fight for the legislature. Owing to
German free-silver leanings and the gen.
orally conceded opinion that he would
vote for free silver in the senate the
State are ready to again cooperate with
the Republicans, as are also, of course,
all the anti German men, to secure his de-
feat.
Generally speaking, the drift all seems
to be in the direction of Republicanism
The people see that Bryan and the silver
ties made deliberate effort to deceive
them last year, and many of those who
voted for him will have nothing further
to do with silver. But the Democratic
leaders are not asleep. They are conduct
ing an active and vigilant campaign, and
are out on a ''still hunt for votes whose
result may surprise the Republicans, I'm
less they are wide awake and working to
arouse every man and push him enthusi-
astically into the fight. The tide is now
all running in the right direction, but this
very evidence Of prospective victory is
liable to lead to over confidence on the
part of some of the Republicans, and to
allow dissensions to arise which will pre-
vent solid front against the enemy.
Transfers in Real Estate.
The following transfers in real estate were