Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-06-25

litical system, the prospect is one or
unusual encouragement. There couid
he no better news. The condition
which gives emphasis to the anticipat-
ed overturn is brought about by the
fact that the class Of sena-
tors who graduate with this Con-
eress were elected on the Democratic
tidal wave of 1892, and hence the res
toration of an even balance between
the parties in the thirty states involved
would mean considerable gain. But
the Republicans will this year do much
more than that, unless all signs fall
and hence SO faras this class ofsenatots
is concerned it will be transfer from
loW-water to high-water mark. AS a
result of the Cleveland sweep of 1892.
Of the senators then elected and now
about to retire, Is were Democrats, IL
Republicans, 2 Silver Republicans, and
Stewart of Nevada who styles him
self SILVER" The disparity is still
more marked by dividing the class ac-
cording to their presidential prefer
ences in 1896, and all that was involved
in that contest. Eighteen of the 30
supported Bryan. II Mckinley. and /
Palmer and Buckner. 1t is. therefore.
plain that the senators whose terms
are now expiring have been an eX-
tremely heavy load for the sound
money interests of the United States.
Instead of eleven in this class, the
Republicans will have from seventeen
to tWenty-one men after March fourth
sand this will overturn the United
States Senate. -Four have already been
pIpcta1 n Al1picb
Republicans, and Daniel, Democrat
The Republican gain from Oregon will
accrue to the class whose terms expire
in 1908. Besides the three Republicans
already elected, that party is sure Of
choosing senators ind aichlgan Mime.
sofa, Maine, Massaff setts, Connect
cut, Wisconsin and Vermont. FROM
present prospects it clearly has much
the better chance in West Virginia,
Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania,
North Dakota, Indiana and New Jer-
sey. This makes seventeen. More
over, the Republicans are not without
substantial encouragement in Califor
MIA, Washington, Nebraska and Wy
oming. That leaves only nine Demo-
cratic seats. or eight besides that to
which Mr.. Daniel of Virginia has al
ready been chosen. These are Tcnnes-
see. Utah. Missouri Montana, Texas.
Mississippi. Florida and Nevada, and
there might be a Slip in one of these.
MIR. Bryan's 'enemy's country is thus
gradually pushing farther West and
South. And what is even more sig
nificant than the overturn of the SEN
ate is the prospect that Mr.. Mckinley
will of
in sympathy with him during the last
half of his administration. This is
something which has not happened
With any President since General
Grants first term. Presidents have
often held one house or the other dur
ing the second Congress of an admin
istration, and usually the Senate, but
to have both houses then is one of the
rarities which exhibits the cxtraorlli-
nary seesawing of American politics.
Another interesting feature of TIL"
senatorial elections this year is the fact
that group of senators Will end their
terms with this Congress, who have
hardly known what to do with them
selves since the free silver issue came
to dominate the Democratic party
They We're elected before the rise Of
that issue. Those elected in 1895 had 4
chance to make up their minds Wherr
to stand on that question, and of the
other class. that chosen in 1894, Il
great Republican, year, Caffery Of
Louisiana and Lindsey of Kentucky
are the only Democrats who We're left
stranded on the beach by the Chicago
platform. But in the class now retiring
are six men whose position has been
peculiar and whose departure from
the Senate will remove an uncertain
element in the calculations They are
Murphy of New York, Smith of New
Jersey. Mitchell of Wisconsin. Gray of
Delaware, German of Maryland and
Faulkner of West Virginia. All except
MIR Gray of Delaware supported Ery
an, and at least two of them pretend
ed for a time to believe in free silver
This years elections will clarity the
situation very much. If any Of the SIX
men are reelected, or any Democrat IN
their places, it Will he fully understood
where he stands upon the silver ques-
tion. If, as now seems quite likelythe
Democratic party is in process of drop
ping the silver issue overheard, it Is
possible that some sound money Dem
ocratic senators may return, and Of
these persons perhaps Mr.. Gray of DeI-
aware stands the best chance"