Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-11-16
The Political Future.

1t Is a long cry to the election of 1900,
ana still the different political parties
of the country are lining up for that
contest. Since the election of Novem-
Der s, a number of new elements have
been introduced into the political stu
alton of the future which lend addition
al interest to it, and the developments
of the coming % months will be closely
watched by the keen politicians of the
country.
In the first place, the Democratic par
ty is placed in a peculiar position. Dur
ing the last campaign a part of the
Democratic state conventions declared
for the principles enunciated by the
Chicago platform of 1896, while others
made no expression on the silver ques-
ton. From this it is evident that that
party is divided on the question of COIN
age and finances. Again, the result of
the election just past places the upper
house of congress in the hands of the
sound money Republicans for eight
years. No matter what is lone or what
changes time may make, the senate will
be opposed. by a large majority, to any
change in the financial system of the
United States. In some sections of the
country this fact is recognized, and al
ready the men who are working for the
success of the Democratic party are
counseling the abandonment of the sill
yer question until the political complex
ion of congress is more favorable to the
white metal c In opposition to this
proposition st IS like Colorado and
Utah are clamoring for a constant agi-
tation of the question and for an at
tempt to force the nation into a position
where silver will be recognized.
So far as the Republicans are con-
cerned, they are satisfied that the past
10 months have demonstrated the ne
of the country, and feel, with good
cause, that hat policy has been in
dorsed at the polls by the laboring men,
business men and manufacturers.
Strengthened by that belief, there will
be no yielding of the ground occupied
at the present time, that sound money
and protection have brought renewed
activity to business circles and better
times to the entire country, since the
election of 1896. On that basis the Re
publicans will make their fight in 1900,
and indications now point to a victory
at thai time on Il platform indorsing
those principles.
SO far as the Populists are concerned,
they have been eliminated from the sit
uation entirely. In Kansas and Me-
braska, where their greatest strength
was supposed to lie, they were inglori-
ously defeated; not in a single state
did that party succeed in electing cam
didates to office. To suppose that par
ty will be able to command any
strength two years hence is going
beyond the powers of the sensible man
who watches the trend of public senti-
ment.
Thus it can be seen that the political
battle in 1900 will be between an united
Republican party and a divided Democ-
racy. But there is a third element en-
tering into the situation. which the sill
yer wing of the Democratic party is not
counting upon, and that is the trade re-
lations of this country with the rest of
the world. The past year, or, more
properly speaking, the time from Janu-
airy /, 1897, to the present, has resulted
in placing to the credit of the United
States more than $500, 900, 900 for goods
bought from this country. In the at
tempt to prevent the flow of gold to
America, the larger part of American
securities held in the commercial CEN
ters of Europe have been returned and
used in paying the balance due to
American merchants and manufacture
ers, but even that sacrifice has not been
equal to the demands of the situation,
and more than $400, 000,0 900 are due this
country at this time for the excess of
exports over imports. And the end has
not been seen. Today there are rep
resentatives of European firms i'll the
United States buying food supplies and
manufactures in advance of the actual
output of the country. If that condition
obtains until a year from this time, and
it is now certain it will, European coun-
tries will be crying for relief and MAX
ing overtures to the government at
Washington to rehabilitate silver as a
money metal.
Such a result of foul years of Repub-
lican rule will demonstrate the wisdom
of the policy of that party, and
strengthen it with the voters. OF course.
new conditions may arise before the
election of 1900 which would completely
change the situation as here outlined,
but they are almost impossible and al
together improbable. The future Of the
United States appears to be clearly out
lined: Expansion in territory, in trade
and in internal advancement beyond
the dreams of the most enthusiastic
"imperialist." Only the prejudices of
the willfully blind to the possibilities
of the country can prevent such a re-
suit in the next decade.
Decrease in immigration.
immigration Commissioner T. V.