The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-12-28
DISSENSION
GOLD DEMOCRATS HOPE TO REGAIN
CONTROL OF THEIR PARTY.
FusiOnists Place Before the Voters of
the Nation a Spread Truly
Inviting.
Especial to The Tribune.)


WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-The short per-
iod of the session of congress before the
Christmas holidays was sufficient to devel-
op the fact that there are some very i'm
portant movements on foot.
AS respects the Republican party and the
administration, it has been demonstrated
that the danger of serious division is SO
slight as not to demand any consideration.
The Republican lines are drawing closer
and closer together. and exchange Of ideas
since congress met has developed the fact
that the tendency of thought among Re-
publican senators and representatives Is
toward a perfect agreement along the en-
tire line of policy, foreign and domestic.
AS to finance and military matters. there
is no divisions and what differences of opin-
ion exist as to the policy Of expansion are
resolving, themselves into q compact sup
port of the president.
NOT HARMONIOUS.
The Democrats. on the other hand, are
threatened with internal trouble of a Sc
rious character. The visit of Mr.. Bryan
has gone long way toward bringing about
harmony of action among the Democrats In
congress on the subject of expansion and
the enlargement of the army, but the party
seems to be threa tened with trouble over
the financial question In the more remote
future. The gold men of the party feel,
they say, greatly encouraged in the hope
the party They have practically no influ-
ence in this congress, but expect to have
considerable in the next. They will not be
able to regain their influence, however,
without bitter fight at some point along
the line.
men who possessed great power in the
party when Mr.. Cleveland was at it's head
are organizing for the purpose of throwing
down tho silver issue, and that they are
very hopeful Of success. An Eastern sound
money man, talking over the situation, ex-
pressed the opinion that recent develop
ments all but insured the absolute over
throw of the free silver cause. He said
that a careful study of the present polit-
ical conditions throughout the United
States would result in a very comfortable
conclusion in the mind Of any earnest ad-
vocate of the present gold standard.
while it is true he said, that the Re-
publicans will not have as large a majority
in the Fifty-siXth congress as they have
in this, yet it is generally understood that
a large number of the new Democratic rep
resentatives in the next congress will be
found to be loyal to the support of sound
money.
SILvERITES TURNED DOWN.
This, taken in connection with the fact
that in many of the western states the ma
jorities of the Democrats and silverites
generally were greatly reduced at the last
that Mr.. Clevelands friends, and it may be
said. Mr.. Cleveland himself, are again TAX
ing an interest in politics, with the idea of
bringing the Democratic party to its senses,
if possible is another strong indication of
the situation. Even In the intermountain
and Pacific coast states the Democrats
have shown their disposition to get out
from under the blighting shadow of the
Chicago platform. The defeat. of such ad-
vocates of Organism as Towne, Of Mime
sofa, Mcguire, of California Hartman, of
Montana, and the assured retirement of
Senator's Cannon, of Utah and Allen , of
Nebraska men who may be said to have
stood most determinedly in the way of the
reformation of the Democratic party on
the old lines prior to the Chicago conven-
ton of '96, should be accepted plainly
Indicating the decay Of Organism in the
even in that region.
with such men as these out of the way,
the task of disposing of free silver for
good and all should be regarded as pretty
we'll on the way toward fulfilment The
overthrow of ToWne, Cannon and Hartman,
whose desertion from the Republican party
encouraged the. developments of the silver
faction in the Democratic party in way to
lead to the Chicago platform. is especially
gratifying to the advocates of sound money
and furnishes an object lesson for others.
The defeat of Mr.. Allen to succeed himself
in the senate is significant as demonstrate
ing that the patriotic gold Democrats of
Nebraska are numerous and voted to sus-
tain their principles. If Cannon seeks re-
election in Utah, and If Hartman should
try to get into the senate from Montana,
it is entirely probable that there will be
enough Democrats in the legislatures of
those states that party being In control,
who are true to defeat their plans, and at
least elect in their stead meE who will
not stand in the way of the regeneration
IT.
basis The situation encourages the belief
that there is some honesty and sound COM
mon sense where it has heretofore been
obscured by silver fanaticism."