Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-02-10
The Fiity-Sixth Congress.


and will probably continue to be for
several months. But in politics they
make plans a long time in advance.
and 50 ii is natural To he already
specializing on the political complex
ion of the 56th Congress whose mem
bcrs Will be elected next fall and take
the East, ut least in New England.
congressional nominating conventions
are not held until summer, but in the
West they are already at it, and an
Illinois district named it's candidates
last week.
The duty of the Republican party in
the next congressional campaign is to
retain safe control of the House, and to
elect legislatures that will give the
next Senate d substantial Republican,
sound money majority, and thus pre-
vent that body from longer misrepre-
scntins the country by its present free
silver tendency. With the challenge
of the free silver majority of the Sen
ate and the answer of the Republican
majority in the House the lines of bat
tie upon which this years congress
ional campaign must he fought seem
definitely drawn. The Republican
party is ready to meet that issue and
to fight along that line for the control
of the seth Congress. Ii is an off
year" To be sure. with all that means
of apathy on the part of the party in
power and of activity on the part of
its opponents. The Democracy Will
count largely on the reaction that al
ways follows national campaign.
But the distinct renewal of the sound
money issue ought to unite Republicans
everywhere in the determination to in
crease their present majority in the
House and in the Senate.
The present House of Representa-
tives contains. according to the usual
classification. POI Republicans. 12&
Democrats, u Populists, three silver
ties; total, 25. The Republicans now
have p more than a majority
which is l79. The problem. there
fore is to retain as many as possible
of this margin of -. 1t is Il
coincidence that - of the Re
publicans in the present House come
from the South; but with the growth
of protection sentiment due to the in
crease of manufacturing, that ought
not to he a source of weakness. There
is reason to believe, also. that the free
silver hercsy is steadily losing ground
in the South There viii probably be
losses and gains on both sides due to
local and fractional differences.
The party leaders should address
themselves t" the creation of a Eepuh-
lican majority in the Senate. as well
as in tho n"xt House. The terms of
% senators viii expire March i.
1879 OF these Il are Democrats. II are
Republicans, three are SilVcrites and
one is Poprllst. OF the Democrats,
a Republican successor Ia German. of
Maryland, has been chosen, and Tur-
ley of Tennessee" and Daniel of Viz
sinia will succeed Themselves Other
states in which Il Democratic senator's
term VIII expire next year are Califor
mia. Indiana, New jersey. New York,
North Dakota, West Virginia and Wis
cousin. 1t ought to he possible for the
Republicans 10 elect a majority of tn"
Legislature in each of these seven
states; and that would mean. with
Maryland. d gain of eight votes in the
Senate. making the total Republican
vote in that body 40. or three more
than a majority. Certainly. there
should hc no doubt about the repu-
diation Of Murphy in New York, Smith
in New Jersey. and Faulkner in West
Virginia. after their votes in favor
of debaScd currency. To these states
may he added as good fighting ground
DPIaWafp, Wherc the term vi Gray. VINO
also misrepl his constituency
by voting for the Teller resolution. Will
expire with this Congress- 1t is scarce
Is conceivable that North Dakota
should again disgrace itself by return
ing Roach. The opposition of Whit,
to the annexation of Hawaii is ample
reason why California should elect him
to stay at home.
Those are the most Obvious oppor-
tunities for Republican gains in Demo
cratic vacancies. A glance over the /
prospective Republican eXpirations is
necessary These are Aldrich, SRhod"
Island. Burrows, Michigan; Clark
Wyoming: Davis. Minnesota; Hall
Maine; Hanna, Ohio; HaWley, Con-
necticut; Lodge, Massachusetts; Proc
tor, Vermont: Quay, Pennsylvania;
Wilson. Washington. OF these. the
Ohio Legislature has already elected
| Hanna. Every other Of these states
ought to he certainly Republican. al