The times., 1898-12-17
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

the South and their probable effect polit-
ically. express the opinion that the result
may not prove to be altogether satisfac-
tory to the g. o. p. 1t is pointed out by
these gentlemen that there is very con-
| siderable colored vote scattered through
the Northern States which in many locaii-
ties represents the balance of power. The
colofed vote Is an important factor in
Ohio, New York and number of North
ern States. If for any cause this vote
should leave the Republican party these
States would in all probability go into the
democratic column unless gains were
made from other sources to offset the loss.
The question the Republican leaders are
ASKING Is: Can We get along without
the colored vote?" This is a conundrum
that they would like to have answered be-
fore they decide whether to enthuse or
not over the Presidents new departure.
Senator Hanna discussed this point with
number of eminent Republicans yester-
day. One of the gentlemen with whom he
talked said subsequently: TT is too soon
10 make any predictions regarding the po-
iitical effect of Mr.. McKinley's recent
speeches. 1t is true that the colored vote
in the South is positive detrment to the
Republican party. II is not counted and
the Democrats obtain an increased repre-
sentation in Congress and the electoral
college by reason of 1t. All we obtain
In the South by the support of the col
ored brother Is a social ostracism which
renders 1t almost impossible for a respect
able white man In that section to be
a
negroes in the North we would have
everything to gain and nothing to lose by
acting on Mr. McKinleys suggestions.
But II seems to me that the President
ought to go little slow. We have 5000
colored voters in the State of Ohio alone.
Eliminate the cofored vote from the Re-
publican ranks and Ohio would be practi-
cally Democratic State today. II We
decide TO kick out the colored vote, can
we make corresponding gains to offset it?
1t is an interesting question. j am in
clined to think that We could not at the
North The race question has never been
an issue at the North and 1t IS impossible
TO get our people excited over IT. / do
not believe that If We should formally re-
nounce The colored brother politically that
we would make any material gains in any
Northern State in consequence Of 1t from
the ranks OF the Democratic party. You
must remember also that the very fact
that the South practically remains solid
politically is of help 10 the Republicans at
the North. 1t keeps many people in line
who might otherwise be inclined to stay
away from the fold. The ultimate result
might be better to have n reforming of
party lines and associations, but politics
is a practical business. Politicians can
not afford TO speculate too much on the
future; they have to deal with the pres
ent. There is no likelihood of our carry
ing any Southern State for President in
1900 and without the colored vote we may
lose number of Republican States at the
North. Senator Hanna agrees with me
that this IS not a time for stopping over.
You can say that Mr.. Mckinley has been
cautioned on this point"
Another Republican leader, who enjoys
the confidence of the President, said: Il
do not believe that the Republican party
should give itself any particular con-
Germ over the possible loss of the coiored
vote. l think that We would be
better off without it. But where will the
colored vote go anyhow if II should leave
the Republican party? 1t could gain
nothing by organizing new party, and
1t is out of the question to assume that
any considerable number of colored voters
will ever join the Democratic party. But
in any case the Republican party would
be stronger today If it did not have the
handicap of the colored support. There
are hundreds of men even at the North
who would come over to us the moment
we are relieved of the stigma of being
black Republican party"
William NJ. Hahn, OF Ohio. who is a
member of the Republican national COM
mittee and one of Senator Hanna's able \
lieutenants, was in town yesterday. Il
don't KNOW" he said, whether John
Sherman can be induced to become a can
didate for governor of Ohio next year
or not There has been some talk about
IL, but / think that the health of Mrs.
Sherman will keep him from entering the
field of politics again even If he were in
clined to do so. Do think that Mr. Sher-
mans recent interview in which he criti-
cised the President, Mr.. Day. Mr. Hanna
and others, was authentic? Well i would
not undertake to say. but l observe that
he has not seen fit to repudiate it,
Mr. Hahn looks forward to the trium-
phant reelection of Mr. Mckinley in 1900
81 have read several paragraphs in the
newspapers since the receGt election"
said Judge and Senator-elect McComas
yesterday. ito the effect that the Demo
Gratis in the Congressional election IN the |
middle of the Polk Administration carried |
the House of Representatives. The MeXi- |
can war was then in progress. This point |
has been cited to show that the Republican |
victory in the Congressional elections this |
year was due to the Spanish war and |
had no significance outside of that fact. |
,oe truth iS hat he. IL
carry the Thirtieth Congress. The Wings |
elected a majority of the representatives
of the House that year in spite of the |
fact that a Democratic Administration |
was successfully conducting n foreign |
war. Robert c. Winthrop, of Massachu- |
sets, was chosen Speaker. The Wings, |
however, had the good sense politically |
to sustain the war policy of the Polk
Administration and two years later they
nominated and elected hero of the Mexi-
can war, Gen Zachariah Taylor, Presi-
dent The Democrats can obtain no COM
fort by comparing the elections this year
with those of 1916, but they might de-
rive some profit from a study of the
course of the Wing or opposition party of
that day.
Regarding the question which has been
raised in some quarters as to his eligibil-
ity for the Senate on account of his hold
ing Federal office in the District of Co.
lumbia, and therefore not citizen of
Maryland at the time of his election, |
Judge McComas said that he did not an
ticipate any trouble in taking his seat on |
that account Several years ago, he said, |
his right to vote in Washington County, |
Maryland, was challenged on account of |
his holding his present position in the Dis