The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-13
ASPECTS OF THE CAMPAIGN.

The political campaign Just ended has
been in many respects a Harkab,e one,
Never within the history OF the country
has an OF year election been so bit
terry. con tested or attracted SO much at
sensson at home and abroad The country
had Just emerged successfully from a for
eisn war when the campaign opened, The
administration had received unstinted
praise from al parties for its admirable
conduct or the war. and IL seemed as II
nothing could prevent the aroused patri-
osic spirit OF the people from giving the
president and his advisers loyal indorse-
ment.
The Democrats leaders determined 10
attack the administration for its conduct
or the war. and the manner in which the
attack was made Is fresh in the minds
OF the people No more scandalous at
tempt deliberately 10 fling away all the
good which had been gained by the sue
cess Of our arms can be imagined than
that made by the Democratic party. Not
only was the administration attacked for
alleged sins of omission and commission
during the progress of the war, but the
peace policy OF the president was opposed.
and i, became plainly evident that the
election Of q Democratic house would in
evitably bring about a complete reversal
OF the policy outlined by the admimstra-
know what a narrow escape i, has had
from losing the fruits Of Dewey's victory
and IN q great measure annulling the i'm
preston made on the foreign powers by
the remarkable achievements OF our army
and navy. Had the country decided
against President Mckinley and his pol
Icy, We should have Justly been cons.d-
cred by other nations as incapable of self
government
AS II Fate had determined to make the
country as much trouble as possible. the
Republican party in a number or states
took this opportunity 10 indulge N fac
tional quayrels and settle local party diff
ferences. This was notably the case in
Pennsylvania, where a determined effort
was made to down the Quay machine.
The party seemed hopelessly split, many
OF the strongest and best men in
the Republican party in that state align
ing themselves against Quay: but. in the
face of an apparently overwhelming oppo-
siuon. the boss won out and elected a
Republican legislature which will return
him to the senate. while his candidate for
governor. Hon. w. A. Stone, was elected
by 10000 plurality. Governor-elect Stone
is a strong, capable man. against whom
nothing can be said, and Quay displayed
good Judgment when he selected him for
the head of the ticket But the factional
lican party no less than four members OF
congress. In Virginia, factional fights
among the Republicans in two congress
slonal districts resulted in putting TWO
Republican candidates in the field in each
district, which gave the Democrats two
members OF congress to which they are
not entitled.
The contest In New York state attracted
the attention OF the entire country. The
nomination OF Col. Roosevelt by the Re
pubEcaus was master stroke. With any
other candidate in the field the Republ!-
can ticket would have undoubtedly been
beaten. Col. Roosevelt's popularity as a
hero of the war brought him many votes.
but would not have elected him had not
his personal character been such as TO
attract to him a large number of indie
pendent votes. New York is almost inva-
rably a Democratic state in off years,
and, in fact. may be fairly set down In
the column OF Democratic states. SO that
a Republican triumph at this time is a
vindicaton OF the administration by the
Empire state. This is more especially
true since Col. Roosevelt made his cam
pagn chiefly upon national issues and
boldly declared his approval of the pres!-
dents policy in retaining the Philippines.
although by so doing he knew he was
bound TO antagonze many members of
the independent parry WIZ HoutA
wise have given him their support
The gain OF Democratic congressman In
New York and other Middle and Eastern
states may be ascrbed 10 the falling OFT
OF interest in the silver question. Not
that the people OF those states are less
opposed to the free coinage Of silver than
they were two years ago, but the Demo
cratic party has changed front, and, so
far from advocating free coinage, has al
most invariably nominated men for con-
gresS who voted with the Republicans two
years ago and were well known Gold DEM
ocrats. Believing that there would be no
danger of ieopardizng the financial policy
Of the administration by supporting cam
didates for congress OF their own political
faith. they cast their ballots for the DEM
ocratic candidates, with the result that
those districts which are normally Demo-
cratic elected Democratic members OF con-
gress Should the campaign or 1900 demon
strate that vote for a Democratic mem-
Der Of congress means a vote for free
silver. every one Of these newly elected
Democrats Will be replaced by a sound
money Republican.
To the same cause which resulted in the
election OF these Democratic members or
congress in the Eastern and Middle states
NAV be ascrhed In some measure the de-
coast states The silver craze reached high
tide two years ago. and the reaction has
set H. The people have come TO their
senses. and have learned by experience
that free silver is not the cause of the
Ills from which they have been suffering
and refused 10 be longer deluded by the
voice of the silver alarnEst
Kansas has escaped from the thrall or
pouu1isrn by electing n Republican gov
ernor and legislature. Nebraska elects
Republican legislature ana reiegates Pop
ulist Senator Allen TO ohscur1ty. The YER
dict Of the people as expressed by the
election is for good government, SOUND
money and an end 20 crank rule
The administration has been sustained
and the policy Of President Mckinley with
regard 10 the retention OF the Philippines
Endorsed
Dissolution of the Association.
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