New-York tribune., 1898-10-10
VICTORY NOT YET ASSURED.
YARD WORK NECESSARY TO KEEP CON-
troll OF THE HOUSE
,rpr-R1JcANs BEGINNING TO AROUSE FROM
THEIR CONDITION OF FALSE SECURITY
MORE CHEERFUL. AIR AT WASH


washington, Oct. 9.-There is somewhat
rore cheerful atmosphere in and about the
,oadouarters Of the Republican Congressional
committee than there was three weeks or even
con days ago. OF course everybody there keenly
rsauzes. however. that the fight Is not yet won
ord that in order to insure control OF the House
:, representatives Of the next Congress every
penublican especially in the close Congress dis
,rc,s who desires that result must do every
.hins in his power 10 promote il by contrihu-
,ions Of time money and personal effort BY
no other means can victory be assured.
OF course the Congressional Committee Is
straining every nerve to carry the Republican
hammer TO victory. but it cannot make bricks
without straw. 1t has been hampered from the
outset of the campaign by party apathy. FOR
which absolute ard widespread confidence that
the supporters Of the Administration would win
an easy triumph this year was and is mainly
responsible Never did an Administration better
deserve TO he upheld, and yet it has been many
wears since the supporters Of one have seemed
more strongly disposed to allow Congress cam
naign TO take care of itself. II the elections
which are TO be held month hence had been
held four or six months ago. that course might
have been safer, II not wiser
There have recently been some indications here
and there that the Republicans and other friends
OF the Administration had begun to arouse from
the false security iato which they had been
lulled and prepare themselves for the coming
contest but these signs would be more encour-
aging If they were stronger and more general
and had begun 10 appear at an earlier stage or
the campaign. 1t Is time to realize that Elec-
ton Day is only a month away. and that into
that month must he crowded a prodigious
;oh. hox-a haan mo
safely spread over two months at least. OF
course 1T can be done but in the opinion Of the
Congressional Committee the beginning of the
supreme effort cannot safely be postponed any
longer
WHAT REPUBLICAN DEFEAT WOULD MEAN.
THE Republican membership of the last House
Of Representatives was unusually strong. able
and patriotic. and the same remark is true Of
the Republican membership of the present Con-
gress. very large majoyty of the men who
compose II candidates for reelection They
do not deserve to be sacrificed. not a man of
them IL the sacrifice can be prevented by hard
diligent and unremitting effort from
Ill November - said a prominent and ardent
Republican to-day who is not in public fe
but is close and intelligent political observer
He added
Some Of people seem 10 forget several
things: The free-silver snake was scotched. not
killed. in 1896; the Congress elections this year,
therefore, will be as important any that have
taken place in generation. and the result will
be as momentous. Not only that, but Repub- |
lican defeat this year would be equivalent 10 a !
vote Of want Of confidence in President MCKin- !
ley's Administration and jeopardze the results
Of the glorious war against Spain. we'll as
the ADMINISTRATORS policies arising therefrom.
because they cannot be confirmed at the short |
session of Congress next winter Moreover. !
whatever arrangement or treaty may he made |
BY the International Commission now sitting at !
Quebec TO effect settlement Of the long stand |
ing and vexatious difficulties growing out of our |
relations or want of relations with Canada will |
have TO be dealt with by the next Congress. as
well as probably will have to be the report and
Of the Hawaiian Commission.
The appointment OF Coin Harvey 10 manage
the affairs of the Demo Populist, Free-Silver
Congressional Committee gives startling and
significant emphasis TO the remark that the
free silver snake was scOtched. not killed in
1896" Whatever Democratic State conventions
in certain States have said or failed TO say on
the silver question this year, Coin Harvey's |
committee is not do1gng trying to conceal
anything; IL is making a straightout free silver
with all the Bryan frills and acces-
sOries IL manage. il is looking forward TO
he Presidential campaign OF 1900 Members Of
he Republican Committee, however, have re-
,eived Information TO the effect that the man
ayers of the Demo- P0pulist Free Silver Republi-
an campaign do not feel so cOcksure of success
his fall as they seemed to feel two or three
weeks ago. The appointment by the latter Of a
one OF whose members is a
oopulist and another a free-silver Republican,
would appear 10 indicate that il thought
to do something unusual to promote
he fusion cause.