The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-08

Writing in the Forum OF this Years cleo
lions and their bearing on the Presiden-
tial election" Senator BURROWS reaches
this conclusion
ITO my mind the conditions now. in many partic.
mlar1. are not unlike those OF 90 Great aud
momentous questions of public policy. involving
the future welfare and possibly tho stability Of the
Republic. are in process OF solution. Touching
these tho Administration has clearly foreshadowed
its policy. the wisdom OF which can only be made to
appear by the results which shall ultimately be at
tanned. Hence. It seems to me. in the light Of
and experience the State campaigns OF this year
cannot possibly be conducted upon national issues
they will be presented next year and that the re-
suit of these elections. therefore, will give safe
indications OF the probable outcome OF the approach
ing Presidential contest"
A survey OF this years elections and Of
their probable bearing on the important
contest OF next year may be illuminated by
the study OF presidents as early as 1862,
perhaps, but 1t does not require such APP
peal to past historical "reminiscences. In
the principal State Of the Union, New York
the influence OF which on American pol
itics is now greater than it has ever been
before, there will he no State election this
year, and there will be no State election in
the two neighboring States additionally
associated with New York in their poit-
ical action, New Jersey and Connecticut
In that important group Of the Western
States which includes Illinois, now the
permanent Democratic headquarters, Indi-
ana and Wisconsin, there are also no State
elections this year
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
IL
they will have the same number in 1900
Illinois, Indiana aud Wisconsin have 81
electoral votes, or one less than the other
trio, and these six States, in not one
OF which there is a State election, have,
with Pennsylvania, in which the contest is
wholly local, l27 electoral votes.
In the region OF the Pacific most SUBJ
stantially benefited in a material way by
the extension of American trade and influ-
ence in the Orient and of American
sovereignty in Hawaii, there are also no
State elections this year and, practically,
no political contests of any kind.
Omittng these three important groups
Of States, the determining and decisive
groups in Presidential elections, the New
York group in the East, the Illinois group
in the Middle West, and the States on the
Pacific seaboard, We have left almost
exclusively States which are steadfastly
committed TO the policy and traditions
Of the Republicans or are as strongly
committed to the Democratic side More
over, the judgment Of the people ON
important matters of national concern can
be expressed only in the years when Presi-
dents are voted for, or less fully in the
yrars-of which 1862 was one when there
are Congress elections; but this year men,
bers Of Congress are not to be chosen
The last expression OF popular judgment
on national issues was made In the Congress
elections of II year ago. 1t WAS favorable
to the policy ~ the Administration. The
next appeal will lie in 1900, and the cleo
tions Of 1899, whatever their local interest,
cannot be taken as atfordinG sure indica-
tion OF what popular sentiment on the great
national issues will he in 1900.