The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-08-05

ers. Continued high temper
ature.
1t may be said that we live in an
era Of surprises. So momentous have
been the events Of the past eighteen
months, and so rapid the changes from
one sensation to another. that these
prodigies. so to speak follow each ether
with the bewildering affect Of the ka'
kaleidoscope. These mutations mark the
political sentiment of the country to
such an extent that it may be literal
IL said, that we know not what day
will bring forth. Three months ago 1t
seemed foregone conclusion that Nc
Kinley would be unanimously re-n0m
mated for President by the Republican
party, while it was almost as univer-
sally believed that Bryan would again
lead the Democratic column in the
presidential contest. But change has
come over the spirit Of the dream of
both parties; or to change the meta
phor. we DISCERN, ct least. the penum-
bra Of eclipse that threatens TO obscure
the presidential prospects of these here
tofore accepted leaders. The alarming
conditions Of the war in the Philip
pines has awakened the country to
realization Of the incompetency Of Nc
Kinley to manage the momentous prob
lem, and it now seems very certain
that, unless the rebellion is put down
befor, the spring of 1900, an indignant
public sentiment will demand new
leader for the Republican party. The
Fee Lance quoted in its last issue an
intervieS-SS!sth Senator Burrows Of
Michigan, one Of the leading ngrts---
the Republican party. in which he de
olsred that unless the war in the
Philippines speedily ends, it will be-
come an important political factor, and
Its continuance will make the outlook
FOR Republican success uncertain, to
say the least" From every quarter Of
the country come similar expressions
from influential leaders Of the party.
The Democratic leaders are quick to
catch at this hopeful sign of success, If
they can but wisely turn it TO advan-
tage and they are beginning to look
around for suitable leader on the new
issue of anti-expansion and anti-mili-
tarism. Senator Morgan. of Alabama,
has fired the signal gun Of this new
move. He is pronounced free silver
man, but he recognizes that in the
changed industrial conditions Of the
country. when universal prosperity now
marks all departments OF trade and
commerce and agriculture, there IS no
possibility Of successfully making
free silver" the sole or even the pre-
dominant issue in the next campaign.
The depressing conditions of 1896 no
longer exist, and the Democratic party
must look ont for another shibb )leth.
But Bryan is so associated in the pOpu-
lar mind with the free silver craze"
Gas the gold Democrats call it. THAT it
cannot be hoped to reunite the discordant
elements Of the party under his banner.
And then, too, he does not hesitate to
declare that free silver" must still be
the principal plank in the platform
indeed. he goes father. and insists that
the gold Democrats shall not be receiv
cd into fellowship unless they will en-
dorse every plank, and even every
splinter Of every plank, Ia the Ohica-
20 platform. including the populistio
and the multiplication manifestoes.
And 90 IL seems not improbable that
the silver tongued and multitu-
dinous talking statesman from Nebras-
ba may have to step down. and out
and permit another to take the post of
leader OF the Democratic column in
1900.