The San Francisco call., 1899-09-24

HE COndltlOn OF parties IN the states Wiii~i OtN
next November is such as to excite the interest
of partsans and TO rouse the thought OF political
philosophers. The Republican convention IN
Nebraska has followed the example OF all that pre-
ceded it in other States in careful absention from
any Endorsement OF imperialism, temporary or per
manent. They uphold the President IN the military
effort to maintain such authority in the PhilipPnes
the treaty of Paris conveyed but this is done IN the
spirit OF the Senate resolution explanatory OF lis
ratification OF that treaty which declared that Perna
nent occupancy of the Philippines was not intendeo
thereby. 1t is easy to that the RepuDcan party
has adopted the Fabian policy and proposes to wait
upon events and hold itself in a position to Drlng
influence to bear upon the session OF Congress
The Bryan Democracy is blindy cloudlng counsel
by ndiscriminatng assault upon the ad1ninlstra-
ton, and is just now, by epithet and invecuve dong
for imperialism the same service that was rendered
anti-imperialism by the attacks OF Merritt Reld and
others upon the constitution and the Declaration OF
Independence. The Republican party everywhere
seems to be keeping its head cool and its feet warm
while in temperature its enemy has changed ends, and
is marching on cold feet and with hot head to an
assault that will but little benefit it next year.
In many of the States both parties distressed by
factions which are especially active In Kentucky the
Democrats are at each others hroats with tooth and
claw and in Ohio the Republicans are not much bet
ter off. The Southern Democracy is very tired Of
Bryan and wants to unload him. For that the Sara
toga conference was called, and for that the word
has been passed throughout the South and there has
followed general feeling Of unrest. Such
ex-senator Faulkner of West Virginia, German OF
Maryland and Scott Howell of Georgia weary Of
Bryans leadership and some of them show signs OF
intending to fall in behind Henry Watterson and Sen
ator Morgan in the Endorsement of imperialism as an
open reason for antagonizng the Nebraskan Among
these has lately been lighted new hope. If Kentucky
go Republican in November it will furnish the South
pretext for repudiatng Bryan and it the neces
sity OF openly supporting imperialism for that pur-
pose This, seeming to be we'll understood in
Kentucky is what puts such serious weight into the
boiling candidacy OF John Young Brown against
Goebel the regular nominee The crux of the Re
publican situation is in Ohio That State is the ancient
hobed OF faction in both parties The Democracy
was long torn into taters by The eud between Wash
Mclean and Senator Thurman. Mclean an
inriguer OF rare ability. Thurman had stood in the
Senate for sound money in the time when the green
back storm was political blizzard. He had thor
oughly identified himself with sound money did
Cleveland and Carlisle later on. But Thurman was
ambitious to succeed himself. He getting old,
and to round his life and end it in Senatorial
career, which for Western Democrat must be the
Benton, became his dearest wish. Wash Mclean
had always fought him, but he appeared
as friend and tempter. If Thurman would go to
Ohio and make greenback speech he should be
Senator and succeed himself. The ambitious old man
took the bait and in his speech at Wooster swallowed
it and the hook and himself He was beaten and
dropped into the ranks OF the 'old Romans" the
American euphemism for old has-beens
Since then the party in Ohio has been wandering
around without its head an object OF pity, INDECENT
and incapable of self-support. But this year has
found "an angel in John r. Mclean, old Washs
son. and for the first time in many years its hoops
seem to be tight
Strangely enough, or naturally enough. as one may
look at it, just as the Ohio Democracy is showing
signs OF union and strength, Ohio Republicanisnl,
which had trotted along smoothly enough, breaks.
goes off its feet and is biting its own thumb at itself
Jonesism in Toledo, the street railroad strike in
Cuyahoga County, and McLean's influence in Hamil-
ton present vexatious situation to torment the Re
publican managers. As il this not enough, the
chronic temper OF Senator Foraker is apparent in the
situation 1t is known that in 1896 the State was long
in doubt and it is believed to have been saved by
the gold Democracy, and it is also known that For
aker's friends would not have the usual badge
OF mourning for thirty days if it had been saved
at all
If there is not some balm for the party feuds this
year it is not impossible that Democratic Ohio may
salute Republican Kentucky across the Ohio River
Then what? That such result would profoundly
affect the attitude of each party toward its present
leadership there be doubt and there can be
no doubt that the general result of the by-eectons
will leave the Republican party firmly entrenched
as ever and then the wisdom of its conservatism on
! Imperialism will be manifest.
The Sheriff OF Santa Clara County admits he can
not find Dunham nor the skeleton whose discovery