Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1899-11-25
A Look Over the Field.

The political sentiment of the
United States at this time is deci-
sively Republican,. Any one can go
over the list of states and see that
the Republicans hold more than in
1896. Three general elections have
taken place since that year and the
net result is Il strengthened Republi-
can position. The four states gained
are Kansas, Washington, South Da-
kota and Wyoming. Kentucky, which
divided its electoral vote in 1896, is
more strongly Republican now than
1T was then. The single state regain
ed by the Democrats is Maryland, and
this was managed only by platform
silent on silver and the rest of the
Chicago platform. Compared with
1896 the Republican gain of electoral
votes is %, the loss 8. The change
would make the electoral college
stand Republican 2S5, Democratic
162. t is as close an estimate in
actual figures as can be made. These
are accomplished facts. Through
three so-called off years the opposi-
tion has done its utmost to turn the
political tide. But it runs more pow
erful than eyer. The Democratic
party itself has crumbled in attempt
ing to develop a weak spot in Repub-
lican lines.
One new national issue, expansion,
was tested in the twelve states that
voted on November Z. 1t was en-
phatically approved. Massachusetts,
the home of Atkinson, Garrison, Bout
well, Hoar and a bitter anti-eXpan-
sion league, piled up an immense Re-
publican majority. New York Re-
publicans increased their Roosevelt
majority and gained twelve members
in the Legislature. New jersey
shows decided Republican gains in
both popular vote and the Legisla-
ture. Mclean is astoniShed by the
80, 900 plurality against him in Ohio.
The Republicans of Kentucky were
united and won brilliant victory.
Iowa increased its majority. South
Dakota, where the President recently
made some of his strongest speeches,
and where Senator Pettigrew has
been untiring on the other side,
changed from a fusion majority last
year to- phenomenal Republican ma
jority of 5000 or 10000. Mclean and
other Democratic managers counted
on German revolt on expansion.
1t is invisible in the returns in Ohio.
Iowa, New York or anywhere else.
There are many thousand Germans in
Buffalo and Louisville, and both cities
went Democratic last year. This year
they give large Republican majorities.
Mr.. Bryan saved his state and it is
evident that there are some Republi-
cans in Nebraska who do not care to
lessen his conspicuity in the Demo-
cratic party. Bryan has a strong
popularity and perhaps will serve the
Democratic purpose next year as well
as any man could in the present con-
fused condition of the party. He will
be defeated; but so will any other
Democrat. To drop him would cost
the Democrats their chance in Nebras-
ka, Colorado and two or three small
western states. He can count on the
South as confidently as any other. He
will lose Maryland unless he re-
nounces free silver, and that would
stultifv him to such degree that he
would be laughing stock. His posi-
tion against expansion is already con-
demned. As for trusts, he will find
no exclusive fighting ground. In fact
he has no objection to them if they
take the shape of his friends Mclean
and Wetmore. All that the Demo-
cratic party can do is to hope that an
issue will turn up before the meeting
of their national cunvention.-Glob
Democrat.