The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1900-10-18
New York the battle-ground

be cast in November, varying from
two-thirds republican to two-thirds
demoeratic; but the intelligent and dis
passionate observer Of the situation
will understand that the presidential
candidate for whom the electoral vote
of New York shall be cast will be the
next president of the United States.
In saying that New York is the piv-
otal state OF the battle, it means much
more than the mere arithmetical argu-
ment that decides the majority in the
electoral college. New York is affect
ed by the same political influences
which prevail in all other sections Of
the country, and the doubtful states,
because influenced by the same causes,
will be likely to vote almost solidly in
accord with the Empire state. That
the dominating influences in New York
are favorable to democratic success
must be evident to all who understand
the political situation; but the electoral
vote OF that state has several times cast
against the logical expression of the
people, by political Vaccinations such
as sacrificed Hancock in 1880 and Cleve-
land in 1888. If there shall be posi-
tive and earnest democratic unity in
New York state, her electoral vote will
be given to Bryan, and thus make
him the next president.
Since 1860 New York has never Civ
en- her electoral vote against the gener-
al verdict of the nation, with the sin
gle exception of the Grant-Seymour
contest in 1868, when Seymour was
given majority of doubtful validity.
In every other instance the electoral
vote of New York has been given for
the successful candidate for president
True, Tilden was defrauded out Of the
presidency, after his election by q large
popular and electoral majority in 1875,
but that fraud does not affect the rec
ord Of the state; and there is no reason
to doubt that the record of the Empire
state in the present contest will be the
record of the republic.
New York gave her electoral vote to
Lincoln in 1850 and again in 1854, in
harmony with the verdict of the Ameri-
can people. In 1868 the personal
strength of Seymour, with Tammany
and its political machinery at the very
zenith Of their power, made New York
give ten thousand majority for Sey-
mour against Grant; but that verdict
stands single stands single and alone
as the expression Of New York against
the expression of the country.
In 1872 Grant carried the state by a
large majority, and four years later, in
1875. Tilden carried New York by a
large majority, with poplar majority
of $50, 900 of the natioh. In 1880, New
York decided the contest against the
democrats, and gave Garfield the presi-
dency with popular majority of the
country of less than 10000. In 1884,
New York voted for Cleveland and de-
cided his election in harmony with a
popular majority Of some 100000 In
1888, the electoral vote of New York
defeated Cleveland when Hill, demo.
crat, was elected governor by some
1000, and when the popular vote gave
Cleyeland nearly 100000 majority. In
1899, New York gave Cleveland large
majority, being influenced by the tidaI
wave that returned Cleveland to the
presidency by nearly 400, 900 plurality
and in 1896 New York was thrown out
of the democratic fold by q majority
that swelled intohundredso of thousand
in the great republican hurricane tina,
swept the land, Thus with the single
exception of the Grant-Seymour con
test of 1868, the electoral vote of New
York has always been cast for the sue
cessful presidential candidate.
1t is idle to figure on minute details
as to the electoral vote at the next elec
ton. If New York should vote fo
Bryan he will be successful and th,
democratic leaders Of that state col
! give him the electoral vote, if the,
S shall be faithful to their cause and Il
\, their pEghted faith to the country. Th
= same influences which should carr,
n New York would carry with it the stat
II of New Jersey and probably Connect
p cut, and would assure the electora
: votes of Delaware, Maryland, Ken
y lucky and Indiana for Bryan, with th
d certainty of adding Nebraska, ColorO
J. do, Nevada, Utah, Idaho and Montan
d to the democratic column, leaving iii
t nois and Wisconsin as fairly doubtful
y under such conditions.
t, New York can make the next govern
|. ment ofthis country democratic, an
d elect democratic president, to effac
Ia forever from our political issues tn
k monistef of imperialism, and halt th
despotic concentration of money, to OF
,e1 press industry and The great mass {
r consumers in the land. Let New Yor
10 be true to, her duty and her opportur
rs rs ity, and the people will win in the Nc
. yember battle, Philadelphia Times.