New-York tribune., 1900-07-27
POLITICS IN INDIANA.
ALL SIGNS POINT TO A REPUBLICAN
VICTORY.
THE PARTY STRONGER THAN EVER BE
FORE-REvIEw OF THE SITUATION.

THE PARTY STRONGER THAN EVER Be
FoRE-REvIEw OF THE SITUATION.
indianapolis. July &c (SpeciaD.-The recent
curious outgivings from authoritative Demo
cratic Populst sources that Mr. Bryan has no
expectation of carrying New-York, while all
his superabundant confidence Is found on
winning Ohio Indiana, Illinois. Kentucky and
Maryland. are rather too ostentatious to be
wholly relied upon. 1t may be true that the
fusionists have abandoned New-York but Re
publicans should not count upon Democratic
despair as a primary means of success IN the
Empire State.
Nevertheless, on what reasonable theory OF
political action Bryan and his friends draw the
line between the outlook in New-York and the
Republican States Of the Middle West it is hard
to divine. What they see in Ohio. Indiana and
Illinois which to hang hope different from
prevailing conditions in New-York which they
pretend abandon. is not apparent TO the ordi-
nary political observer. All the superficial facts
all past history. all majorities are against them
n the Middle West, more strongly than
n New-York. No satisfactory explanation has
vet been advanced why they should so hope
fully ground their faith in the one section and
80 hopelessly forswear all claims to the other.
Nothing could make the situation in all the
States named more clear than a recent resume
cago correspondent All past election statis-
tics concur in foreshadowing a sweeping Repub-
lican victory in Illinois, but no more clearly in
Illinois than in this State. There is not
straw. past or present, TO show any Republican
reaction in the Western States Republican ma
Iorities everywhere in the off years 1897, 1898
and 1899, on a reduced vote, were approXi-
mateIy greater than ever before. Moreover, four
States which Mr.. Bryan carried in 1S96-Kan-
i o5v1ey
have been lost by the fusionists at every cleo
ton since 1896, with manifestations of rapidly
increasing Republican strength. To Offset this,
the Democrats last fall, by a fuke, carried Mary
and by a small plurality for their State ticket,
cropping the Bryan issues and depending main
iy on Republican split.
BRYANITE HOPES WITHOUT BASIS.
BY the record, then, what chance has Bryan
n Indiana? Scarcely the ghost of one, even in
the estimation Of local Democrats. There is
nothing in sight. the case is now presented
20 the country. which to hang the vaguest
Bryan hope. There is no reaction IN Indiana.
Since 1892 the Republicans have been growing
stronger here year by year There is one sig
aihcant evidence Of this which has been gen
orally overlooked. In 1895 for the first time
n the history Of the party the Republicans Sc
cured general control Of every department of
oficers the Legislature, both United States
Senator's and nine out of thirteen Congressman.
This roundup victory achieved in off
gear when Republican interest is usually at it's
lowest ebb
Thoughtless people, unfamiliar with Indiana
politics, conclude that. because Mckinley car
ried the State in 1895 by only 1S 1S1 plural
ty. whereas he captured Wisconsin at the same
election by 100000 and New-York by 295, 600,
Indiana was close, and that therefore it is
now justifable TO countoit among the debatable
States Far from II. In Indiana $4,000 was
comparatively greater and more emphatic plu-
York, because Republican majorties in the lat
ter States are 1uctuating quantities, on occa-
sion as in 1896 liable to'swell to abnormal pro-
portions. and then Suddenly ebb away in an
alarming manner. Not in this State, which
after the Lincoln-Grant period remained close
and doubtful UP to 1894. since which time it
has been steadily Republican by increasing ma
jorities. This unbroken period of successes
prior TO, including and following Presidential
contest, undoubtedly warrants the universal
Republican confidence in victory this fall.
GROWTH OF REPUBLICAN STRENGTH.
For the four Presidential elections covering
the Civil War period and Immediately following
the electoral vote of Indiana went to the Re
publicans without a break. In the six elections
since il has been a seesaw. For a clear and full
comprehension of the trend of Indiana politics
and the gradually increasing Republican power
in the last eight years. the result of it's various
ic bar viya