The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-05-18
APATHY OF THE REPUBLICANS

The apathy which is being shown
in the present campaign on the Re
publican side is the political gossip of
the day among the politicians of both
classes in Washington. While it has
been an open secret for some time,
that Mckinley would have a hard
road to travel to secure his return to
the White House, yet, no one would
have predicted four months ago that
the apathy which was apparent at
that time would continue as it has up
to the present. Yet, it seems. the
closer the time of the Convention ap-
proaches the less interest the Repub-
licans seem to take in it. There has
not been a County Convention held
this spring, at which even a fair at
tendance was present; and their State
Conventions were woeful failures both
in numbers aud lack of spirit shown.
The truth of the matter seems tC be,
that they have no heart in this cam
paign. Even tho office holders seem
to be allowing their colors to trail IN
the dust. One would think that they.
at least, would try and make some
show aud the half-hearted effort
which is put forth is in marked coz
trast with that exhibited four years
ago. At that time it could be seen on
all sides that victory was in the air.
They carried themselves jauntily, and
the earnestness shown indicated the
feeling of the victory which was to be
theirs at the polls on election day.
When we como to look at it how
ever. we can hardly expect anything
else. The truth of the matter is. the
Republicans feel in their hearts that
they have been sold out by the Presi-
dent and his followers, or rather his
leaders. The White House coterie
has so far turned things from their
ccustomed course that the average
Republican hardly knows where che
is at" What used to be the land
marks of the party Of Lincoln, have
been entirely swept away. A new
order of things has come to pass, and
it requires many lightning changes
for the average politician to keep up
with the procession. Their battle
cry used to be Down with imperialism
and despotism. But any good Re
publican who would dare to say this
now would suffer instant decarita.
ton. 1t is really so hard at present 70
know what is the right thing TO favor
that even President Mckinley, him
self, so far erred as to urge free trade
for Porto Rico. But he had to change
his Judgment, and pretty quickly too,
when the despotic Marcus decreed
that all Porto Rico should be taxed.
Well, we Democrats ought to and
when the ballots are counted on cleo
ton day; and, perhaps, it is this feel
ing of certainty, which we all uncon-
sciously show, that has disheartening
effect on the Republicans, as well as
their own record which the people are
today examining with a critical eye
This presage of victory has not come
upon US suddenly. At first we only
dared to hope, aud then, little day
light seemed apparent in the far dis
tant horizon. As we approached
closer, prospect of success grew bright
Contemporaneous with this came
blunder after blunder of the party in
power. 1t really seemed at one time
that every leader of the dominant
party in Washington had gone mad.
They rushed recklessly into things
without the slightest regard as to what
the result would be; AMI what they
have got in view no one can tell.
During the past two years enough
vicious legislation has been enacted
on our statute books to make issues
for q dozen campaigns. Democrats
have very properly taken advantage
of every blunder committed and lost
no time in bringing the facts to the
attention of the public. The people
are we'll informed. They will think
and act for themselves; and it is not
hard to predict what they will do with
their ballot, when the foundation of
the Republic is being shattered.