The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-29
POLITICAL sUpi1HsrITlONs.

Politicians understand the effect on the
popular mind Of prestige and good luck
and that is why SO many millions of dol
lars have been spent in betting Oh 4 can
didate that his own men did not believe
could win, in order that they might there
by create a sentiment in his favor. NO
body cali judge what Napoleon's luck was
worth TO him, and Caesars to him, and
this is being taken advantage of by the
Democratic leaders to-day TO spread the
belief that the stars in their courses are
warning for Democratic President this
time.
We printed sometime ago an Interesting
article to the effect that the presidency
had vibra ted between the two parties ever
since Tilden's election. and that on every
occasion New York ard Indiana had voted
with the party which was successful. Al
SO, these two States never voted twice. IN
succession for the same party. II the rule
is not to be broken this year, New YORK
and Indiana will go Democratic, and If
they do MIR. Bryan viii more than probably
be elected. The superstition that they will
Another superstition is that every can
ddate OF great party who IS once de-
feated for President is sure to be elected
if renominated. This was true OF Jeffer-
son, of Jackson, of William Henry Har-
rison and of Grover Cleveland, il 1892,
and if Bryan is defeated this year, says
the Boston Transcript. "a well settled pre-
cedent will be broken These feelings
rest upon a human desire for change
which the people express by their votes
for the opposition party, and it is probably
large factor in the case that the people
feel a pity for the man who has been once
defeated.
But the Republicans Oh their side have
some superstition and some coincl0enceS
that are valuable. Tor example. the
Republicans have never yet lost a pres
idential election when they were at the
time in control OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives. When Tilden made his maSnin-
cent run in 1876, the Democratic majority
was p n the House. In 1854. when Nf.
Cleveland made his rum the Democratic
majority in the lower branch was SIS. Inc
Republicans have sometimes carried the
country at a presidential election when
tha Congressional election two years be-
fore mas been against them, but the MOI
ern Democrats have never elected Pres
ident when they had less than 20 majority
in the House at the election preceding.
Now this is not based on superst!tons'
hut shows that the election for Congress
In the off wear is an indication OF the direc-
ton in which popular sentiment is 1iioS-
ing. and if this sentiment is not sausei
If will manifest itself in the eiecuon OIL INC
President of the party which controls the
House at the Text election. SO II IS ialf
m saw that TO assume that Mr.. Bryan VIII
he elected this year is to assume treIheh-
dous revulsion since the Congressional
election Of two years ago. After all, com
cidences are not the least thing from
which definite conclusions can be drawn,
| for New York used to be cited as State
that could never elect TWO successive Re
publican Governors, and yet for three
| terms the chief executive or New YORK
| has been Republican. Norton, Black ana
Roosevelt, We ina CINE that this election
will depend more upon the conviction OF
| the people as to what concerns them IN the
National welfare than the desire to see
| long chain Of condolences unbrohe1i.
Certainly there are numberless men OF
both parties who are going to be guided
| in this election by an earnest convlcuon
| of what they consider to be right for the
country as whole. This may send New
| York ana Indiana with the Democratic
column, but the present indication are not
so.