The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-08-08
The Hope That Springs Eternal.


Surprise was expressed at the hope
full spirit of Chairman Jones OF the
Democratic national committee, or the
occasion of his recent visit to New
York to confer with the party leaders
in that city and to try to reconcile
party antagonisms in the Empire
State.
On the face of things, prospects of
the Democratic party, in respect of
carrying the country in the next cleo
ton, would afford Mark Tapley of
that party the opportunity of his life to
display his superiority to depressing
conditions. In full electoral college
in the pending canvass there are 447
votes. A majority is 224 The eleven
States of the old solid South have III
electoral votes, and these are placed at
once to the credit of Bryan. This is
just half the number required to elect.
The forecasters of the election concede
to Bryan Missouri, Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, Utah and Nebraska,
having in the aggregate Al electors,
which would increase Mr.. Bryan's vote
to 1853 He would then lack II of a
majority.
To shed all the CHEEKY light the ut
most parting of the clouds may allow to
stream on Bryan's hopes, the forecas-
tiers concede him Maryland (S), Della
ware (3), and Kentucky Q3), "a in all.
Political conditions in those States are
disturbed. They are doubtful, Bryan
is given the benefit of the doubt, and
these States are counted against the
Republicans. But the Democratic
candidates aggregate is raised only to
1T and he yet lacks AZ of a majority.
To get AZ more votes when every GER
tainty, every probability and every rea-
sonable possibility has been conceded
aye, there's the rub. For there are not
very remote possibilities of Republican
success in one or more of the three
States last named.
Is there hope in New England, or in
New York, or anywhere else in the
East, of getting any part of the AZ votes
still needed for the triumph of the
apostle of 16 to 1? Even hopeful Mr..
Jones would not answer yes. The
same is true of the Pacific STATISTICAL
ifornia, Oregon, Washington and Wy
oming. These are solid for sound
money and thrice solid for expansion.
OF this, elections held since 1896 give
ample assurance. California, Repub-
lican in 1896 by less than 5000 plural
ity, in 1898 chose Republican Gov
ernor by nearly 10000 plurality; Wash
ington, carried for Organism in 1896
by over 10000, espoused the cause of
republicanism by over 5000 in 1898;
Wyoming has in like manner repented
of her vote for Populism four years ago,
and Oregon's steadfast adherence to
Mckinley has been shown by stead
lily increasing Republican vote.
In another section of the country in
fected with Organism in 1896 there
has since been found an assuring con-
dition of Republican good health. Kan
sas gave her ten ELECTORAL votes to Bry-
an in 1896; in 1898 the State elected a
Republican Governor by over Is, 900
plurality, as against Democratic plu.
rality of 10000 four years ago. The
Sunfower State has recovered her men,
tai soundness and her prosperity, and
her repubicanism follows as matter
OF course. South Dakota by bare
plurality voted for Bryan in 1896, but
has since gone Republican and is now
counted safe for Mckinley.
Bryan's hope of getting his needed
AZ votes, if he has any hope at all, is
narrowed down to the Middle West, and
it must come from some com animation
of these six States whose electoral vote
and Republican plurality in 1896 are
here subjoined:
Votes Majority
Illinois. ....M................14 2 498
Ohio. .23. ................ At 497
indiana. ".15................. IS 1871
Michigan, ..14........,.,... h6 26S