New-York tribune., 1900-09-17
THE OUTLOOK IN MARYLAND.


OF the political pilgrims who journeyed to
| this city on Friday TO report to Chairman James
K. Jones on the progress of the Eastern cam
| paign none probably pictured Democratic hopes
and prospects less famboyantly than ex-senator
| Arthur 2. German. of Maryland. Yet 1t IS pre-
! cisely In Mr.. Gorman's own State, If anywhere
! that the Bryan managers count on breaking
| down that solid alignment of Eastern scnti-
ment facing which four years ago the Nebraska
leader declared he felt himself on the frontiers
of "an enemy's country Maryland's hostilit!
| to Bryan in 1896 was pronounced and unyield-
ing. Her adverse plurality of 32,232 represented
a completer revolution of opinion than did the
larger Mckinley pluraties cast IN many other
Eastern States. Yet so changeable are the
currents of politics that within four years Dem
ocratic spirit and energy have again revived,
and campaign is being prosecuted under Mr..
Gorman's leadership, which alone of all those
now waging east Of the Ohio and north of the
Potomac offers any measurable prospect Of
party success.
Various causes have contributed to strengthen
the Democracy in Maryland for it's fight this
year. Mr.. Bryan's triumph at Chicago in 1896
did not bring about a revolution in local lCaCer-
ship, for one thing. it did in nearly every
other Eastern State. The Democratic org1niza-
ton had already been struggling for two years
against a factional revolt and while that quar-
rel lasted other lines Of division In the State
were largely neglected The Republican Ma
tionaI ticket won in 1885, on the free coinage
issue, by plurality of 32,232. But RepubI-
can State ticket had been chosen the year be-
fore on the issue of Mr.. Gorman's personal lead
ership by plurality of 1S,767. While Mr.. Cor
man remained a Senator Democratic opposition
TO his reelection kept alive, and he vas
finally beaten in 1897, the Democratic State
ticket losing that year by a plurality Of 7,1O9.
Except in 1896. the demand for free coinage
was practically ignored by both German and
anti-Gorman Democrats, and the two factions
after Mr.. Gorman's retirement from the Sen
ate, found an easy means to come together on
local issues. In 1899 nOn-factonal Democratic
ticket was nominated, enjoyed the support Of
The Baltimore Sum-" which had been the main
spring Of the anti-Gorman movement, and was
elected by plurality of over twelve thousand.
The union thus effected has been continued into
this campaign, the fictitious issue of imperial
ism" conveniently serving to excuse an ac-
ceptance by many former ant-Bryar Demo
Gratis of the financial hereses Of a Populist
platform.
1t is by no means certain that the Republican
party IN Maryland could make head unaded
against this unified Democratic opposition. One
Of the elements of weakness which handicapped
II last fall disappeared when Senator Yelling
toms secret disafection was converted into open
antagonism. Yet the discouragements of the
1899 campaign were plainly such as to shake
Republican confidence in Republican resources
pure and simple. Some return Of the spirit
and purpose OF 1895 was plainly necessary If
Maryland was again to cast her eight votes
against a policy Of dishonor and repudlation.
Though a little delayed this awakening OF
latent Democratic sound money sentiment
seems to have come at last. On Friday night
the originators Of the Honest Money League
Of 1s96-an men Of force and influence in the
business world of Baltmore-reassembed to put
together again the machinery which had proved
so effective in defeating Organism in the city
and State. A new committee Of seventy is to be
announced within a few days. and 1t is stated
that the missionary labors Of four years ago
10 be promptly resumed.
It is asserted that the league was instru-
nlentsl IA persuading some fifteen thousand
Gold Democrats to vote for Major Mckinley at
the last election Most Of these supported John
Walter Smith for Governor last fall, helping to
run his vote nearly 24,000 above that given for
Bryan in 1896. AS Colonel Smiths plurality
was only 12,114, return of from 1000 to 1900
Gold Democrats to Mckinley would this year
give the Republican ticket the State 1t is sin
cerely to be hoped that such a result will crown
the Honest Money Leagues work. Maryland
never has subscribed, and should not now sub
scribe, to the dangerous and dishonoring the
cries for which Colonel Bryan's candidacy
stands. Least of all should it be trapped into
doing through the hollow pretence that 1t is
serving an illusory apprenticeship to Jeffer-
sonianism writing chapter IN the his
tory Of civil and constitutional rights