The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-20
MEANING OF SENATOR MORGAS's
VICTORY.

kICIOHt.
The Republican papers are very sure
that the victory OF Senator Morgan in
his contest for reelection. Is an indication
that the policies OF the Republican party
are growing in favor in Alabama, but
they give very different reasons for think
ing So For instance the Times-Herald
of Chicago says:
Whatever Morgans personal popular
ity may be, 1t is impossible to reconcile
the result with the idea that the state is
as loyal as ever to Bryan. Probably II
will support him from force of Demo-
cratic habit. but it is exceedingly doubt
full If 1t will give him another plurality
OF 5000 should he conclude to make hos
tility to expansion the chief feature of
his platform. He is preparing the way
for a division in the solid South that is
likely TO exert a tremendous political in
fiuence in the future"
From the Times Herald's point of view
the Senator's victory means, that Mr..
Bryan is not so popular in Alabama as
it is generally believed he is. and that
the Republican policy of expansion has
a strong hold on the people there. In
deed, that paper reaches the conclusion
that Mr.. Bryan is preparing the way for
a division in the solid South, because Ala
bama refused to choose Gov. Johnston for
senator-the Governor being the cham
pion of Mr.. Bryan.
The Philadelphia Press says that the
overwhelming defeat of Gov. Johnston
shows where 1.-THE people of Alabama
stand on the question of expansion" 1t
is doubtful If it shows anything of the
kind 1t is safe to say that the great
majority Of those who took part in the
primaries did not study that question at
all-that, in fact, they know very little
about it.
1t is true of course that throughout the
senatorial contest Gov Johnston posed as
the friend and admirer of Mr.. Bryan, and
it is also true that he took stand against
expansion, but it should be kept in mind
that Senat tor Morgan did not set himself
up as the enemy of Mr.. Bryan. He sim
ply said that he admired Mr. Bryan, but
that he was for his party before he was
for any man. He declared, in the few
speeches he delivered in the campaign,
that if there was an available Democrat
who stood a better chance than Mr..
Bryan of winning the election. he would
favor him for the presidential nominee.
That was so in accordance with common
sense that Gov. Johnston's protestations
that he was a much better friend of MIR.
Bryan than Senator Morgan was counted
for little or nothing.
1t is the understanding that Senator
Morgan is an expansionist, and 1t is prob
able that many prominent Alabama Dem
ocrats are expansionists. The manufac-
turing interests in the South are very gen
orally in favor of expansion--at least, that
seems to be the unders tanding, but it Is
doubtful if the expansion sentiment played
a very important part in Alabamas con-
test. Senator Morgan was chosen because
the people of that state esteem him, and
believe that he comes much nearer being
sta tesman iof the highest type than any
other Albanian Besides they liked the
way he conducted his campaign. He did
not go round begging votes. He staid
in Washington attending to his Official
duties. He took the ground that if the
people wanted him to serve them they
would re-elect him, whether he went about
among them making speeches or not. The
people do want him, not because he is an
eXpansionist, or because he is not for
Mr.. Bryan If there is some other Demo-
crat who can poll bigger vote, but sim
ply because ne has been a faithful public
servant, and is public man of the high
est type.