The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-22
Two Weeks Before Election.

With the elect ion only two weeks of +,
the absence of political excitement OBJ
servable throughout the Union is some
what remarkable. We do not find politi-
cal discussion taking up any very great
share of the space of the newspapers in
any part of the country and almost in
variably il is temperate. il not singularly
reserved.
No symptoms OF notable change in
political sentiment can he discerned in
any quarter. No signs of a tidal wave .
are discoverable. Apparently, the rea-
i've strength of the two part les remains
about the same as il has been in the cleo
tions for Governor and for Congress-
men during the last eight years. The
new issue of national ownership and
operation fOisted on the Democratic
party by the New York Democratic con-
vention seems 10 have failed To stir the
enthusiasm of any considerable number
of the party. Emphatic dissent from
il is frequently expressed by stanch rep
resentatives Of Democratic sent iment.
Mr.. HILL must be disappointed by the
indifference or positive aversion with
which his SoCialstiC innovation is re-
ceved so generally by Democrats
For example, the Times of Richmond,
one of the ablest and most devoted OF
the representatives of Southern Democ-
racy, repudiates the Socialism of the
Democratic convention of New York
and earnestly warns its party against
the alien principle as hostile TO true
Democracy and destructive of it. n
having been always the policy and
the practice of the Democratic party to
have as little as is consistent with the
good of society of Socialism in the Gov
eminent, says the Richmond paper,
as little as possible of Government
interference with private al airs of life,
and it having been the Office Of the
Democratic party to resist all such ell
croachments, if the policy be pushed
to it's logical end there will eventually
be complete Socialism and Democracy
will have passed away" That may be
taken rs typical of the sentiment Of
Southern intelligence generally. and Of
Democratic conservatism here in New
York and throughout the Union.
The introduction Of the firebrand Of
Socialism, so far az is yet discoversble.
has diminished rather than increased
Democratic chances az the elections.
If the New York initiative had been
backed by responsive Sociaistic sent-
ment, deep and widespread il would
have been the most dangerous political
appeal which has ever been made in this
republic by great party. But, al we
have said there is no such response II
does not seem to be taken seriously any
where outside of little coteries of peo-
pie already infected with the Socialstic
virus. and Mr. HILLS prospects of get
ting the Democratic nomination for the
Presidency in 1904 seem 10 have been
reduced greatly because he has PLAYED
this trick with Democracy. That party
il not so much disposed To take the risk
of desperate experiments as it was in
1895. 1t has sadly learned the lesson
that political profit is not TO be made
by terrifying the whole business of the
country with revolutionary doctrines.
II has recovered from its political de-
bauch and once again is clothed and in
its right mind
The political calm which prccedes the
election To come soon would seem to in
dictate that the American people may
he relied on not tn invite the two wears
Of turmoil which would follow Demo-
cratic triumph on November T.