Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-05
Reaction Toward Conservatism"

The New York Sun, taking for text the
election of a democrat in North Carolina
to succeed Mr.. Fritchard in the Senate,
makes some observations on what 1t terms
the "populist age and its ending. 1t be-
lieves that we have heard the last Of the
populists, and says:
1.-THE experiment was curiously successful
for time and had flavor of originality.
Where populism swallowed democracy, on
Kansas and Nebraska, for instance, the
coalition Of populism and democracy hurt
the republicans for a season. In North
Carolina the straight democrats were put
out Of power. They have come to their own
now. The two surviving republican repre-
sentatives in Congress from North Caro-
lima were defeated last fall. The delegation
In the next Congress will be purely demo-
cratic. The ending Of the populist age re-
veals the republicans in power again In
the western republican states which they
lost to the populists. Kentucky and North
Carolina are again democratic. The demo-
cratic south Is solid once more, save for
West Virginia and Maryland.
1.-THE democratic reaction toward con-
servatism is promoted by this condition of
the political geography. Delaware, Mary
land and West Virginia are to be won. II
won they can be. solely by safe demo-
cratic policy. Democratic radicalism simply
makes present Of them to the republi-
cans"
Kentucky and North Carolina are again
democratic. but not as the result Of what the
Sun means when 1t speaks Of reaction to-
ward conservatism" Mr.. Beckham, now
the governor Of Kentucky. and reasonably
we'll assured Of denomination to that Office
next spring, supported Mr.. Bryan enthu-
siastically both in 1896 and 1900, and so far
as known Is still an advocate Of Bryanite
policies. The men upon whom he will lean
for reelection are democrats Of the free
silver, antitrust school The SUMS pro-
trust hope Is misplaced in that quarter.
The change of situation in North Caro-
lima was not brought about by any repu-
diation OF Organism, but simply by dis
franchising the negro vote. When that
vote was barred from the polls the repub-
lican-populist coalition fell to the ground.
The democrats made no bid for support on
any other than the negro issue. Nor have
they recanted since regaining power any
former deliverance on the money or the
trust issue. Mr.. Overman, the new senator,
in thanking the legislature for electing him
senator said,
Great questions are upon us, the very
corner stone OF the temple of this republic
equal rights to all. special privileges to no
protected to prevent the encroachments by
the great trusts and other combinations
that threaten this country with Industrial
servitude."
AS for what may be necessary to restore
Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia to
the democratic column Is guesswork If
the republicans Of Delaware keep up their
row much longer they will make present
Of that state to the democrats. West Vir-
ginia. In the opinion of many close political
observers. is in the republican column to
stay. Protection and material development
have carried the day there. Maryland on
national issues has twice gone republican,
but should the democrats nominate Mr.
German for President the contest there
next year would be spirited, to say the
least. But the prospects for a pro-trust
program are not bright in any quarter.