The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1905-11-03
POLITICAL CONDITIONS.

the history of the country when its
politics, both local and national,
have been in such an 1ndeterminate,
not to say chaotic, condition as they
are to-day. In every one OF the
prominent contests now being
waged, as well as in the expressions
Of opinion coming from sections
where there are no significant cleo.
tions pending, there is unmistaLa-
bic evidence OF crumbling organiza-
tons and disappearing party lines.
Numerous Democrats in the South
and stanch adherents of Bryan ey
erywhere, are applauding the poll
cies of the President, promising
him their support, aud talking of
re-electing him in spite of himself,
Struggle tor control in States and
municipalities show the same ten.
dency to break away from old affili-
ations an ! to think and vote indie
pendently. In Massachusetts Re-
publican orators are both advocat
ing and opposing tariff readjust-
ment and reciprocity. In New
York City triangular battle is
being fought with unprecedented
commingling and confusion Of
forces, and with every prospect that
an irreconcilable free lance, rum
ming on his own ticket, and con-
Quoting his own campaign, will
carry off the district attorneyship.
In Pennsylvania, centering chiefly
at Philadelphia after long period
of supineness and stagnation under
corrupt machine rule, there is a
revolution going on which has many
of the characteristics of an OLD
fashioned religious revival, with all
of its tervor, not emitting praying
and psalm singing; and in Maryland
] luC lWO DCilOAl dllN SCudlOlS al III
open opposition in regard to the
principal issue before the people.
In Ohio, so pronounced is the spirit
of independence and tile tendency
to disregard party ties, to the con.
fusion of boss and machine control,
that the election of a Democratic
governor is TAR from unlikely.
Noticeable everywhere, and I'M
DERIVING these various manifesto.
tons in different localities, is a
determination of the people to
throw off the corrupt rule of bosses
and machines and resume, il it be
only for a time, the control of their
own affairs through the agencies of
an honest ballot. Such movements
are like the operations of nature
changes are going on and forces
gathering slowly and imperceptibly,
till finally there comes an upheaval,
throwing all Arguments into con-
fusion. REIMBURSEMENT and new
marshaling of parties follows. We
seem to be in the midst of such an
upheaval, and it is yet too early 10
predict just what the outcome will
be- Many of the old issues have
been passed upon finally, and are
obsolete; the old party cries no
longer arouse enthusiasm, and it is
evident that existing methods have
largely broken down, and must be
discarded for others more adequate
and effective.
1t is said that after such times of
excitement and keen popular inter
est, there follows always, as after
religious REVEALS, another period of
apathy and indifference, and that
lasting aud valuable results are not
reached by such means; that real
and permanent growth can be at.
tanned only by gradual and orderly
processes. While there is a basis
of truth for this theory, it is never
theless a fact that marked transit
tons can only DC effected by arous-
ed interestand extraordinary effort,
and that when one has taken place
the old order OF things is always
more or less changed.
It has always been assumed
taken for granted rather than
proved that under free popular in
stitutions no method of government
except by the agency Of parties is
possible, although it is freely ad-
mitted that they not seldom fail Of