8 "Che Conservative.
DEMOCRACY'S MAI ) LEADERSHIP.
A Grout Contrast to the Position of ( ho
fnrty Eltflit Yearn A ; o--Tho Wo rut
Foot 1'ut Forward Now In Im
portant States.
WASHINGTON , Sept. 25. A compari
son of the condition of the democratic
party as it enters the campaign this fall ,
one year preceding the presidential
contest , with its condition in a similar
election just eight years ago , affords one
of the most pathetic contrasts of Ameri
can politics. Today there is just one state
north of the old Mason and Dixon line
and east of the Missouri River which
has a democratic governor. That is
Minnesota ; nor does this signify any
thing as to the relative strength of the
two political parties , for on the same
day that John Lind was elected gover
nor the seven congressional districts of
the state eacli chose a republican to
represent them in congress. The clan
nishness of the Scandinavian vote ao
counts for this solitary exception to the
rule that the democrats are now out of
power in every state of the North as far
west as the Missouri.
Eight years ago Pennsylvania , Now
York , Ohio , Iowa and Massachusetts
had democratic governors. The con
gress of the United States which had
been last elected contained in the lower
house onlv 87 republican * ! , against 237
democrats , and eight farmers' alliance
men. It was then evident to the most
casnal observer that the democrats were
gaining in strength so rapidly as almost
to insure their carrying the presidential
election the following year. This they
did by an overwhelming majority. To
day their prospects as they approach
this preliminary skirmish of 1809 are as
slim as they were then flattering. This
is something that those now in control
of the organization will do well to pen
der. It shows more forcibly than any
thing else that the way of the trans
gressor among parties , as well as men , is
still hard.
Nothing has occurred in the conven
tions thus far this year to indicate that
the democratic tide , which seems to be
at low-water mark , has begun to come
in. In nearly all the states that have
any politics this year the democratic
organization ha- * boldly and bravely put
its worst foot forward. In Massachusetts
and Ohio this is particularly true , and
Washington observers are wont to con
trast the condition of the party in those
two states with that which prevailed
when Governor Russell was in control
in Massachusetts , and the Cleveland
wing of the party in Ohio. James E.
Campbell was then governor of Ohio ,
and while he subjected himself to criti
cism for yielding to the free silver
movement soon afterwards , it must be
acknowledged that ho is a long way
ahead of John R. McLean. The demo
cratic party appears to slightly better
advantage in Iowa and Maryland , but
in Kentucky it is in a worse muddle
than ever before. Although the Iowa
democrats selected of the two candi
dates prominently before their conven
tion the one most extremely devoted to
free silver , Mr. White has , since his
nomination , apparently lost his enthu
siasm for that issue , and is making some
very strong anti-imperialist speeches.
In Maryland , the democratic party ordi
narily represents a substantial element
of the communities , and this year is not
an exception. Southern in their sympa
thies the Maryland democrats usually
are , and yet with enough of the Balti
more business interests in the equation
to keep them from those populistic
vagaries into which the democrats of
the extreme South , where the rural vote
predominates , fall so readily.
The few elections which always take
place in the year preceding a presi
dential contest throw so much light as
commonly to make it absolutely clear
how that contest will turn out. This
year there will be less certainty than
usual in interpreting the meaning of the
results , on account of the existence of a
foreign war , which is liable at any time
to have very sensational developments ,
so striking as to obliterate in a night all
other issues , and completely to change
the face of politics. Barring the possi
bilities of such developments in Philip
pine affairs between the coming Novem
ber and that month a year later , it
ought to be easy to tell from the vote
soon to be cast how the presidential
contest will result. After another
deluge like that of 1896 , it is reasonable
to expect some reform from within the
democratic party. Its followers like
office altogether too well to remain per
manently outside the corn crib. When
it is again shown very distinctly that
such drivers as now hold the reins will
never guide them towards the corn ,
there will be a chance for wiser counsels
to prevail. From The New York Even
ing Post , Sept. 25 , 1899.
THE MRAZOS RIVER ( TEXAS ) FLOOD
OF JUNE-JULY , 1899.
The report of E. S. Holmes , jr. , of the
Division of Statistics of the U. S. De
partment of Agriculture , on the recent
flood in Brazes River , Texas , is now in
the hands of the Public Printer and will
soon be issued by the Department as
Circular No. 10 , Division of Statistics ,
entitled "The Brazes River ( Texas )
Flood of June-July , 1899 , and Its Effects
upon the Agriculture of the Submerged
Region. "
Mr. Holmes visited all the principal
points in the district , and in his report
says there were two floods , the first
reaching its maximum height Juno 29 ,
and the other following after an inter
val of less than one day and attaining
its highest point July 1 , the two coming
so nearly together as to be commonly
known as one flood. There was a dis
tinct interval , however , of almost a day
between the two periods of high water ,
and during that time the river in the
northern portion of the district sank
nearly to its low-water mark.
The report describes the sections
where the greatest damage occurred ,
and gives an account of the character of
the damages , showing that the cotton
planters were the chief losers , as 67.4
per cent of the entire area under culti
vation was planted in that staple. There
were also large losses of corn , including
a considerable amount of last year's crop
which had been stored for food , sugar
cane , live stock , houses , fences , etc.
There was a great deal of suffering
from hunger and exposure in the out
lying districts , and the problem of mak
ing the flooded section self-sustaining
until another crop can be produced is a
difficult one. Steps are being taken ,
however , to plant portions of the terri
tory in food and forage crops which
yield a quick return. This will serve to
keep the land in good condition for npxt
year's crop and may ultimately result in
a greater diversification of crops , which
can not fail to benefit a district where
an abundant yield is assured by a mere
scratching of the earth and dropping of
seed.
The report gives estimate of the area
covered by the flood , the population , and
losses in land , crops , improvements , live
stock , etc.
No attempt has been made to fix the
loss on any particular class of people ,
but a certain portion of the value of the
crops in the flooded region would have
gone to the land owners. The system
of tenant farming is such that the land
lord is practically compelled to furnish
household supplies to his tenants in ad
vance of the gathering of the crop.
It is estimated that the landlord has al
ready advanced on this year's crop $756-
000 to tenants in the devastated region
in addition to which the rent of his land
would have yielded him , $1,759,000 had
the crops matured , malting a direct loss
to the landlord of $2,519,000 , to which
he has entirely given up his claim.
Not more than 50 per cent of the land
will be replanted , and probably not more
than 20 per cent of that in cotton ; the
remainder will be in
planted quick-yield
ing food and forage crops , which may
result in a greater diversification of
products and more scientific farming.
The report concludes with estimates
of the value of the property and losses
in the flooded territory , showing a total V
loss of $7,412,583. " *
He who loves Nature loves himself
"from the dust of the earth didst thou
come ; to the dust of the earth shalt
thou return ; from mother earth dost
thou live. "