The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-10
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Politics in the West-Thel Unanimity
for Grant-The ktnanciaI Question
The West Opposed TO Contraction
National Banks and Bonds.
LAWRENCE, Kansas, Dec. z,


LAWRENCE, Kansas, Dec. 2, 1857.
have taken some pains. since leaving Phila-
delphia, to get at the public sentiment OF the
West tupon political topics, especially the pre-
vailing feeling among Republicans. There is
Tut one opinion, so far as 1 have found, in re-
gard to the nomination OF General Grant as the
Republican candidate for the Presidency in
1868, and that is In his favor. Nobody else is
talked about. His nomination is considered as
much q foregone conclusion as though the
nominating convention had already assembled
and formally presented his name to the people.
Unless some at present unforeseen and impro-
bable contingency shall arise, the West will
present an unbroken delegation for Grant in
the Republican convention And this unani-
nifty for Grant, SO far as can perceive, arises
from no lowering of the Republican standard
no reaction in the sentiment of the
party, no going backward by the Re-
publican masses, but rather from a
deep-seated confidence in the man himself and
in his devotion to the essential principles and
policy of the party. He is believed to stand
with Congress upon the subject of reconstruc-
ton, and that is considered the vital point at
the present conjuncJure. have not conversed
with a single Republican who proposes to back
down from the principle of impartial suffrage
In the reconstruction of the late Rebel States.
Grant is believed TO be all right on this point.
Then, in addition, there is a general feeling
that Grants election would serve to quiet and
harmonize the whole country, and TO hasten the
day of the full and final restoration of the
Union. There is no particular enthusiasm for
Grant; no attempt to get up Jtnore, or TO rush
things, but what have given above seems to be
the general sentiment of the party. Outside of
military names, Colfax is undoubtedly the
favorite of the West, and would command more
personal enthusiasm than any other man who
could be named
The CHIEF topic of public interest throughout
the West is the financial question. 1 have
heard thirty men talk about it to one who has
mentioned reconstruction or negro suffrage
The latter are considered as questions virtually
settled, while the financial question is an ever
present one, and of vital personal interest to
each citizen. Its safe to say that the West is
unanimously opposed TO any further contrac-
tion of the currency. The protestations of news
paper financiers in the great money centres of
the East that the currency is redundant and
that the nation must speedily returR to specie
payments through the process OF contraction,
awaken not the slightest ripple upon the sur
face of public sentiment at the West. One great
reason of this is that at the West there Is no
redundancy, but rather a lack OF currency for
the actual needs of the people. Old communi-
ties, like our Eastern States that have the
accumulated capital of from one TO two hum
dred years, do not require the same amount of
currency accordingly as newer States. At the
West everything is new; roads are to be con-
structed, bridges built fences erected, dwell
ings and barns constructed, fruit trees
planted, mills, school houses, and churches
bullt-in short, all the appliances of civilization
are to be created. This demands capital, and a
great deal OF ,and it demands large supply
of currency. The demand for capital is shown
by the high rates of interest that prevail in the
West. Ten per cent. is the almost universal
rule, and am told that the banks here in Kan
sas demand and get tt0etve Iii idle to tell such
a people that the currency is too plenty. More
over, the West has been deprived Of its fair and
Just share OF the circulation under the National
Banking system. Indeed, find asdeep-seated
feeling Of hostility TO the national banks. The
Idea of substituting greenbaclSs for the national
bank circulation is popular one with nearly
the entire community, and the views OF Messrs.
Butler, Pendleton, and Stevens are by no means
as unpopular as they are at the East. indorse
none OF these sentiments as my own-I simply
! give the state OF public opinion as 1nd It.
The financial question is bound to exercise a
most important influence upon the Presidential
campaign. II overrides party lines all through
the West My own association has been almost
| exclusively with Republicans. The Demo
cratic journals correctly represent the senti-
ments OF their party atlthe West. The burden
of taxation is heavily felt at the West as well
as at the East. The people do not mean TO be d is
honorable, nor to do anything but what Is lust
and right bat they are exceedingly reatiye
under all those peoulIarities OF our financial
system which afford special pgivileges or build
up monopolies. The exemption OF the national
bonds from taxation is very unpopular. In
the West they are mainly In the hands OF
/ the wealthieat men in the community, who
thus escape taxation. while the farmer. the