The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-20

active and again higher.
Negro Suffrage in Ohio-The Main Question
with Mr.. Chnse, md tho Probable Result.
The political campaign in Ohio, in view of
the coming October election, is becoming very
lively and intensely interesting. From our
observing correspondents in that field, and
from the discussions of the party press on both
sides throughout the State, it is abundantly
manifest that, while the republicans are con-
siderably frightened, the democrats are highly
elated with the prospect before them.
Chief Justice Chase, we conclude, shares in
the apprehen ions Of bis followers; for il APP
pears that he is en- route to Ohio, and will
remain there till after the election. And why
not, when his interest in the result is greater
than that of any other of our aspiring and
schemng politicians? He holds now the whip
hand of his party for the Presidential success
sion but if his own State, with its republican
majority of some orly-three thousand last
year. is turned against him, he must be with
drawn, as a horse too badly crippled to be
entered for the Presidential sweepstakes Natu-
rally enough, therefore, Mr.. Chase goes to Ohio
to do bis best to save him elf in laboring to
save his party in this impending October cleo
ton. Doubtless he has not only been thought
fully calculating the bearings of the late Cali
fornia and Maine elections, but has had q call
from his friends to como up to the rcscu,
against the threatening hosts of the Philistincs,
the Moabites, the Amalekites and the Egyp-
tians-a truly alarming coalition of hostile
forces.
The issue of Ike great constitutional amend
ment, upon which the republicans last year
swept the North as by whirlwind has
been cast aside by Congress and the
party, and the new national issue has been
substituted of universal negro suffrage, with
all the dangerous consequences which must
surely follow the experiment Of negro suprema-
cy in the rebel States. Various side issues
have also sprung up, including some financial
propositions looking to the overthrow OF Mr..
Chase's siipshod, unjust, oppressive and cor
ripping paper money system, AMI embracing
too, some hostile movements within the repub-
lican lines against those Puritanical liquor
laws which interdict the dispensing of lager
beer on Sunday. The democrats of Ohio upon
This Sunday llger question alone, expect Ger
man renforcemens in this 6gM to the number
of thirty thousand; and from the vote OF this
city in our last November election, involving
this lager beer Interpolation, we should not be
surprised at similar manifestation in Ohio.
But the main question upon which the politi-
cal fortunes OF Mr.. Chase are now depending
is the question of negro suffrage, which is dis.
tiactly before the people Of Ohio in the shape
of an amendment TO the State constitution.
This may be set down, together with his paper
money system, as his whole political capital
capital stock of formidable strength. But
powerful as is the political machinery
he may control through the agen-
cies of his financial system, especially
his national banks, Mr. Chase must succeed In
Ohio upon this main issue of negro suffrage, or
Ills Presidential Programme will fall to the
ground. There are, we believe, only some
eight or ten thousan negroes in tie State who
will be affected by this proposed extension OF
the suffrage to their race on q footing of
equality; but the general principle involved,
and the consequences to which it may lead in
widespread and active opposition that the
result in Ohio may at least be considered ex-
tremely doubtful.
II is generally conceded that if the republ
cans carry the State on their candidate for Gov
ernor, General Hayes, 1t will be by greatly
reduced majority; but the election Of Hayes
will not save the Chief Justice. On the sepa-
rate proposition of negro equality in the mat
ter OF suffrage his fate as a Presidential candi-
date depends. The impression seems to prevail,
however, that this proposition will be rejected
by the people Of Ohio, and by decided ma
jority against II, like that in Connecticut two
years ago. II il shall so turn out In the model
radical state Of Ohio, and in spite of that
heavy drawback to the democracy, vallandg-
ham, then we may say that not only may Mr..
Chase be considered as thrown out of the
Presidential fight, but Congress will be fairly
warned to choose between q return to the con-
stitutonal amendment, which II has abandoned,
and the alternative OF an overwhelming defeat
In 1868 upon Mr.. Chsse's financial system. and
upon the equally untenable ground OF uni
! versal negro suffrage and negro supremacy.