The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-22
WENDELL PHILLIPS ON TIE POLITICAL
SITUATION.
From the National Anti-slavery Standard, Now al



From the National Anti-savery Standard, Now 2ll
AHEAD.
Some republicans imagine that the great battle has
been fought We think that there mas been S only
sured their swords In struggle for the best position
on the field. The republicans have succeeded and
hold the point OF vantage-that Is, the government
Tomorrow comes the fight. whether omor-
row" means the next two years or 1872, no one can
TELL In NUMBERS the armies are about equal. ~ u
most alarming to that with mobocrat rebe like
seymour Tor candidate, and platform dictated Dy
not 600 less than the republican in mass d
more than 40O0000 votes the republican majority be-
ing about SIX per cent OF the whole vote. With such
an enormous minority gravitating towards Rebedon
Tue future OF the country IL critical. II Is idle 10
SUPPOSE that such state OF affairs will not have
large lnnuence on man like Grant. When we know
WHO are 70 compose his Cabinet can divine
sometning OF his policy. We have no fear that he
wiz give US democratic Cabinet. We have no ex-
pectation that he will give a radical one-the
most tfat we TO dare hope is that he Will execute the
and remould il.
In numbers, we said, the two armies are about
equal. The republicans, holding the government,
give their opponents, necessarily, one advantage
that OF being critics merely. They can point
under any responsibility, without the burden OF
proposing plan OF their own. In all times like
thesecivil life out Of JOINT and labor burdened with
o war bebt-this ID an Immense advantage Skilfully
used it would almost insure democratic triumph
in 1872 as it came near doing this fail. The only
sure method to offset this is for the re-
pubicans 10 appeal to ideas and 10 anchor the prn
itself as to prevent any future democratic Adminis-
ration from disturbing them.
Ideas alone are immortal and omnipotent. In
looking civil affairs there is always one encourage
ing feature visible. Cunning men never succeed III
betraying ideas. They often betray their party and
succeed. John quincy Adams did In 1907 But near
as men seem to come in betraying ideas 1t Is always
the cup OF Tanalus Witness Andrew Johnson and
Salmon p. Chase.
We see therefore with great encouragement
movement In several different quarters 10 suomi
constitutional amendment obligng all the states
Ia Asnnn nl n ala nn fn nA
Offices. We would have 1t 30 In regard TO all oiloes,
State as well rs national. The amendment TO the
constitution should provide that no State should
make distinction among its citizens In regard TO
civil or political rights or privileges, the right to sur
or previous condition. The constitution viii not be
perfect till sex also Is included In this last enumera-
ton.
such an amendment he Will immOrtaize his admin
istraton and lift the nation far upward toward Its
true level. The enforcement OF such rule win have
an immense effect in securing peace. No parchment
VIII secure the submission TO Its own provisions.
This from natural forces. To make the ballot
practical thing the holder must have education
and land. And national prosperity requires ono
| Some journals have stigmatized the discussion Of
| the finance question as premature. We shared IN
| that mistake a while ago. But there never will be
any Industrial commercial activity here until the
capital Of the nation free to engage In such Efforts
While government b0rrows $4,000, 600 900 at better
rate OF interest than business specuatons are likely
| to pay, there will be no activity IN business In
healthy condition government should pay only four
or nve cent just enough TO attract sluggish capt.
tal-that OF women children, savings banks and re-
tired old men-casses which aim at safety, not great
dividends. The moment government attracts, by Its
large interest," the funds OF active men IL Is the foe
! and nightmare Of business.
The first aim Of our nnanciers, therefore, should
ernbe to reduce the interest the debt. Let the gov
ment pay $l2O necessary, to buy back government
bond OF one hundred. Only let the interest In the
bond given be four per cent 1t IL the amount Of
the debt that kills business II the high rate Of in
terest This Is the first principle to be kept IN view.
The second Is let not labor be called on to pay one
nllorn thn snhf Tnh no mot fl al 10 M
national expenses in blood and toll. The man who
| gave five years in the field, he who came home y
cripple the wife who gave her husband for i've years
and whose brother was starved at Andersonville or
| Libby Prison, all these have paid enough towards
6Icods saved and which had been half worth
less but for their valor, should pay all tho
debt. Tax every man who owns more than
three hundred at rate doubling and trebling
for each additional three hundred tax every man
who has more than one hundred thousand dollars at
rate doubling and quadrupling for every additional
one hundred thousand, until the Treasury bursts
with the means to clear or the debt In twenty years.
Pay the debt in coin, not because we are legally
bound, but because il has been so understood Hon
orable dealing 10 economy. But by one decisive
movement buy It all up Of any price and reduce the
interest, to save business from this incubus.
No-bondholder will reuct or be obstinate, while re-
pudiaton L. whispered IN the plots Of parties. And
OF three thousand millions at four per cent than one
OF two thousand millions at practically nine per cent.
the people is that its leaders have felt not seen,
these two principles. In the blind and NASTY strug
gle 10 reacn tncln tney planned payment In paper
and taxing the bonds-po0r, wicked meth0ds-but
still they were laundering efforts to reach good
suits. TO content the people and help the nation
| we must inaugurate these principles. To save our
honor we must apply them rightly. Pay In coin I;
but by act buy up the debt and reissue ii at four
per cent. Find the means To do by taxing capital
BE sure you ask OF labor only the means 10 meet the
current and ordinary expenses OF government.
Thus we may remove the most perilous element
| from politics and dlsarn the democratic party Thus
leave the field clear for the special work OF this
/ epoch-the reconstruction OF our government free
| from the element OF race or sex.
WENDELL PHILLIPS.