Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-07-28
eouEsrIoNs OF THE rurURE.

will soon be enthusiastically
and reconstruction com
and the people will tufn to new
Of thought with pleasure. Hence
we ind that in all directions men are
seeking to anticipate the tenor OF public
opinion by the discussion Of new issues.
In Maine, Massachusetts, and Iowa the
temperance question 10 revived. On b
slope the exclusion OF the Chi
nese is demanded. In New York a State
has been held, and at Chi.
cago a National convention will be held
to advocate female suffrage. The Ohio
try to revive the exploded
grsenback platform, with q fresh flavor
of reputation. In several States We
hear of organizations Of workingmen
for political purposes. The Free Trade
League and other interests hostile TO
the existing tariff are pressing that sub
iect vigorously. Meanwhile Msssrs.
Sumner and Chandler, Butler and For
new, with o few other Republicans,
appear anxious to make the Alabama
question q party issue, and others are
looking to Cuba and Mexico for the
basis Of future political campaigns.
The first effort Of the politicians 10 to
eugraft the new issue which they have
in hand upon the creed of q party. II
thew succeed, some who oppose their
position would desert the party, while
others, perhaps, would be drawn to II;
40 that, even without any change OF
names, we should have two entirely
nav parties. Thus, If the advocates OF
high protective duties should force their
creed into the Republican platform, the
opponents Of that system, embracing q
large number Of able and prominent
Republicans, would be driven to new
affiliations, and though the name OF the
Republican party might be retained, II
would no longer be the Same party, FOR
il would no longer have the same ideas
10 divide it from its opponents.
wherever q new issue takes such prom.
iueuce ~ to control the actions of men,
a reorganization Of parties, more or isss
complete, is inevitable. Let US look,
then, at the topics now prominently
presented for discussion.
A temperance organization cannot
hope to be Q national party it would
be overwhelmed in four States out Of
Ave at the very first attempt. Tbs
Democratic party in all the States will
oppose legislation to govern the sppe'
tites of men, and in the majority Of the
States the majority Of the Republican
party would also oppose It.. Whatever
part this question plays in politics,
therefore, must DO confined to State
elections. The Chinese question 10 also
confined in interest at present TO q Few
States. Three or four Pacific States
might vote for exclusion ; three or foul
Southern States would vote for impor'
tation; the great majority of States
would vote for free immigration and de-
cent treatment of all immigrants
Neither Of these questions can have
other than local consequence at present.
The anti-bond clamor, raised last fall
BY the Democrats a. q national issue!
proved fatal 10 them at the East and die
not help them at the West. They
should have learned, from that expert
ence, that il would destroy any party "a
array itself at once against the capita!
Of the country and against the national
honor. If a few more lessons are need
ed to beat the idea into their heads
they will have them.
The advocates Of female suffrage, had
they managed with good sense two
years ago and since, they might by THU
time have been in position to organize
a genuine and powerful political move
msnt. Instead Of allaying prejudice
they have everywhere strengthened 1t
Instead of calmly arguing the question,
thew have fallen to loose and indiscrim'
mate Trades against " the tyrant man, :
and the "husband Of to-day" ane
have apparently postponed indefinitely
the time when this question Gan be 30
riously considered as q practical issu'
in politics. That they constantly gait
strength does not help them as long 81
they array against themselves all thos'
influences which at present control tn
large majority Of voters.
The workingmen have as yet present.
ed no tangible issue. They talk will
much Justice of the necessity Of create
protection for labor against the infu
euce of capital, but so loosely that tn
great majority hardly know how to dis
tinguish between reasonable claims ane
unqualified agrarianism or war upor
capital Of all sorts. Moreover, u the!
present any issue Of interest solely. Il
the w~orkingmen distinctiysly, the!
have to face the fact that a very larg'
majority of the voters are not in sym
patty with them. The agricultural in
tersst, numbering over two millions o
voters, will oppose any movement
which looks like o war Of labor upor
capital, while there are nearly two mil
lions moro of voters who are allied di
r.c,ly or indirectly with capital. Th'
workingmen proper will command lesi
than two millions in any effort whict
Is exclusively for their own interest
and It follows that they must ethel
seek a broader platform, or eudeayor tt
secure reasonable demands BY present
ing plain and clearly defined claims
and operating as q balance OF power
between parties divided on other issuse
The tariff question is also one which 4
Is hard to present in definite shape viii
prospect of success. A distiuctiyely
free trade party would be voted down
o high tariff party, on that issue separ'
ately, would also be voted down. Be-
tween the two there are as many shadeI
of opinion as there are buyers or sell
lers. Every man is a free trader wher
he wants to buy, and a projections
when he has something to sell. Tn,
unmistakable tendency, we think, II
toward such q modification of the tariff
! rs will reduce burdens and aid indus
try without seriously impairiug the rev
enue, but so plain is this tendency tha'
we doubt whether any organized party
can be found to. openly oppose it. Th'
advocates OF extreme duties do not rely
upon thorough discussion and a direc'
popular support ; they understand tina
each monopoly is a burden to thousand
where it is a help to one ; but they ar
que in general terms for protection, ant
then rely for practical success upor
manipulation of nominating meeting
and conventions, and work among mem
bers at Washington. In this they ART
shrewd, for capital organized and con
eentrated always has the advantage IL
such contests, and by q combination o
special interests q thousand taxes, eacl
burdening many for the benefit Of. few
80 ha dovsts;lad tooatbar into a tariff