The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-28

mode of reducing tho national debt and en-
larging the volume of the currency; while,
on the other hand, the Western Republicans
differ from the Eastern quite as seriously on
free trade and high protective tariff. In
deed, the Western leaders of both parties are
more in accord with one another on financial
and commercial subjects than with distin-
guished members of their respective organiza-
tlons on this side Of the AllQghanies.
So, too, we find antagonistic opinions be-
tween the North and the South on recon-
st1uction, the validity of the so-called carpet
bag governments, the permanency of the
fifteenth amendment, and the admission of
the whole body of the late rebels to the right
to vote and hold Office. If we are to trust
the most solemn declarations of the leaders
OF those peculiar elements below the Potomac
and the Ohio, upon which the Democracy
must rely for q party in that section of the
Union, they intend to accept in good faith
the whole series of reconstruction measures.
On the other hand, magnates of the Northern
Democracy seem ready to stake the triumph
OF the party on the success Of fierce crusade
against these measures.
Now, though these four factions have some
points of agreement, they exhibit 80 many
more of antagonism that 1t seems hardly pos
sible to preserve old party organizations in
NoO" u VOL ehO PIcbnhS oAoIClb6u Dy b06 Rr6Hb
exigencies of the last dozen years is removed.
There is, therefore, a serious probability that
we may see four formidable candidates in the
field for the next Presidency, instead of only
two.
Our history records several occasions of
this sort. The most conspicuous was in 1924
at the general dissolution of old parties near
the close of Monroe's administration, an
epoch, by-the-by, very similar to the present
Five candidates entered the lists-Jackson,
Adams, Crawford, Clay, and Calhoun. The
last named soon retired, leaving the other
four to contend for the prize. Crawford was
the regular Democratic candidate, Adams
represented the policy and the wishes of
Monroe, jackson reflected the passions and
the enthusiasm of the West, while Clay, who
had long been the eloquent advocate in Con-
gress of protective tariff and internal i'm
provements, relied upon his personal
popularity.
The result of the struggle is instructive.
The caucus candidate of the Democracy was
beaten for the first time in twenty-four years,
Crawford receiving only Al votes. Clay got
but 81, while Jackson obtained 90, and Adams
"a. There being no choice by the Presiden-
tial Electors, the names of the three highest
candidates were sent to the House of Repre-
sentatives, when Adams through the aid of
Clay, was chosen, thus giving occasion for a
cry of bargain and corruption against those
eminent statesmen that rang through the land
for dozen years afterwards.
For all substantial purposes, Crawford and
Adams were regular candidates of the two
parties; yet the large maj jority of the people
ignored their claims; and why? Because
the ancient reginae in each party had lost its
prestige; and, more especially, because the
issues out of which sprang the war with
England in 1912, and on which the two par
ties had been divided, had passed away, and
the people would not tolerate further conten-
ton about them, but demanded a reorganiza-
ton of parties, and the consideration of the
Eew questions then rising for settlement.
Is not the nation just entering upon
state of affairs analogous to that which
marked the Jackson and Adams epoch? Do
party leaders believe they can carry the two
old political organizations unbroken through
the coming campaign? Let them look to the
materials that will compose the next House,
for it is very likely to be called upon to elect
the next President.