New-York tribune., 1873-09-02
THE OHIO OPPOSITION.


Both wings of the opposition in Ohio have
opened the campaign badly Mr.. Collins, the
nominee of the new party, began his canvass
by an unwarrantable and gratuitOus assault
upon the Liberals of 1872,-the very men by
whom, if he had reflected for moment, he
must have known that his ranks would most
probably be recruited. If his followers ever ar
rive at the dignity of party, that party will
trace it's origin to the Cincinnati Convention
Mr.. COllinss adherents represent the impa-
tience under abuses, the disgust at empty
duarrels, and the anxiety for publication of
the business of politics, which provoked the
Liberal revolt; they have the same sanction
now that we had last year, and if they win
any success it will be largely the result of
our pioneer labors Whether they are in fair
way of accomplishing anything it is too soon
yet to Judge but thus far we certainly are
not impressed wifi their tact.
The Democratic candidate has the advan-
tage of knowing just what his party consists
of, and remembering the topics which it liked
to debate a generation or two ago. If he does
not comprehend that the old issues which
divided the country are closed, and that both
the old parties have consequently lost their
vitality forever, he is no worse off in that
respect than Gov. Noyes, aud Gov. Morton,
and the other conspicuous politicians of the
opposite faction. He has at least been shrewd
enough to see that the cone political question
"befOre the people of the United States is
whether it will be possible for the American
"peOple to purge the great principle of popular
" representation from the pOllutions which now
cOntaminate it, and to keep it free from con-
Examination in the future.n With all defer
ence to Mr.. Aliens philosophy, we doubt how
ever whether this task can be accomplished
by a discussion of theories Of representation,
or even by placing in power party which
has always been sound on State Rights.
Neither will it be accomplished by attacking
the Republican party at points where it is not
vulnerable. The dominant faction has COM
mitted great faults--gTeat crimes if you will
but it is not responsible for all the evil that
has been done in Congress. The Back Pay
bill was not party measure at all, and the
Democrats did rather more than their share
in sustaining it, clad the Republicans
Opposed it," says Mr.. Allen, "not one
Democrat could have got a finger in it,"
Turn that proposition the other way, and tell
us what the result would have been had the
Democrats opposed it.
Mr. Allen is unfortunate also in his criti-
cisms upon Gen. Grant. The President we
believe is much to blame for committing pub
lie trusts to corrupt and incompetent men, for
rcwarding dishonest partisans with office, and
for lowering in many ways the standard of
public morality. But Mr.. Allen says little on
this head and reserves his indignation for an
action which most men regard as one of the
wisest of the Presidents official career This
was the nomination of Gen. LOngstreet to
lucrative office in New-0rleans-Or, as Mr..
Allen expresses it, passing over meritorious
Union soldiers and appointing a Rebel gen.
"eral whose hands were stained with the
"bloOd of slaughtered children of the North.n
Why it is the chief complaint of the Demo-
cratic party that the Administration has no
forgiveness for the crushed and repentant
South, but has sent Union soldiers to rule
over it, and Northern carpet-baggers to plum
der it. Il is the constant cry of the Democ-
racy that the South ought to be governed by
its own people, it's offices ought to be given
TO men like LOngstreet who were brav, enc
mics in war and have been loyal citizens ever
since. Had the excellent example which Gen.
Grant set in this case been pursued in others,
we should have been spared the disgrace of
the KellOggs, Spencers, BullOcks and other
adventurers who have cost tho country so
dear. Mr. Aliens extravagant devotion to the
Union soldiers is not appreciated by the loyal
North. Sensible people do not believe that
the soldiers have a mission to govern the
States they have conquered, and the soldiers
themselves would be the last to complain of
appointments such as that which arouses Mr..
Aliens horror.
We repeat therefore that the campaign in
Ohio opens with discOuraging auspices. Mere
party issues have lost their interest for most
of us, and the great anxiety of honest men is
TO break up the Credit Mobiier Rings. and
CustOm-hOuse Rings, and State House Rings,
which flourish under the protection of the
ruling majority, to check stealing from the
Treasury, and to expel from all public employ
ments the corruphOnists, railroad members
and back-pay grabbers. 1t makes very little
difference just now whether Governors and
COngressmen call themselves Liberals, or Radi-
Gals, or Democrats, provided they are honest
But here is the campaign in one Of the great
est Of the Western States going on after the