Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-10-25
THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELEC-
TION. ~ 1.

u - 1
1t is not too early to say, because it
is not too early to enforce. that nthe
Democracy have it in their power to
carry the next Presidential election.
To this end, however, there are some
conditions precedent which it is not
too early to consider. A sine qua non
which we believe to be in the fore
ground is that the Democracy have
faith like grain of mustard-seed, at
least, in their ability to elect Presi-l
dent without the aid of Pennsylvania.
The Democratic party must make it
more than ever manifest that, IN pro-
nounced contrast with the Republican
party, it is the party of the people,
and not the party of Pennsylvania: 1t
can not occupy an equivocal or ambig-
uous position on this question. This
we believe to be a cardinal point in
the doctrine of the future, while We
have high and an unmixed regard
for the Keystone State. In asserting
the possibility of a Democratic Presi-
dent in 1876, We are not without a
reason for the faith that is in us.
What is to be the work of the future :?
What party has the ability and the
inclination to do it?
One fact was settled last Tuesday
beyond a peradventure; that if the
work which ought to be done differs
from that which is likely TO be done by
the Republican party the Democratic
organization and not new party is to
do it. In Ohio, for some years the
chosen field of political reyolutionists,
the attempt to undermine AID over
throw the Democratic party has, with
in the past week, been made ridieu-
lous for a generation. 1t is determined
that the point about which all the ele-
ments ofopposition to the peculiarities
of Republican management will be
gathered, until a time so far in the
future that the eye of ordinary proph-
ecy can not reach it, will be the Demo-
cratic party. That is one step ahead.
What are some of the things to be
done? We have said once or twice in
these columns that we are nation OF
farmers. The farmers in this country
hold, no. only the balance of power,
but all of it. The Oranges that have
sprung up throughout the Northwest,
the elements at work in Iowa and Hi
nois, as evidenced by elections in those
States, the numerous indications of
dissatisfaction that have rippled the
surface of Western politics within the
last few months, are not meaningless.
The limits of time have forbidden the
organization of these homogeneous
elements. but they will crystalline
within the next three years into posi-
tive force. What is the farmers foe
Prima facie it is the railroads, and so,
in the first outburst of protest against
existing wrongs, have the farmers. re-
garded it. They have seen that three
or four men in a moments time can
lift the grain rate of freight FIVE cents
from Chicago to New York, land thus
with stroke of the pen take thirty
millions of dollars from the value of
their products for one year, and sub
tract five hundred millions of dollars
from the cash value of their farms.
Beyond this and similar facts they
have not seen. This loss, tremendous
as it is, is but small fraction of the
reason why they feel the oppression of
the railroads.
In 1860 railroad bars were selling at
forty eight dollars per ton. In 1872
the average price was eighty dol
lars, an increase of eighty-six per
cent, making the cost of building rail
roads over s., 600 per mile greater than
in 1860. The traffic of the road must
pay for it. Add the increased cost of
iron for locomotives, wheels and axles,
etc., and the cost of building and
equipping mile of railroad is greater
by SIT 900 than in 1860. The traffic
of the road must pay this too. We
have here used the figures of a contri-
butor to an Eastern magazine, who has
lately given the matter earnest and
searching attention. Such statistics
might be accumulated indefinitely.
Within the ensuing three years the
farmer will learn that the tariff has
been and is his most insidious and
dangerous foe. Who Will fight the
tariff? The Republican party? 1t is
stepped in the essence of high pro-
tective tariff. Pennsylvania holds it
literally in her iron grip. The fires of
its patriotism are kindled by smelling
furnaces its peans of victory are
heard most distinctly in the clatter of
the Lowell mills; the smoke that rises
from Pittsburg is its incense; its pock-
cts are filled and its affairs adorned
with the gold of the people. willnot
fight the tariff.
The Credit Mobilier investigation
gave to the Republican voters Of the
country the first clear glimpse they
have had of their party since the war.
That was the first step toward lifting
an honest party and honest men into
power. Vastly more important is the
fact that the entire business interests
of the country are Frustrated by the
Collapse of the Administration railroad
policy, aided by the self-interest and
insecurity of the National Banks. The
Republican party ostentatiously claim
ed the glory for the apparent financial
prosperity of few weeks ago, not
needing the fire and gloom that slum-
bered beneath the surface of the hap
by hillside. 1t can not dodge the re-
sponsibility for a financial disaster,
unprecedented in the history of this
country, and which has made itself
felt all over the world. Who will cure
these evils? Not the Republican par
ty. Its National banks are the apple
Of its eye. 1t everywhere fosters
monopolies and stimulates extrava-
gance. 1t has no love for the simple
ity of the early Republic. On all the
economic questions which will COM
mand the attention of the people the
Democratic party is right or nearly
right, and the Republican party is
wrong. As such issues and no other
will be uppermost for the next three
years, why should not the Democratic
party receive from the people the au-
thority to do this business for them.
There is but one reason: the alleged
existence of prejudice against its
name. But the American people are
reasoning, intelligent people. A
prejudice is unreasoning, and unworthy
of an intelligent man. 1t can not 1--we
long side by side with intelligence.
The eyes of the whole country fixed
on this State during the last week have
seen that prejudice misting away; and
that is part of the significance of the
election in Ohio. = Cincinnati En-
q,tirer.
THE Immigration Movement is one
that Is ALWAYS watched with interest