The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-01
Parties and Currency.

a review OI Iuc pIcSout uLCILuue VI Po
litical parties on the question of national
finances presents some extraordinary facts.
In the six New England states the Demo
cratic party successfully rivals the. Repub-
lican party in demand for an early restor'
alton of specie and the payment OF the ma
In New York, both parties occupy the
same attitude on this subject, the Legisla
ture at its late session, by an unanimous
vote, protesting against imitation, and in
sisting on specie resumption. In New Jer
sey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Mary
land, both parties take the same view Of
this question. 1t is not until the Ohio
river is reached that there is any diversity
of opinion. Ohio is represented in the
senate by one Democrat and one Republl-
can, both of whom favor specie resump-
ton and oppose initiation. The Republican
party is doubtful on that question, while
the Democratic convention actually treats
specie payment as an evil to be avoided as
long as possible In Indiana the two
senators are Republicans and both infia-
tionists one of them is candidate for the
Presidency. The Democrats of that state
have also candidate for the Presidency,
and subordinating all other matters to the
personal elevation of these men, the two
parties in convention have engaged in out
bidding each other for popular support by
dishonest propositions to debase the cur
rency and to degrade the national credit.
Perhaps in no state in the Union, not even
in Mississippi or South Carolina. has pub
lie opinion, so far us the same is represent
ed by the political parties, settled upon
such low plane of commercial morality as
in Indiana.
In Michigan, the Republican party has
had an overwhelming majority for many
wears, and il now represented in the Sen
ate by Messrs Chandler and Ferry. One
of these. Ferry, is an infationist of the
Morton school and the other is opposed
to initiation. At the recent convention OF
the party, the Ferry faction obtained CON
troll, and placed the party in that State
alongside the Democratic party IN Ohio
On the other hand, the Opposition at their
preliminary convention adopted plat
form similar to that adopted in Illinois, and
agreeing substantially with those in the
Atlantic States.
In Illinois, the Republican members of
Congress with two exceptions) and the
two Senators all voted for initiation and
Il
cratic members Of Congress, with one ex
ception, voted the same way. The declar
ed policy Of the congressional delegation.
was therefore in favor OF initiation. The
The Republican State convention, Will,
refusing to indorse logan and the othe
Republican congressman, also refused t
indorse the President and lodged the rc3
question at issue The independent, {
Earnars' 1iA arnp Nov
comes the Dem )cratic convention, inclut
ing large number of Liberals IRON otht
parties, favoring specie payments, Oppo
ing initiation, aud insisting upon the pa
ment Of the national debt in the none
recognized by the world,
In Iowa, both the Republicans and II
Opposition take ground in opposition to il
hation, in favor of the resumption of spt
Gle payments, and in favor Of an hone,
payment Of the national debt
In Kansas, the Republicans incline, lik
those Of Michigan, to initiation and repud
alton, aud the Opposition is likely to tolIo'
suit.
In Missouri aud Kentucky the DEM
Gratis adopt the bad platform Of the
friends in Ohio, and the Republicans hay
not the courage to differ In Nebrask
and Minnesota there haze been no CONVEX
ton yet held, but the Republicans wi
probably follow their party in Michigan
while the Opposition will not material
differ from them.
In the more Southern States, the que
ton of the social equality Of the negro f,
the time overrules all others but the pr
vailiDg sentiment is for an initiation Of Il
currency. The three States on the Pa,
fic are unanimously III favor Of hard none
Such is the extraordinary condition
parties on this, the most Important que
ton of the day. Ohio, Indiana. Missouri
Michigan, and Illinois have aspirants fl
the Presidency, and the party policy
these States on the currency question Ia
been shaped mainly with reference to pro
noting the chances of these candidates
and the real sentiment Of the people ha
been to great extent smuthered. In low
public sentiment has been more freely eS
pressed than anywhere else in the w es
and that sentiment is IN favor OF hone
dealing with public creditors and Il currci
cy equivalent to coin In this State, at tn
late convention, the old intriguing polit
clans were slaughtered and like declar;
ton made. This condition Of affairs is tc
anomalous to continue, the matters invol'
ed are too important to be made a matte
OF traffic, and the sooner there is genera
grayitation of the people to ono side or tn
other, and the distinct Issue made for o
against specie basis, the sooner will tn
question be decided aud the national credi
placed beyond doubt or reproach
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