New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-09
~ INFL4ITON DEADf

rs INFLAIION DEADF
Before we conclude that the danger OF infia-
ton has ceased to exist, it would be well To
consider that Ignorance and selishness have
not yet been eradicated from human nature
There are still knavcs who wish to escape tho
payment of Just debts. There are still gam
blers, who have risked the money OF Others
in reckless speculation, to whom general
return to hard-money values and legin-
nlato business means ruin. Rascally dema-
gogues yet live. who hope to get Office and
power by appealing to the seliishncss OF men.
Ignorant voters there arc still by the thou
sands who arc easily moved to envy when
they see others more favored by fortune than
themselves. The destructive theories and
deadly spirit of Communism still exist, nor
can it be denied that they have made
dangerous progress within few years,
especially among laborers in the larger
towns, and in manufacturing and mining dls-
trcts. Wherever wOrkingmen accust0m them
selves, in secret leagues and frequent contro-
versy with employers to look upon capital ~
the enemy of labor, there it is easy for unscru-
puOus demagogues to STIR up hatred toward
banks, bondbOldcrs, and all capitalists. The
sclfishness of the great spectators, the preJu-
dice of the more ignorant laborcrs, and the
calculating rascality of the unprincipled dema-
gogue, will still unite to reaten the public
honor and tho rights of property.
What, then, has happened to make this dan
gerous combination less potent for evil ! Merely
the defeat of imitation in two States which the
Republican party has usually carried. Indeed,
so dangerous was the tendency toward inna-
.nt
ton found to be, that its triumph In eacn OF
those States was seriously apprehended, ana It's
defeat has caused great rejoicing among
those who care for the national bonor.
If \. we look at the returns, We
find that the apprehension was not entirely
groundless-that the Democratic rariy, boldly
demanding initiation and the reputation OF
national obligations, polled in Ohio forty
thousand votes moro than it had pOiled III
1872, when reinforced by the Liberals, or at
any other election, with or without AID. In
spite of the Encouragement caused by defeat
in Ohio, the Democrats in Pennsylvania, avow-
ing the same purposes, pushed the Repub-
leans closely. These defeats are not OF
such character as to silence the cry
for initiation, even if it were merely
desperate expedicnt of demagogues, as
trickster may still claim, with facts to sustain
him, that Democracy with reputation Is
stronger in Ohio by 10000 votes than
Democracy without it, and has better chance
to succeed hereafter. But OF those who clam0r
for imitation, the few who arc mere political
tricksters are really pushed forward by vastly
greater number who are in dead earnest about
1.-THE spectators and debtors who want to
escape the payment of what they justly owe,
and the multitude of ignorant voters, who
fancy that they are engaged in glorious In
surrection against the expressions OF "the
"money power" and that "more money will
in some way lessen the power OF money and
that the hard times are in some way due to
the lack of currency. Defeats do not eXtirpate
knayishness, selfshncss, nor stupidity.
This country is not yet out of the woods
financially. The prevailing distrust and uncer-
tainty, which cause so much disaster, cannot
be expected to diminish if the agitation
of the money question continues. If
iustice prevailed in Ohio last month
by less than five thousand majority
in poll of nearly six hundred
thousand votes, is it safe to repOse i'll blind
confidence that another effort, aided by con-
tilued financial disorder, may not overcome that
slender majority i'll October, 1o76f One thing
is certain. The rcpudiationists mean to try II.
Some with the fanatical persistency of men
who think they are in the right.
some with the desperation of men who
see no other escape from bankruptcy,
some with cold calculation that if the power
cannot be won in that way, it cannot be won
by them in any way, are resolved to force
their notions upon the next National Demo-
cratic Convention. They still believe that, if
circumstances favor, they may carry Ohio and
Indiana IN October next. They know that vic
tory would then be almost certain.
No, Imitation is not dead. 1t is folly for its
foes to cheat themselves with the idea. Ii
must be met and fought, far more wisely and
effectively, and with more determined purpose,
than before, and those who care for business
prosperity OF national honor ought to organize
without delay for the battle.