The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-10-05
NEW YORK, Oct, 4, 1875.

NEW YORK, Oct. 4, 1875.
1t is not often that state election, especially
in an ''off year," becomes the topic of earnest
solicitude equally among business men and
politicians. But the Ohio contest is talked
about speculated upon, more intently ON
change by day than in the caucus rooms at
night. From party point of view it is diff
cult to reach conclusion as to what benefit
would accrue to either side from victory, what
injury from defeat If Allen should be elected
the Republicans will have the great advantage
of going into the Presidential canvass bearing
the standard of honest money and an "hun-
dred cents to the dollar 1t is good creed
and sure to win. Its ultimate acceptance by
the American people scarcely admits of
doubt. They may be tempted from the path
of honor and rectitude for little while by the
shallow cajoleries of stump orator, but in
the end they will come out straight. And any
party that has the right on its side, even if it
does meet with temporary check, can afford
to wait patiently and calmly for the inevitable
success which lies in the near future.
Considering the subject just moment from
the narrow partisan standpoint, there are rea-
sons enough why the RepublicansI independ-
emily of their unwillingness to imperil the vel
fare of the nation, should be very glad to have
Allen chosen. Such result would practically
force the Democracy into the adoption of the
wretohed falbacies about finance which their
brethren in Ohio have promulgated with such
unblushing efrontery. The West is strong
enough and sufficiently conscious of its
strength to dictate platforms and name car6i-
dates where it is able 20 concentrate its force
in favor of any policy or any man. The east
ern and middle states would protest, no doubt,
but Lot effectively. The West and South would
point to the fact that New York has furnished
three successive Democratic candidates; it
would not be surprising if they emphasized
their mention of that item of history by some
pungent sarcasms on the disastrous fate which
overlook those three martyrs of Bourbonsm.
Now, it makes all the difference in the world
to the Republicans whether they are to con-
tend against Tilden and hard money, or Allen
and initiation. If Aliens election as governor
would assure his nomination for president, il
would seem a pity to prevent it. cannot think
of another man in the United States-at least
no man whose name was ever mentioned in con-
neotion with the presidency-who so perfectly
incarnates all the idiosyncrasies, perversities
and errors of anti-war Democracy. In the
terrible crisis he never emerged from his en-
forced retirement except to give utterance to
some unpatriotic sentiment which If it gained
hearing at all was intended and calculated to
chill the blood of the loyal hosts in field and
camp. He found fault with everything that
Jur;v Cd pscfr tioy md
opposed, with consistent bitterness, the great
measures of that epoch which will make it
forever illustrious in the pages of history. The
emancipation proclamation, that act of ma
tional justice which ought to have been the
initial proceeding in the business of creating
the republic, and will forever stand as
the most statesmanlike edict in American
archives, received no countenance from him,
He belongs to that cold and bloodless school of
public men, which teaches the duty of citizens
to repress all generous impulses, all manly feel
ings. If they will insist upon manifestiug in
terest in and pity for the oppressed and
wropged they must at least limit these express
sions to objects at a distance. Repulsive doc
| trines Of this sort, were the natural outgrowth
of that ''sum of all vllainies' slavery. The
bred Scott decision, the fugitive slave law, the
| imprisoning of men and women for teaching
black people to read, these were the crimes
against humanity which were not merely palli-
| ated but even defended, one might almost say
| applauded,b by politicians of the Allen stamp.
If that style of ruler is to be unearthed and
warmed into life there couldn't be more
striking specimen than William Allen. 1t is a
| popular thing at the present time to sneer
about 'the bloody Shirt" and the Outrage
business. Allen will suit this tribe of sneer-
| ers exactly.
| The opposition have tried all kinds of arti-
fees to gain power. They took first General
who wouldn't fight, apparently with the idea
that the sword and epaulettes would
reconcile those who were not quite pre-
pared to lower the flag to the rebels, while
the,peace platform would completely captivate
the rank and file who instinctively hated any
| man who wore blue jacket. But that didn'
work at all. The half aad half policy rarely
does. Then they had recourse to a defiant
plan, and sought to win by avowing purpose
to nullify the constitution. The people
wouldn't stand that. For the third heat they
invented salmagundi composed of a little of
| every thing and not great zeal OF any tnlDg.
Free traders and protectionists, infationists
and contractionists, rebels and unionists, pro
slavery men and, strange as it may seem here
and there an old abolitionist, huddled together
in one heterogeneous mass as molly in appear.
ance and comparatively as insignificant in mum
bers as Falstaff's ragged regiment. Since there
fore all the disguises of the animal have
proved easily penetrable, he may just as vel
be trotted out naked and bare for the race
Ohio has the man, the platform. every appurte
nance needed to national campaign, in behalf
of the original Simon pure niger hating cop
perhead democratic principles.
But contemplated in the broader light of it,
possible consequences upon the business ant
prosperity of the country, one cannot feel cheer
full at the prospect of the success of the De
mocracy next Tuesday week in Ohio.
would quite probably occasion pretty seriou
set back for the time being in all the leadin
enterprises of the PERIOD Initiation would no
come of it. That is practically out of the ques
J tion. But distrust, uneasness, disinclnatio