The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-10
The Ohio Contest as it Appears in England

The elections held this year IN the Un6eu
States are of importance rather for the lnnu-
ence thew are calculated to have upon the
Presidential contest next year than Tor tnell
own immediate results. Several OF these
States, it is true, choose State Governments
this autumn, and q few return members OF the
CONGRESS which is to meet in December for Its
first session. But, nevertheless, only very
Ianouid interest attaches to the choice which
shall be made. The real cause of the atten-
ton paid to the doings of the Conventions
that are now being held, and the speeches
that are being delivered, is that those VINO are
acquainted with the course of American poll
tics know that these proceedings influence
public sentiment, and prepare for the gfea1
campaign of next year.
In the autumn of next year new President,
new House Of Representatives, and one nlra ~, VI
the Senate, will have to be chosen, ana Ior Tue
first time since the close of the war it is possible
that the entire control Of the government NOT
merely the executive, but the legislative power
as wel-may be transferred from one party 10
another. Especial interest, therefore, attaches
to that election, and with regard to 1t opinion Is
now in the formation period. The issues upon
which it is to be fought are still to be decided,
the men under whose banner it is to be conduct
ed are vet to be selected. The party cries this
autumn indicate the subjects which at first. at
least, are upparmost in the popular mind, and
point, therefore, to the principles Whicn VIII
probably come into conflict next yesr More
over, specially sharp contest, which, were it to
bring out unsupported ability in any leading
State candidate, might reveal to the public the
candidate for the Presidency next year. IL was
Mr.. Lncoln's stumping tour IN lilinois, IN $685.
cured him the nomination of the Chicago Con-
yention in 1860. and installed him in the follow
ing March in the White House. This autumns
elections, then, have an interest above and, H.
deed, quite apart from their own intrinsic impor'
lance.
Three elections this year command particular
of Ohio Pennsylvania aud New
York. few weeks ago we called attention TO
the Importance of the contest in Ohlo and the
principles which were put in issuA by it. For es-
pecial reasons the State may now clain4 the title
so long awarded to Pennsylvania OF the Key
stone State" and its vote, therefore, will exert
influence. But IN Ohio the Demo
cratic party has committed itself to Imitation. 1t
was possible to regard the step as involving
only 10 al consequences and in no way affect
ing the Democratic party elsewhere, so long
as only Ohio Democrats in this wise turned their
backs upon the principles and antecedents OF
their party. But since we last wrote on he sub
iect. the Democratic Conventions OF two other
States, even more Influential than Ohio, il pos
sible, have spoken on the matter. Pennsylvania,
az the reader is aware, was long regarded as, for
electioneering purposes, the most important
State in the Union. Indeed, its October vote had
come to be regarded as almost decisive OF the
Presidential election. For reasons which we ex-
planned couple of weeks ago, it has lost much
of this influence. But it continues the second
State in the Union, in population, wealth, manu-
featuring industry, and voting power. Its voice
must, therefore, be always potent. NOW, the
emocratic Convention of this great common
wealth has followed the lead ct Ohio, and de-
clared for initiation.
The minority made stout fight, which pro-
tracted the session of the Convention for couple
of days but the majority held together, and the
imitation platform was adopted. The slgnih-
canoe of this action on the part of the Democracy
in Ohio and Pennsylvania can not be mistaken.
It shows that the initiation heresy has taken
strong hold on the Western mind, and its politi-
cal consequences must be important. We are III
clned to think, indeed, that the decision Of the
Convention can not be taken as the
uncolored expression of the popular voice. Penn
sylvania is under the dominion Of corrupt rings,
which are very skillful in the management of
public bodies, and it was known that one OF those
rings was making great efforts "to capture the
Convention" 1t is quite possible, therefore, that
the resolutions OF this year may be disavowed a
hence. But the Ohio case is differ
snt
There inf alton was as strong last year as this.
However, the action of Pennsylvania harmonized
With that of Ohio, and promised to win over the
States where opinion was still hesitating. But
now the Democrats Of New York have held tn ir
State Convention, and have not only emphati-
ally condemned imitation. but have demanded
contraction, and the speediest possible resump-
ion of specie payments. AS we pointed out
ew weeks ago, the Democrats of New York must
necessarily do this, for the party there contains
some Of the weathiest merchants as well as the
oroetariat. Until recently the agent OF the house
If Rothschild was the President of the National
Executive Committee of the party, and the pres
mt head is also wealthy man Of business. For
,uch men to coquette with imitation is, OF course,
,ut of the question.
But the pronounced antagonlsm IN which the
Democrats of New York have now placed them
elves toward those of Ohio and Pennsylvania
promises i'll for the prospects OF the party next
7ear. The platform Of the New York Demo-
rats, it will be noticed is not adopted in answer
% their political opponents, but as dsavowal of
heir political friends. Thus on this question OF
he currency the party is threa ened with split
between East and West just as in 1860 there oc-
urred spit on the question OF slavery between
North and South OF course the difference may
,e bridged over next year. If it is not, D. mo-
ratio victory is clearly impossible.
Apart from its political consequences, this in
latlon movement is of curious interest to the
tudent Of politics, as well as to the spolitical
1t shows the extraordinary vitality of
he fallacy upon which Laws famous schemes
yere based, and it illustrates the incompetence
# the ordinary public, even in country where
popular education is widely diffused, to under. |
tand the plainest economical principles. This
agitation clearly has it's root in false analogy.
because an lnQlVluual' person, Will plenty OF
money in his pocket, is able to buy whathe likes,
t is supposed that nation can do the same. and
renee it is argued that the way to make country
is to provide it with plenty of cur
ency
The specific is go simple. it is to be regretted
hat it is not efficient. But one would suppose
hat an error SO glazing could not maintain it's
,round after the first clear exposure Obviously
here is no real analogy between an individual
md nation. If the nation indeed, possesses a
,reat stock of gold and silver, by parting with
hat stock it could buy the tea and coffee and
,roadcloth its people required. But to get the
old and silver it would have to expeHd much |
abor in mining, or else it would have to sell
arge quantities Of its goods In either case the |
,old and silver were obtained by labor, and labor
n agriculture aud manufactures would produce |
commodities which, when exported, would buy
he tea, coffee and broadcloth just as we'll.
But it is not gold and silver which the Ameri- |
AN infationsts want. On the contrary, it is
imply paper. Now, paper money will not be
AIKEN in foreign countries, and therefore, is use
ess for increasing the wealth Of the country by |
Importation. The only effect, in fact Of great
ssue Of inconvertbe paper money in the Uaited
states now, would be to raise the nominal price |
# almost every saleable article. 1t is quite clear