The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-10-19
Carl Schurz's Views on tho Ohio
Election.

The New York Herald prints an inter-
esting conversation with ex-senator
Schurz on the Ohio election and its pro-
bable effect on the imitation question, from
which we take the following;
at il very questionable whether the
defeat Of the Initiation movement in Ohio
will have such an effect in the West as to
definitely put that issue out Of our poll
tics for the next year. Those who know
the West are aware that imitation Is very
strong there, and that 1t commands large
majority Of the Democratic party in that
region, excepting, perhaps, in the extreme
Northwestern States, including illinois.
II the inAationists had been beaten by u
very large majority in Ohio the result
would probably have discouraged them
so much as to induce them to give II up
but, the majority being small, they may
feel warranted in trying il again, and go
on with the organization OF legal.tender
clubs, which they have already begun and
which they intend 10 establish on large
scale. Besides, the Ohio election returns
show that, while small number Of hard.
money Democrats voted against Allen,
much larger number Of sOft.money Re.
publicans voted for him. II appears that
great many Republicans must have gone
over to Allen, leaving it to tho independ.
ents, including the Germans and what
hard.money Democrats adhered to their
principles rather than their party, to
make up Hayes majority.
"The inilationists believe that they will
be strong enough to accomplish their
purpose with the aid OF the initiation
Democracy OF the South, and to control
II not the majority-at least one.third OF
the Democratic National Convention; and
II the initiation sentiment Of the South is
as strong as the Southern representation
in Congress would lead us to believe, they
might, indeed, form very powerful COM
bination. II they had succeeded In Ohio
the movement would no doubt have swept
almost irresistibly over large part Of
the West and the entire South, with the
exception Of Texas. Even as II Is II may
appear very formldably there.
ave shall have to go steadily on with
the propagation of sound doctrines, and
especially will we have to prepare the
way for the active cooperation Of all the
hard.money forces, now divided by old
party lines. 1t will not do at all to un.
der estimate the strength OF the initiation
element; and the Ohio election has shown
that Il can draw largely upon the Repub.
can party even when that party in its Of
fetal capacity takes different ground;
while in the Democratic party ills evil
IDENTIFY in many states Of controlling
strength. While, therefore, there Ia lit.
tie doubt that the good sense and honesty
Of the American people would overcome,
with proper effort, all the strength Of the
initiation movement, yet this proper CT
fort must I've made, and an energetic co.
operation Of. all those who think alike
on this question is not only desirable, but
Ia also indispensable. The Ohio election
has, in my opinion, had the effect Of
strengthening and encouraging the feeling
Of the independents that they are able to
weld great power for the good Of the
country"