Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-06-20
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agriculturists, between Tree trade and
protection Embracing within itself a
large amount Of accumulated wealth
and a great diversity Of manufacturing
Industries, it still retains large pro-
portion Of farming population and
other features Characteristic Of West
err States. These facts make it a
natural battlefield for the two con-
tending systems Of political econo-
my which are now the real
forces at work beneath the surface of
events. The coming contest thus as
sumes national interest, independent
Of It's bearings on the immediate fu-
ture. But the result in Ohio next
October, is pretty certain to turn the
wavering scale in Pennsylvania, whose
election takes place the following
month. The Pennsylvania campaign
will really be fought and determined
ia Ohio. Two States, therefore, hang
/ On the issue, the two largest interior
States IN the Union. The political
prestige Of these two, gong together
as they are certain to do, can hardly
fail Of affecting materially the COM
plexion Of the Presidential campaign
next year, and all hinges on the Ohio
canvass fully inaugurated the past
week.
Looking to the prospects for Demo-
cratic success, the situation at present
is certainly cheering. The Democrats
renominate the State officers now in
possession, which Is, in itself, a strong
proof Of the efficiency and acceptable
ness Of their administration during the
past year aud a half. The people are
offered tried and true servants. In
these days, men attach less and less
Importance to platforms each year, so
often have such pledges been broken,
and loyk more To The ticket. As S. S.
Cox expresses 1t, mo party wins that
d. not add 10 the arithmetic Of the
suffrage the persuation of honest can
didacy." Honest candidates, in whom
the people have confidence, are worth
more now than delicately worded enun-
Citations of general principles. The
corruption Of RadIcalism IS more
tangible 70 the general mind, than its
tendencies to centralism and ultimate
despotism. Hence honesty is the first
demand Of the hour, and the Ohio De-
mocracy meets this demand by renom-
mating a State ticket the honesty Of
whose members has been already tested
by the people, and which IS headed by
William Allen, an active representative
Of the sterling integrity Of the olden
days to which the people yearn to re-
turn. The Republicans have pitted
against this ticket headed by ex. Gov.
Hayes, a relic OF the days Of Radical
ascendency and sectional hate, tho
roughly identified with the party of
corruption. In the matter of men,
the Democrats certainly hold the ad-
vantage.
If the canvass could be conducted on
State issues alone, the victory Of the
right would be a very easy one. The
last Democratic Legislature made sub
stantial progress II the way Of reform.
It Iessened taxes, simplifed the laws,
abolished the fees Of the county Off
GERS, modified the Adair law sufficiently
to render the regulation Of the liquor
traffic practicable, and relieved the
blockade of business in the Supreme
Court. The reduction In appropriations
for 1915 compared with those Of the
Republicans for 1928, was about half
a million dollars, while the aggregate
Of taxes for the two years was decreas-
ed over eleven hundred thousand dol
lars. Against this, in the matter of
State polity, the Republicans
cite nothing except the McGeghan law,
which in reality merely re.enacts the
freedom OF conscience guaranteed by
the bill ot rights, and provides that
Catholic, Protestant, Jew and Infdel |
shall stand on an equal footing in all
institutions supported by the State, !
such as Penitentiaries, asylums, reform
etc. The fact that this admits |
the ''popish priest, " is being used by
the Republicans as a political scare
crow in all communities where religious |
can be worked upon, but |
honest, earnest citizens are not likely |
to permit their attention to be diverted |
by this Know-Nothing device from the |
OF Radicalism.
The campaign, however, is not at all |
likely to be confined to State issues.
Dun part APPRECIATE bHdI OhS COU- /
ing Presidential struggle must be |
fought in anticipation. Here, again,
we find the advantage with the Democ-
racy. The Republicans, by their full
some eulogy Of Grants administration,
have pledged themselves to defend it.
We need not 90 back further than last
January, to recall the unbridled mill
tary despotism at New Orleans that is
IN this endorsement Bris-
tow and Jewell are to-day actively at
work TO show the utter rottenness of
the administration so slobbered with
praise by the Ohio Republicans. Thus
the whole range Of national issues, so
pregnant Of political results, as evil
denced by the elections of last fall, are
placed at the disposal Of Democratic
orators and writer's.
On the question Of specie resump-
ton, which was expected to cause
division IN the Democratic ranks, there
is little practical difference between