The New York herald., 1875-10-16
CARL SCIIURZ.
The Ez-Senator's Opinion on the
Political Situation
THE RAG BABY NOT DEAD
Position of the Independents After
the Ohio Election.

street, - ~'N~~A"
desrous to congratulate him upon the success Of ms
efforts in Ohio He feels in excellent spirits about the
victory for hard money and is in good health Yester
day ia conversation with some friends, among whom,
as matter Of course, representative OF the HERALD
was found he asked whether he thought the vote
in Ohio and the defeat there OF the imitation movement
would have such effect in the West to definitely
put that Of politics for the next year He
replied-
Mr. scHuRz--It is very questionable Those who
know the West aware that imitation is very strong
there and that 1t commands large majority OF the
democratic party in that region, excepting, perhaps
the extreme Northwestern States, including Illinois
II the nlatonists had been beaten by very large
jority in Ohio the result would probably have discour
aged them much as to induce them to give it up;
but the majority being small they may feel warranted
trying again, and 60 with the organization Of
legal tender clubs, which they have already Ebegun
and which they intend 10 establish
large scale Besides, tho Ohio election
turns show that while small number
hard money democrats voted against Allen, a much
larger number Of money republicans voted for him.
Ohio has always been strong republican State full
vote This time Hayes got very large number of votes
which did properly belong to the republican party.
At the last election 10 600 votes in the State
for an independent candidate These votes as was
told by the Independent leaders, now cast FOR
Hayes almost unanimously, perhaps quite Besides,
the Germans, who had in a great cut loose
from the republican party, but who have always been
very sound on the money question, went for Hayes
very strongly. In fact, they did splendidy, as you
may conclude from the election returns of Cincinnati
and Cleveland. How large a number OF hard
money democrats may have gone for Hayes
/ not able to say. During the
campaign frequently inquired about this matter but
in the different localities which visited received only
the names Of few who could be depended upon while
some OF the recognized leaders Of the hard money
democrats made speeches in favor OF Allen spite of
his imitation heresy. From all this 1t appears that
great many republicans must have gone Allen,
leaving IL TO the independents, including the Germans
and what hard money democrats adhered their prn-
cipes rather than their party make up Hayes ma
orty. This state Of things may encourage the inna-
tionists to try their strength once more
Question-Then you do not look upon this victory as
decisiveG
Mr.. ScHuRz-I look upon it as an exceedingly inn
portant one inasmuch showed the inability Of the
nnatonsts to drive everything before them with the
cry Of money their own chosen 6eld. II GER
talnly has saved the country from immediate
danger; and sure, If the campaign had continued
few weeks longer in the vigorous aggressive
style in which it conducted at last by the hard
money men, the majority of Hayes would have been
much larger and it probable that it would have been
larger had the issue been voted upon directly
without being obscured by party lines. In that case
The hard money candidate would undoubtedly have
ceIved much larger number democratic heard
some hard money democrats in Ohio say that they de-
tested the principles advocated by Allen Cary but
sill would vote for them because they wanted their
party to succeed anyway. Now you how the inan-
cia issue cuts right through the two old parties and
how great the danger is TO the public good when
question OF such Importance not treated ahd voted
upon its own merits.
@. What effect do you think the result in Ohio will
have upon the democratic party2
Mr.. ScnuRz-It Is, perhaps little too early yet to
form an opinion on that point; but my impression is
that the ndatonsts will not give up. Their feelings
are embtered by what they call the bad treatment they
received at the hands of the hard money democrats
the East, and they think OF nothing but revenge They
believe they will be strong enough to accomplish their
purpose with the aid Of the imitation democracy Of the
South, and TO control-if not the majorty-at least
more than onethird OF the Democratic Ma
tional Convention; and II the imitation senti-
ment Of the South is as strong the Southern
presentation in Congress would lead to believe they
might indeed, form very powerful combination II
they had succeeded in Ohio the movement would no
doubt have swept almost rresistiby large part
Of the West and the South with the exception of
Texas Even as IT is 1t may appear very formidably
there
O. Do you then think that further efforts arc neccs-
gary TO insure the final defeat OF the inationists2
Mr. ScHURz-Ol course do. We will have to 20 stead
lily with the propagation Of sound doctrines and espe
cay viii we have TO prepare the way for the active CO.
operation Of all the hard money forces, divided by
old party lines II will do at all to underestimate the
strength OF the initiation ecment and the Ohio election
publican party even when that party in its official
capacity takes different ground; while in the de-
mocratc party IL is evidently in many States of con.
trolling strength While therefore, there little doubt
that the good and honesty Of the American people
would overcome with proper effort all the strength Of
the imitation movement, yet this proper effort must
be made and an energetic cooperation Of all those who
think alike this question only desirable is
almost Indispensable
Q What effect do you think the Ohio result will have
upon the republican party
Mr. ScnuRz-The probability is that y will induce
the intationss in that party either submit 20
out Some will do the first and some the last,
the case in Ohio The party such, will probably in
its platform take hereafter more uncompromsng hard
money ground But If they want to strengthen them
selves they will have to do great many things be-
sides saw despatch in the paper from Washington,
immediately after the announcement of the result
in Ohio stating that now thu next Presidential cleo
tion assured TO the republicans This very fool
ish talk The result in OHIO, every wc informed
man knows, could not have been secured by republican
votes alone and great many Of those who voted and
worked for Hayes mad to forget for the time being,
great many things order 70 avert from the country
an immediate danger. This kecny felt during
the campaign that old party politics by republican
speakers in great many II not in most cases carefully
lett behind Had there been living n the
campaign, and the two parties had measured thor
strength in the od-iashoned way the probability
that the result would have been as in many other in
stances light vote, republicans than democrats
staying AZ home and the independents either voting
Tor man oil their own, or scattering, staying
Do you think there Is any possibility Of the inan.
cal issue being out Of the next campaign
Mr. ScHuRz-Both parties, IL they remain as they
now are VIII nave 70 pronounce themselves upon this
question and the issue out OF the campaign
ony IL they both agree Whether that will be the case
think IL is little too early predict But whether
IL be not each party will have to strengthen itself
by other claims the confidence OF the people
@ You think, then, that the independents have not
permanently attached themselves 70 either partyg
Mr. ScnuRz-As far as know them, with very few,
exceptions they have and do not intend To a. a.
and think the number of independent voters a con
stantly growing. The Ohio election has, my opinion
had the effect Of strengthening and encouraging the
feeling Of tho independents that they able to WELD
great power for the good OF the country.
A ia nj an what 10,
consider your relations 70 the parties TO be
Mr. ScHURz-That is not an ndiscreet question al an
think gave full answer 70 that my speech at
Cincinnati There are many people who think that
when public man expresses his sentiments such q
point there must be secret purpose behind IT,
But there is secret at all meant Just what said
That Is TO say, that came 10 Ohio for the purpose
aiding In averting great public danger; and under
similar circumstances | should do the same thing
whatever that danger may be, and from whatever side