The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-07-23
The Coming Issue.

The only question at issue between the two
parties in Ohio is that of national honesty.
The Democracy has squarely planted Itself
upon an imitation platform, and insists that
the nation shall pay its debts in deprecated
currency. The Republicans have declared
in favor of policy which looks to the gradual
appreciation of our currency to the gold stand
ard. Should the Democrats succeed in
carrying the state of Ohio they will go in to
the national convention next year with
the prestige of success, and demand that an
Initiation plank be Incorporated into the ma
tional platform. They will point to the fact
that they have carried strong, wealthy and
populous Republican state upon that issue,
and will claim that the whole West is with
them. The plea of availability will prevail,
and the arguments of the hard-money men
will be of no effect against policy which
gives the promise of carrying the presidential
election. Democratic victory in Ohio this
year means National Democratic imitation
platform next year, and every Democratic
success, no matter how trifing, strengthen
the hands of the Ohio Democracy and helps
to force campaign in which the currency
question will be the dividing issue between
parties.
Enough Importance is not attached in the
East to the dangers which menace the coun-
try should Initiation become political issue
backed by great political party. There are
many men suffering from the distress incis
dent to commercial depression who will glad
ly avail themselves of any relief, however
temporary its character. There are many
who owe heavily and are anxious to pay
their debts in deprecated paper. There are
many who possess nothing and who stand
chances Of gaining something by an increase
OF irredeenable currency. These men are
all confident of their ability to obtain imme-
date relief through imitation, and to get in
out of the shower before the inevitable
storm comes. There is another and large
class, misled by the sophistres of the expan-
sionists, that honestly believes an increase of
the circulating medium to be benefit to the
country. All these classes Joined to the
great body which habit and discipline will
keep enrolled under the Democratic banner
AiahC WulCu IL Is uOL SaIc 10
despise, and which threatens the nation with
bankruptcy and dishonor. Add to its ranks
by repeated successes the "foaters,' who ever
go with the majority, and its success is great
ly to be feared.
The election of Allen in Ohio will be re.
garded everywhere as victory for imitation,
and will force the adoption of that policy
upon the national Democracy. Every sue.
cess achieved this summer and fall by Demo.
ocrats elsewhere will strengthen the party in
that state, and thus strengthen the cause of
imitation. Let the dscontented Republicans,
if any there be, and the ''independent''
voters of Maine pear this in mind, remem-
ber that Republicanism is identified with
hard money, and that every encouragement
given to the Democracy is encouragement to
national bankruptcy. The success of Re-
pubcanism means the preservation of ma
tional honor, and every man, no matter what
his political creed, who has the prosperity of
the country at heart should do his utmost to
sustain the Republican party in contest
like this.