, 1875-08-22
THE 1ESUE TN 1879.

TIE 166UE In 16to-
The Ohio election of 1875 has more than
an ordinary interest to political parties and to
the country generally. For q long time II
seemed as if parties would lose their dis
tinctire features for the want of opposing
measures upon which to divide. What
should be the issue Of 1876 was becoming O
perplexing question. Reconstruction had
been completed; the color-line had been
practically obliterated; the President had
silenced the third-term cry; and there was
even peace in Louisiana. Congress had been
for years graphing with the currency ques.
ton and the general financial policy OF the
country. But on these subjects there were
no clearly defined party divisions; the op.
posing factions were composed Of men OF
both parties. The fercest Democrats and
ex-Confederates stood side BY side with But
ler and Logan in favor Of imitation, while
other Southern Democrats voted resolutely
with New England and Ohio Republicans
in favor Of the opposing policy. It was
impossible to get up vote on that
question On which Democrats and Re-
publicans would divide IS parties, and yet
that was the subject, of all others, in which
the whole American people were most inter-
ested. It promised a geographical division.
In the Eastern States, the Republicans, as
body, and q majority Of the Democrats,
favored return to honest money and honest
payments; these were backed up by portions
of the South and Weste The people Of the
Western and Southern States, however, were
understood were 50 representatives,
favoring imitation and expansion Parties
were drifting along in this undecided and
distracted way, demagogues seeking to make
themselves conspicuous by Communistic ap-
peals to the thoughtless. At last the attention
OF the country WAS arrested and brought to
calm and deliberate consideration Of the
subject by the President in his message
vetoing the bill infating the currency. The
good sense of the people was at once directed
in clear and intelligent way to the danger
which threatened the country. The President
called halt in his veto message. Politicians
stopped in their drifting. Men looked at the
great question and weighed the consequences
to result, not only from proposed action, but
from inaction.
At this juncture the Democratic State Con-
vention in Ohio, on the 18th Of June last,
startled the country By bold and unrnistaka-
ble declaration in favor Of an indefinite issue
Of greenback scrip, permanent stoppage of
specie payments, the abolition of National
Banks, and the subsection of the trade and
commerce of the country to the curse Of
3 dishonest, ductuatng, and uredeemable
paper currency. It was bold, it not q new,
departure; it was the re-enactment of the old
Democratic platform Of 1868, which had been
rejected by the people; but it was never
.heless startling definition Of distinct
policy by the Democratic party. It left no
coom for doubt or quibbling. It was
declaration in the namc Of the Democratic
party of great State in favor OF dishonest
money interminably.
The contest in Ohio ceased, therefore, to
% mere contest between ALLEN and HAxrs.
they were the selected champions, it is true,
,ut the whole country became anxious spec
ators and, not content with the strife
within the ropes, the battle has been going
N among the spectators in every State. The
Ohio Democrats have furnished the issue for
1876. If the Democrats carry Ohio, or are
oeaten by only small majority, the issue in
1876 will be upon the currency question,-a
eturn to honest money or the increase and
of the dishonest scrip.
In Ohio the Democratic party has suffered
by the new departure, and the
Republican party has not escaped the de-
noralization- Those Republicans who dur
ng the last ten years Of loose morals and in
,onaiderate action of Congress upon the cur
rency question have drifted off to imitation
and wildcat and reckless speculation find
themselves compelled to vote against the Re-
publican party, in order to vote for irredeem-
able and unliraited greenbacks; while the
Democrats who have been educated in the
JACKSON and BENTON doctrine Of hard and
honest money are brought face to face with
The new Democratic policy Of rags. There
is, however, no escape from the issue; and
he men of both parties thus compelled to
lake sides on the currency question against
heir own party must either vote against
heir convictions or abstain from voting
1t all.
So throughout the country. Democrats
md Republicans in all the other States rec
ognize the Importance OF the election in
Ohio. Ohio is one Of the few debatable and
ret decisive States. Should the rag-monay
3olicv prevail in Ohio or be defeate1 hv a
'cant majority, then, backed by the Southern
md Western States, aud despite the objec-
ions Of the Eastern States, the Democratic
party will not only enter the campaign of
1876 with rag-money platform and q rag
money candidate for President, but rag
money candidates TOR Congress and State
The issue thus defined by the Democrats,
md by them forced upon ths country, must
20 met by an equally decisive platform and
:andidatesby the Republican party in favor of