Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1876-07-06
The state of Parties.

There has never been a Presidential
election in this country before this in
which there was not party division up
on some distinct issue. For period the
bank, internal Improvements, and the
whole financial system were in question.
The Democrats opposed bank and the
p" American SYSTEM" which the Wings
favored. Then the question of slavery
became paramount. The Democrats were
the party of slavery, and the Republi-
cans of liberty. The war followed, and
the issue was sharply drawn. The end
of the war brought reconstruction, with
its two sides. Reconstruction is now ac-
complished, and it is not easy to see what
differing policy of administration the two
parties now represent. There is no unity
in either party upon any question. The
financial problem divides both. No one
will pretend that the Democratic party is
in any State plainly and resolutely united
upon the question. And certainly the
Republican is not. Nor does either party
stand for a positive tariff policy. The
Republican tendency is towards protec-
ton. The Democratic toward free trade.
But the necessity of great revenue and
the traditional habit of Indirect taxation
prevent the question from being a true
issue. As to the Southern question, each
party claims to represent the just consti-
1AGAOLdl putty 4AS OOulOCIdIS UO llOL
as party oppose the amendments; the
Republicans propose nothing but their
proper enforcement. Both parties, also,
declare in the same terms for honesty and
economy of administration, and for hold
ing officers to rigid responsibility. Thus
there is nothing that can properly be
called an issue upon which parties are
now divided. 1t may be said, indeed, that
sound financial system, or wise South
ern measures, or administrative reform,
are more probable in the event of the
success of one or the other party; but
that is merely to repeat what we assert.
1t is to say what is evident, that the cleo
ton of this year will be decided in great
degree by personal considerations.
1t is this fact which makes the election
peculiarly interesting and significant. At
every election during the last twenty
years the party consideration has natu-
rally been decisive. Those who desired
| the aggressions of slavery to be checked
or the war earnestly carried on, or who
were firm for equal rights as the basis of
reconstruction, OF course supported the
Republican party; those who were pro-
slavery or of COpperhead sympathy, or
| who desired reconstruction Ia Andrew
| johnson, sustained the Democratic party.
1t was the policy represented by the
party which was voted for. We repeat
the question, What policy upon any great
/ ASSuC OOCS SIbAC1 JdAbJ 4AOW :
| Undoubtedly there are certain objects
which good citizens wish to promote
| Return to an honest, constitutional legal
| tender, friendly but firm policy in the
/ Southern States, a reasonable and radical
reform of the civil service system, are all
most desirable. But does either party,
as such, necessarily and of course repre-
| sent either one of those objects VIII not
a citizen who is something more than a
mere partisan be influenced in voting by
other considerations, such as the greater
/ or less probability, arising from the gen.
/ eral character and political antecedents
of the persons who compose the parties,
/ that the objects he desires will or will not
| be favored? 1t seems to us, for instance,
that no man can deny that although there
are Republicans who are infatiOnists,
and Democrats who are hard-mOney men, ,
| yet that the preponderance of the pre-
| ference of Republicans is for hard money
and that therefore Republican success in
the election would promote the return to
a sound currency. So with dministra-
tive reform. The vigor of Mr.. Bristow' s
Whiskey prosecutions and the tone of the
chief Republican press and many of the
Conventions show among Republicans sc
positive and sincere a demand for reform
| that, as against the partisan Democratic
cry, sensible man will incline to prefer
the chances of reform under Republi-
can bQan a D6ulOCtdGIC duD1luISGTd-
ton. The Democrats insist that If reform
| is desirable, logic requires Republican
! defeat. But the American voter looks a
facts, not at theories, and if he wishe
! reform, will ask in vain for proof or prob
/ ability that he would help reform by vot
ing the Democratic ticket.
f In both these cases the decision will
= rest not upon the fact that the partie
= formally represented different sides, be
t cause, formally, they do not. But tn
= voter will be determined by prObabilitie
depending upon personal considerations
8 So, too, with what is called the Southern
2 question. He will naturally feel that
= party which includes the old anti-slaver.
8 men, the loyal Union men of the war
: and which is strongest among the mos
patriotic, intelligent, conscientious, ant
industrious parts of the country ant
= classes of the population, will prObabl,
8 deal more justly with ''the South" ant
) more in the spirit of the amended Con
s stitution. than one which, with all it
D more enlightened members, embraces tn
i great mass of the late Confederates an
e Confederate sympathizers. That part
e may honestly declare that it will offer NJ
f resistance to the fair and lawful obserJ
= ance of the amendments, and will dis
= countenance all oppression of the neN
|. citizens; but the other party does nc
& need to make such declarations, and ths
In
a feeling upon the subject, and they are
IS vast mass of the Floyal'' Union men {
% twelve years ago. OF course, howeve
st if this be true picture of the situation
Il if parties have ceased to stand for antas
i onistic policies, but represent greater {
less probabilities and tendencies, thel
1T will be an enormous floating indepent
a ent vote, which is only possible undt
IF such Circumstances, and which will easi
" decide the result. Now if this vote, wit
le a natural Republican leaning, should d
Is eide that the Cincinnati nomination
h, showed that the party was mastered by
n control that made the attainment of an
is of these good objects improbable, an
a on the other hand, that the st. Lou
r nominations showed the ascendency
1e the better Democratic element, that vo
s, would be largely thrown for the st. Lou
th ticket. This is fact which, whether '
ne like it or not, can not be denied; and it
so this which must be borne in mind
he weighing the probabilities of success.
o. Hdrper's Weekly.