The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-19
How the Inflation Folly May AFFECT
the Presidential Canvas.

the Presidential Cenvasss
The signal triumph of the rag money fac
ton in the Ohio Democratic Convention
bodies no good to the democratic party. The
infationists have made up their minds to
''carry the war into Africa" and they will
fight their battle at ST. Louis with the same
unfinching vigor which they exhibited at
Cincinnati. If the Ohio democrats stood
alone in their rag money fanaticism the case
might be easily dealt with. But, unfortu-
nately, they do not stand alone. They are
strongly supported by the party in
other States, as is proved by o
fact of great notoriety. We allude
to the action, or, more properly, the mac
ton of the democratic Representatives in
Congress. The whole winter was spent in
abortive efforts to bring the party into har-
mony on this important question. All these
efforts were baffied by the stubbornness of
the rag money representatives Caucuses
were held, adjourned, reassembled; they
kept adjourning and reassembling after
fruitless deliberations, until the patience of
both sides was worn out, and the subject
was then abandoned. The infationists
were too set in their policy to
be moved either by argument or
persuasion; they could not be brought to
''listen to the voice of the charmer, charm
he ever so wisely" When it was found that
no impression could be made on their in
vincible stiffness there was tacit under
standing that the hard money and the rag
money factions would agree ITO differ, in
the hope that the Presidential canvass could
be made to turn on the reform issue. The
action of the Ohio Convention shows that
this is impossible The infationists will
force this question into prominence at ST.
Louis. They will stand their ground
with the same unbending firmness which
they exhibited throughout the winter
in Washington, but, exchanging passive
for an aggressive attitude, they will fsht
with the same boldness which they exhib-
tied on Wednesday at Cincinnati
The rag money victory in Ohio cannot. be
smoothed over by saying that it is only the
action of single State; that the Ohio demo-
Gratis are eccentric and impracticable and
out of accord with the party at large. Where
shall we look for evidence of the sentiments
OF the party at large, if not to its chosen
Representatives in Congress? What motive
can the members have to misrepresent
their constituents? They will soon go
before them asking for reelection, and, if
hard money were'popular in their districts
they would be only too glad to array them
selves on the strong side. 1t is because they
know that their constituents are infected
with the rag money heresy that they have
been deaf to all remonstrance, and have
stood out with uncomfortable tenacity not
merely against sound propositions, but
against attempts at compromise. If they re-
feet the views of the localities that elected
them and from which they seek re-
election the democratic party Of the country
is pretty equally divided on this important
and exciting question.
The public is naturally curious as to the
effect of the Ohio folly on the prospects of
Presidential candidates 1t is easier to esti-
mate its tendency than to predict its
actual effect. By enabling the republican
party to appropriate oil the political
capital which is to be made out of the hard
money question it favors, and almost neces-
states, the nomination of o republican cam
didate who has been conspicuously right on
this great issue. 1t would be preposterous
to put Mr.. Morton forward as q representa-
tive of sound monetary ideas. Two years
ago he was the foremost leader on the infla-
ton side. Mr.. Blaine's currency course is
not so bad; he trimmed in the heated dis
cusslon of 1874, and has tried to rectify
money speech in the present Congress
Of oil the republican candidates Mr.
Conkling stands best on this question. He
vehemently opposed the Legal Tender act
when it was passed in 1862, and from that
day to this he has never wavered in his
steady adherence to hard money views
Governor Hayes also stands very well on
this question, owing to the accident of his
having been the successful candidate for Gov
ernor in Ohio last year. But altogether the
most vigorous and infiexible representative
Of hard money on the republican side is SEN
ator Conkling. and every event which brings
this issue into the foreground is favorable to
his chances for the republican nomination.
On the democratic side the action of the
Ohio democrats tends to produce middle.
1t has impaired and perhaps destroyed the
chances Of Senator Thurman. 1t is not
favorable to the prospects of any democratic
hard money candidate. 1t Injuries Governor
Tilden, because it gives Importance to diff
ferent issue from the one on which his
claims chiefly rest. Governor Tilden is too
pronounced hard money man to be nc
cepted as a compromise candidate. If the
hard money democrats should secure the
platform On attempt will be made to con-
ciliate the West and prevent q bolt
by taking the candidate from that
section. The inaationists, and the timid
hard money men who fear split in the