The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-12
The ISSUES Of che canvass.

The Issues Of the Canvass.
In recent interview with newspaper
reporter, Governor HENDRICKS is represent
cd to have expressed himself as follows:
stWc will go before the people with de-
clarasion OF principles that cannot be mis-
taken. 1t is bold clear, and aggressive
free trade, free schools, home rule, absolute
settlement OF all way issues by the result OF
the war, return to peace basis and national
legislation, and removal OF all artificial OBJ
stacles to resumption OF specie payment-in
one word, reform"
That is the platform upon which the bat
tie is to be fought and the victory is to be
won. It will be remembered, however,
that Governor HAYES, in his letter OF ac-
ceptance, tries to construct 4 platform OF
his own out of some OF these very planks.
He comes out for free schools and for the
obliteration OF the lines that divide the
country into North and South. lie also
declares for 4 return to specie-payments.
In these several declarations OF Governor
HAYES and Governor HENDRICKS we may
read that the people have so clearly indi-
Gated what they wish to accomplish by cast
ing their ballots next November that the
candidates Of the two rival parties can
agree upon some things. Whatever things
have been resolved upon by the people are
those upon which the result will depend.
What are these things:
It is not certain that majority OF the peo-
pie are for free trade" rs it is understood
by politicians; but it is tolerably certain
that large majority of the western voters
are opposed to protective duties.
Nobody will have word to say against
''frec schools Nevertheless, it is not con-
ceding too much to say that the Democrats
CAN make no capital out Of this question.
The Republicans do not need to defend
their record as to the public schools The
Democrats can only promise to do as well.
They could not safely oppose even Mr..
BI.A1NE's proposed amendment to the Fede-
raj Constitution on this subject. Much less
could they afford to make fight against the
bill now before Congress giving the pro-
ceeds OF the sales OF the public lands to the
several States to be used for educational
purposes.
.sHome rule" means q modified form OF
States rights. We are afraid that it is but
a name. However, the Democrats have the
advantage OF the Republicans on this point.
The party which destroyed all State-riShts,
and abolished all State lines, cannot safely
declaim about i" home rule" The declara-
ton in the Cincinnati platform that this is
nd ~ 1a1u1,a M States Is
the Republican Offset to the "home-rule "
cry of the Democrats. The election, how
ever, will hardly turn upon this issue.
MORTON will dwell upon it iii all ms
speeches, but Governor HAYEs's letter OF
acceptance leads us to hope that he VIII
give no countenance to it.
The "absolute settlement OF all war issues
bv the result of the war; and return TO
peace basis and national legislation" This
is a fine plank; but upon this even GOV
ernor HAYES claims to stand. He declares
emphaticaly that he will il elected try so to
conduct the Government as to have The
country forget that there ever was North
or a South. 1t is a good sign for lis OF the
South that even the Republican candidates
SnOulQ QceHl III polltlS w SouhSSi ''H "tH
ing Of the bloody shirt.
There is one more issue presented by
Governor HENDRlCEs-namely, ."the re-
m6val OF all artificial distractions to a re-
sumption OF specie payments" we are
glad to read this in his declaration OF prln-
ciplcs. 1t corroborates what VIC said yes
terday as to his position on the currency
question. We may as well say it now as at
any timc-for we believe it is undoubtedly
t,1ue-that no man can be elected President
this wear who is not in favor of hard money
and of return to specie payments,
or who would destroy all the national
banks and substitute for their notes green
back currency. Governor HAYES rccoS-
niZes this as the actual state OF things, and,
though a little obscure in his utterances on
this point, leaves it to be understanding he
is the Simon-Pure hard-money candidate.
TILDEN and HENDRICKS cannot afford to be
less decided upon these points than HAYES.
We trust that they will speak out in Ian
s-uare as plain IS the vernacular furnishes,
and let us have fight upon principle. IL
they will do so, and will allow the people to
have Il contest upon questions OF adminlStra-
tive policy, the bloody shirt will be buried
indeed and the South will have peace and
security whether HAYES or TILDEN shall be
elected.