The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-24


The Madness OF Imitation.
The HERAID's special correspondence from
Columbus, published to-day, affords very
interesting insight into the hopes and alleged
plans ofthe Western infationists, especially OF
the rag money enthusiasts of Ohio, and gives
an amusing sketch OF the venerable Ohio poll
tician who, beaten in his own State for Gov
ernor last year, seeks again to mount his
crippled hobby and ride for the Presidential
race. Our observant correspondent likens
the division between the sound currency
men and their rag money opponents in the
Buckeye State to the quarrel between the
hunkers and barnburners in New York, and
declares that the bitterness of feeling is as
intense now between the democratic factions
in the West as it was in this State when John
Van Buren, promised to send the political
corpse of Lewis Cass up the lakes in the
autumn of 1848. Indeed, the friends of
Allen are represented as citing that chapter
in the history of the democracy MS a prece-
dent they are determined to follow should
their hopes of controlling the ST. Louis Con-
vention prove fallacious But the precedent
is an unfortunate one, since it brought de-
feat on the democracy and made breach in
the party which took years to heal, and
which was mainly instrumental in bringing
the republican organization into life.
Wherever we examine the positions taken
by the Allen infationists, rs recorded in our
special correspondence, we discover at once
their weakness and the Quaker character of
the guns that frown from their defences.
They lay stress upon the importance of
carrying tho October elections in Ohio and
Indiana, and declare that the only way to
keep these States out of the hands Of the re-
publicans is by laying down an initiation
platform at ST. Louis and placing the ven
cradle Ex-Governor upon it. But what can
they show to back this assertion? Mr..
Allen was beaten in Ohio year ago on rag
money platform, when the republican party
was not too firmly united and put forth no
special exertions to win a victory. Indeed,
it was the boast Of Mr.. Allen and his friends
at the time of his nomination for Governor
that the imitation policy would divide the
republicans of the State, and that half of
them would support the democratic ticket.
How can they claim certain victory in the
State now on the same exploded issue when
all the strength Of their opponents will be
concentrated and put forth in the Presiden-
tial struggle? Their next position is yet
more untenable. Beat Allen and rag money
at st. Louis, they say, and you lose Ohio
and Indiana in October What follows? In
that event they build high hopes of winning
in the Presidential race by bolt in the st.
Louis Convention and Allen as the third
party candidate on 'purely greenback
platform" In other words, as Ohio last year
beat imitation, as Pennsylvania repudiated
the heresy, and as oil the strong democratic
States declared for and many Of them tri-.
umphed with sound financial platforms,
therefore sold Bill Allen" and rag money
are to win majority of the electoral votes
with the democratic party split asunder and
the republicans united.
Imitation in its madness, like secession in
its madness, does not hesitate to threaten
sectional strife if its heresies and fancied
personal rights are disregarded. Mr.. Allen
will not probably help his chances of nom-
ination-if, indeed, he ever had any-by his
expressions of contempt for the East, which
he describes as ''an ornamental fringe hang
ing on the edge of the West, and rs "a
pygmy bullying giant" The growing
strength and influence of the West are every
where recognized, and upon that strength and
influence are built high hopes for the future
greatness Of the nation. 1t would be lament
able, indeed, if it could be conceived that the
power of the vigorous and strong-limbed
young West could ever be used to strike
down the national credit, to dishonor the ma
tional character and to breed sectional strife
Let US hope that there is no real sentiment
of hostility to the rest of the Union in the
breast even of an infationist, and that while,
in the expressive language of our correspond
ent, the Western rag baby republicans want
Morton and the Western rag baby democrats
cry for "Old Bill Allen or bolt, they will
oil be willing TO consult with their brethren
of other sections of tho Union in their ma
tional conventions, and to support such can
didates as the united good sense of the par
ties may select for the Presidential Office.
THE UNITED STATES REFoRx ASSOCIATION
is the title-of new organization devoted to
political reform, and asserting that it is zone
of the most powerful in numerical strength"
in the country. 1t claims to have nearly
thirty thousand members in New York, over
twenty thousand in Pennsylvania and Massa-
chusetts rcsnectiyelY seventeen thousand in