New-York tribune., 1876-09-29
HOW INDIANA WILL GO.
DEMOCRATIC CHANCES IMPROVING.

ISo,,xAPoIIs. Sept. 22.--The Democrats are max
,.ooadinoIv energetic canvass in this State.
They appear to have plenty of money, they nave an
oro 81 speakers on the stump, their meetings rival
an size and display those of the RepuoAcans' ana
tbev are animated by q zeal and Vigor which con-
trast striliugly with tho languid and spirltleSs
temper of their party in the East. This IS all the
more remarkable when we remember what wet
blanket the nomination of Tiden was to the Democ-
racv throughout the West, and particularly in
Indiana where shey had for years been rampant in
aat,onists. At the outset of the canvass political
vSoeacres imagined that the adoption of the Iilden
programme involved the virtual abandonment OF the
Wet and the junction of the hard-money States of
.he Cast with those Of the Pacific Slope upon the
solid nucleus of the united South. 1t turns out'
however, that the party is in much better hghtlng
trim here where il was supposed it would be weakest,
than inNthe States that were to constitute Gov.
Tilden's tower of strength. And the reasons AS
far as this State IS concerned imagine they are as
follows:
First: The Democratic party here is composed OF
material not at all sensitive to the currents OF public
opipion. and not influenced by newspaper discus
sions The little log cabins that are still standing
all over the State are inhabited by Democrats who
don't build better houses because they are satisfied
with those they have. The ignorant and vicious
classes of the cities and towns are all Democrats.
South of the NatiOnal-road there is large pOpnla-
tion of Virginia and Kentucky stock who were
Southern sympathizers during the war and recruited
the lodges of the Knights of the Golden Circle, and
these people are all Democrats. Stod as this mate
rial is il is excellent for party purposes for it votes
without stopping to think and is always obedientt to
70 the orders of its leaders 1t would vote for Ben
siamn Hill with alacrity if he were the Democratic
nominee and on the other hand it would, under the
same conditions. support an old AbOlitiOnist like
George w. Julian, who by the way is now in full
fellowship with the Democracy. These men know
nothing about Tlden's record, and care nothing
1t is enough for them to know that he is the Demo
cratic candidate. They never read Republican pa
peIs, and few read those of their own party, and
they never 90 to hear Republican speakers. Their
chief amusements are the circus and the Democratic
mass meeting and all their knowledge of politics
they get from the latter source.
SecoRd: The elOseneSs of the State in all recent
elections together with the stupid docilty of the
masses of the party, makes it good LOCALITY Tor a
test fight in October. The party leaders saw that II
Ohio and Indiana should both go Republican the
campaign would get its set" and that it would be
next to impossible to change the drift in November
So as Ohio looked hopeless they concentrated all
efforts on Indiana. The inactivity of the Repub-
licans in Ohio has since given the managers OF the
Democratic national canvass some expectations OF
success there and they are dividing their funds
and their force of stump speakers, but until very
lately all effort was concentrated upon this State
With majority of $4,000 two years ago to stinu-
late them, with third party movement evidently
decimating their opponents ranks much more
seriously than their own, and with plenty OF help in
money and orators from abroad it is no wonder
that the Democrats are able TO make vigorous can
yass. They appear to have lost no more votes by
Tilden's nomination than they would have lost IN
apv case by the distinctive GTeenbaek movement
which was organized months before the ST. Louis
Convention and this loss is counterbaianced IN the
proportion of three to two If not of two to one by
the DETECTION of the Republican soft-money extrem-
ists They are evidently in excellent condition as
party-fuI} of fight and sahgune OF success Nothing
troubles them except the revival by the Republicans
of the issues growing out of the war, and the per-
sistency With which the war record of their party
is barped upon
The one inyariable and never-ending theme OF the
Democratic stump speakers is the corruption of the
Republcau administration. Taking the material at
hand of which, unfortunately, there is no lack, in
the santo Domingo job, the Shepherd regime at
Washington, the CustOm-hOuse rascalities, the
Whisky Ring operations, and the bad appointments
Of the President they ngeniousy put it all together
paint it up in glaring cOlOrs, and set 1t forth as
frightful monument of official depravity. Their
looic In brief is; Such and such Shortcomings,
wrong-doings, prOAigacy, rascality and corruption
are shown to have existed under Grants admins
tration by indubitable evidence; the Cinelnna1
platform indorsed Grants administration; Gov.
Hayes says in his letter that he approves the plat
form therefore nc approves Grants administration
and will do nothing TO reform the public service
Moral-Rlect Tilden> This is unquestiOnably
/
one the Democrats have, and no wonder they make
the most Of it. Republicans obliged TO acknOwl-
edge the truth of the first preroise, and have the
modification Of rejecting that their own party
leaders have furnished the Democracy with the only
mound they could possibly have made fight upon
IN this canvass The defense against this attack is
10 show how much better the prospects for reform
would be under Hayes than under Iilden, and to
make brisk counter attack on the bad record OF
the Democratic party-its dishonesty, incompeteney,
and dslOyalty.
number of former Liberal Republicans have
taken the Democratic stump here. Ex-Gov. Austin
blair of Michigan Gen. j. +. Farnsworth and ex-
Lieut.-G Koerner of Illinois, ex-senator Upton
Of Nebraska and George w. Julian Of this state are
the prominent names. They make the same speeches
they made in 1872 with addenda Of the objection
able dOings at Washington during the past four
years Like Charles Francis Adams, they are very
reluctant to mention the Democratic party and APP
pear good deal ashamed of their company. AS
there never was a Liberal party in this State that
amounted to anything there is no element distinct
from the Democratic masses for them to address;
but they DO doubt serve a useful purpose IN the
campaign By exhibiting themselves as shining ex-
amples of repentant Republicans who have, in the
language of the Democratic newspapers, eome out of
the e,rvunt Marty becanse they were too honest to