New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-28

citizens, was assured TO the Republicans
of Illinois, and, though they need not
have yielded TO any temptation, the only
temptation with them was TO catch votes
of the unreasOning and communistic voters.
Thus the Democrats of Ohio were tempted to
! appear less dangerous than they really are {;
the Republicans of Illinois were tempted to
appear less faithful TO public honor and pros
perity. In Ono we see Democrats Mt their
best; in Illinois it is not strange II we see
Republicans at their worst, in respect to mat
tiers of finance and currency.
The Republicans of Illinois point with sat
| isfaction TO the fiscal conduct of the Govern
mcnt for years. This declaration commits
them to the whole policy OF resumption at
the same time they approve legislation making
| legal-tenders receivable for customs duties
as do some OF the most earnest and faithful
| advocates of resumption. 1t is not altogether
cIap-trap when they attribute the defeat OF
this measure to Democrats of the House, but
it is not strictly fair to imply that
Democrats only are responsible for that
defeat Party lines and sectional lines were
much disregarded in the votes upon this meas
uIc and the ultra inflhOnists on each side OF
the House were found acting with the ex-
IRENE haul-moncy men, as 20 this bill the
harl-moncy men insisting that public faith
required receipt of gold only for duties, and
the lnnation1sts seeing clearly that a very
rapid contraction of the currency would surely
result from the course proposed. The course
of Che Republicans Of Illinois is eyasiyc, there
FORE bat IS nevertheless not necessarily incon-
sistcnt wIth most earnest desire for the
strict performance OF every public obligation.
The Democrats of Ohio miss absolute
Communism by a hair's-breadtb. They do
not miss and do not even Try to miss,
Reputation of public pledges. On the
contrary, they blmtly declare that the
pledges heretofore given ought to he
violated because they were part of
policy hostile to debtors and laboryrs
that the Resumption Act should be re-
pealcd and more money put into circu-
lation, and measures adopted to make It hard
and hot for bondholdcrs and creditors. In
every particular so far as il darcs 20 declare or
demand anything, this platform il satisfactory
TO regulators and inf Itionists. IL represents
General Ewing, and no one needs to be told
that General Ewing represents that part OF the
Ohio Democracy which is most hostile to the
public faith.
The two parties describe themselves very
accurately in their platforms. At their very
worst, Republicans mean and try to defend
the public faith, though not always by the
best methods. At their very best, Democrats
mean and try to dishonor the Nation and break
ITS credit by violating its most solemn
pledges. They bid for the votes Of enemies
of all property, aud all modern civilization,
when they adopt as their own the catch
words of the Socialists. As their doctrines
naturally tend to national bankruptcy and 10
ruin of creditors generally, they ought to have
the support of tramps and criminals, of the
unthrifty and the lawless, in every part OF
the land. Even mt their worst, the Republic
cans may claim the confidence Of an honest
and economical labOrer or cloar-hcaded
capitalist. Even ut their best, the Democrats
thnly disguise their hostility 10 property, to
public credit, and to the war debts of the