New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-08
POLITICS IN OHIO.
OLD PARTIES AND TIE NEW MoyEMENT


UPON THE OLD PARTIES.
TO the Editor OF TIE TrtbWne
SIR AT no time since the war have the politics
OF Ohio been in unsettled condition as at pres
ent. It is easy enough to sketch the situation on
paper--to draw the lines here aud there, estimate
the strength OF the different partles and predict
suits but while doing so, one has no confidence in
his calculations, although made data heretofore
tolerably trustworthy. One feels that there are
dercurrents that defy all attempts to their
force, and strange tides not put down in the alma
macs
five had only the two old parties to deal with
the situation would be clear enough. We should
say-OhlO is a close State, but Republican State
unless there special causes for dissatisfaction
or indifference among Republicans This year
there are none, and on the contrary there many
and strong reasons why Republicans should be
united and active. They are not on the defensive.
The charge of fraud in the election Of their Presi-
dent has not been established and must be set down
as partisan falsehood The policy of Mr. Hayes
toward the South has been shown to DO the
policy Of General Grant urged by him upon his
successor. So the prOlOngation of the dispute Of
last year about the merits of that policy is foolish
ness. There wide and inviting openings for at
tack upon the hmOcrats left by themselves in their
management Of National and State legislation.
ican position is excellent and their line of attack
such can hardly fail of success. And yet
feels confident The issues plain enough to the
thoughtful pOitician-the occasion seems important
enough to arouse animation and energy; but it may
well be doubted whether the people appreciate the
issues or are awake to the occasion. The only ac-
tivitv observable is in the nominating conventions
of the Democrats, where they fight over the
offices with an astonishing obstiuaoy, and in tho
secret councils of the Nationals, which are multi
plying Ike weeds under a July sun.
The disturbing element in our politics is, in fact,
this very National movement. IL battles all attempts
at accurate measurement. 10 breaks ont in unex-
pected places resists ali the ordinary political infu
ences, and Is prOpagated by zealOts who imagine
themselves to be the prophets of new era, and
as much in earnest as if they actually
were what they fancy themselves TO be.
These leaders are for the most part,
wild-eyed, taDgled-haired, gl!b-tOngued men, of
limited education, who never tefore made the
smallest figure in public affairs. Jones, the shoe
maker, or Smith, the blacksmith, suddenly re-
celves a financial revelation and dropping his
tools, goes about preaching a new gospel con-
corning labor and property. The wisdom of the
ages is as sounding brass TO him. He and his fell
lows alone have the secret Of true craftsmanship.
They have discovered the philosophers stone and
when they get COntrOl OF leglSlaJOnS IcneS Will
abound and poverty will depart from the land.
AS the National party is organized in secret coun-
ellis, It's exact strength is difficult TO estimate.
In some counties it is unknown; in
Others it is very strong. It's chief cen
tire is stiIl the City of Toledo where
it controls more votes than either of the old
parties but it appears TO be pretty well organized
in all manufacturing towns and cities and 1t is un-
questionably making its way steadily IN the rural
districts. should not be surprised if 1t were TO east
$4,000 or even 100000 votes in the State next Fall
The Republican party naturally antagonIzes the
movement, though not as positively in its platform
as could be wished, and not nearly as openly as in
its newspapers. The platform is a little weak and
webbing on most important issues. AS 10 the DEM
ocrats they are making love to the new party in
manner that is gross and palpable. The
two leading Democratic organs, The CiHoia-
natl Inquirer and CleUelGRd Plain Dealer in
sist that the financial theories of the
Nationals are identical with their own that the two
platforms mean the same thing and that there is
consequently no necessity of a new organization q
accomplish the ends proposed. This is true The
leading financial propositions OF the Nationals are
that bank currency should be abolished aud that
greenbacks should DO issued in quantities sufficient
70 "employ labor and stimulate trade" The Demo-
cratic platform says the same thing.
And vet the Nationals not persuaded by Dem
ocratc argument and 1attery to give mp their sepa
rate organization. Why are they thus obstinate
First because they doubt the sincerity of Demo-
cratic professions; or rather they do not be-
ieye the Democratic party as whole
can be brought up to the line on which
the Ohio Democrats profess to stand. and
take hold in the practical work Of legislation, of
financial questions in the way they want them
handled. Second, and more important reason, the
Nationals entertain far more extreme ideas than
they avow in their platform, and their real pur-
poses are only limited at in such formal DECLARE
tons They crop ont in the songs they sing in their
eetings IN the utterances of their orators and in
the talk of the mombers of the order They are in
feoted with the notions of Communism. In fact,
what is known as Socialism or Communism is but
an advanced degree Of Natonalism, into which
most of the leaders of the latter have
bsen initiated. They mean TO wipe ont all debts,
public and private, either by direct reputation or
by the issue of paper money in enormous quantities;
then they mean to tax wealth out Of existence, and
to seize ALI railroads factories and workshops and
RIM them for the "public good and finally. to di-
vide the land among the landless Too this would
reonire a strong government. In fact. the Nation
ais, idea of a government is an absolute tyranny d.
reeted by junta of " wOrkingmen." These lead
ers understand perfectly well that the Democrats
aIhor a strong government, and that If it should
come to the point Of putting in force the preiim-
nary steps of the grand Communistc scheme the in
grained Democratic horror of Capitalization would
cause a sharp ree0l
Let me not be understood as charging the masses
NJ the Nationals with Communistic designs They
are for the most part, honest simple-minded men,
incapable of cOmprehending or entering into great
projects for revolutionizng society They know that
things do not 90 as well with them as formerly;
that wages are low, that IwOrk is hard to get and
fiat little Injuries and indnlgences are out OF Their