The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-27

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Ohio and Illinois. The political sentiment
of these great States is substantially the
sentiment of that part of the Valley of the
Mississippi which lies north of the Ohio
| River. The Ohio State Convention
was democratic, and may be presumed
! to represent the democratic party
| Of the West the Illinois State
Convention was republican, and doubtless
reflects the average republican views in the
important group of States lying between
the Alleghanies and great lakes on one side
and the Rocky Mountains on the other.
The politics of that wide region are exposed
to new element of disturbance in what is
called the national party, Of whose strength
there is yet no exact measure, because
it has not been tested in any
| election. The so-called national party
makes the currency prominent issue. and
is in the vanguard Of the widest Western
heresies on that subject tits opposed to
resumption, and goes for unlimited green
backs and the unlimited coinage of silver.
1t takes large amount of stock in
| the labor question, and if Kearney fulfils
his promise to come east of the Rocky
| Mountains as an apostle Of Communism he
may infuse great deal of life and conf
dence into the national party and make it
formidable competitor Of the old organiza-
tions. The national party does not need to
be very strong to hold the balance Of power.
no chance of electing its own ticket
it may easily turn the scale between
the two regular parties. Both are
counting it, and accordingly their platforms
| adopted yesterday studiously avoid cross
ing the WITNESSES Of the national party.
| The dangerous currency crotchets meet
with no rebuke either from the Ohio demo-
Gratis or the Illinois republicans. Both par
ties know that imitation is the most popular
issue in the West, and neither dares to sur
render monopoly Of it to the other or to
| the nationals.
/ OF the two State conventions held yester-
day that of Ohio is the more interesting,
because Ohio is likely to prove the pivotal
State in the next Presidential election.
Without that State the republicans have no
chance Of electing the next President against
the solid democratic front which will be
presented by the Southern States. The
politics of Ohio are Of great interest
in other aspects. 1t is President
| Hayes own State, and it must have
been great modification to him when
Ohio was carried by the democrats last year,
with the result of making Mr. Pendleton
the successor Of Senator Matthews. Mr..
| Pendletou's election to the Senate takes
him out of the list of democratic Presi-
Dental candidates; Ex-Governor William
Allen is too old 20 be thought of, and,
Ohio having become the pivotal State,
Mr. Thurman's chances arc better than
1 they ever were before if Ohio can be kept in
the rank of democratic States. The demo-
I cratic nomination in 1880 may be deter
mined by the same considerations which
led to Mr.. Hayes nomination in 1876. It
was felt then that Ohio was the pivot OF the
situation and Governor Hayes was nomi-
mated in the hope OF enlisting State pride
in favor of the republican candidate. 1t
was a successful calculation. With any
other candidate than Hayes the republicans
would have lost Ohio and with IL the Presi-
Dental election. Mr.. Thurman hopes that
the same kind Of reasoning will control the
Democratic National Convention in 1880
II the democratic candidate is taken from
Ohio Mr. Thurman will undoubtedly be the
man. Pendleton is shelved in the Senate
Allen is too old; Ewing has not sufficient
standing in the party to be thought Of If
| Western democrat is taken the selection
lies between Thurman and Hendricks.
Both OF these gentlemen are in good est-
nation by the democratic party; but In
diana is q safe democratic State in any
event since tho Indiana republicans lost
their great leader by the death Of Sena-
| tor Morton. Ohio is more doubt
full; but State pride might give it
to Mr.. Thurman IL he should be
the democratic candidate. III this state of
the situation Mr.. Thurman's Presidential
prospects are more hopeful than they have
ever been before He has understood this
for some time past, and it is the explana-
ton of his course in the currency discus
sions Of the late session. His success ~ o
Presidential candidate depends on a vigor-
l Gus support thc puiey
OF his own State, and he manipulated
the Convention yesterday with view TO
catch enough Of tho national party's vote
to insure democratic victory. No man
has any chance of n Presidential nominal
ton who cannot carry his own State. and If
Mr.. Tilden should lose his grip on New
York and Mr.. Thurman should keep Ohio in
| the rank OF democratic States Thur
man stock would be quoted higher
than Iilden stock in the spring Of
1880. The proceedings and platform Of the
Ohio depocrats yesterday must be inter-
prctcd in the light OF senator Humans
Presidential aspirations. lie yields to the
currency hcresies Of his State because no