New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-21
THE OHIO CAMPAIGN.
REPUBLICANS SOLID FOR HONEST NONE

hEPUBLlCANS SOLID FOR HONEST MONEY.
AN EARNEST But NOT A LIVELY CANvAss-IHE
MONEY QUESTION oyERsHADOws ALL OTHERS
INFLUENCE OF TIE NATIONALS.
IRON OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUSE.I
2 CLEVELAND. Ohio, Sept 10-A little less than
three weeks remain before the election 1t cannot
be said that the canvass is alively one it is an
earnest one, however. There is nothing to excite
the populace-no parades, transparencies, or mon
ster meetings none Of the theatrical aduncts OF
exciting campagn-but there is quiet thorough
discussion of the dominant issue at well-attended
meetings and in the newspapers. Among recent can
vases, the present compares best with that of
1870. Then, as now, the money question
overshadowed all others; but there is this
differences: at that time the Democrats Oc-
cupied extreme initiation ground, while now
they have drawn back to middle
position, leaving to the new National party the
advancing of ultra soft-money notions. The real
difference between the Democrats and the Nationals
is oae of degree and not of kind. Both demand an
iTedeemable currehcy, but the former tmidly
hesitate to accept the full consequences of their
logic, while the latter follow out the argument to
its natural result, and say that if paper having the
Government stamp is money per Sc, as they main
tain it to be, then there should be no stinginess
about the quantity issued, and enough should De
put out TO pay off the National debt at once
A notable popularity of the Democratic canvass
is the careful attempt made to eyade the real issue
of irredoemable or redeemable currency. Follow
ing the lead of Thurman. the party orators and
newspapers have endeavOred 10 shift the fight to
the National banks, and have to some extent sue
ceeded in Turing the Republicans into defence OF
those institutions. These tactics are skilful. FIT
should come TO n square issue Of whether the banks
or the Government should furnish the paper cur
rency. the party of the banks would be
the unpopular one. This is not the issue,
however, and the Republicans will make
great mistake if they allow it to APP
pear to be. There is but one prominent
question before the people-shall the paper money
of the United States be redeemable in coin, or shall
II be "iat money" having no connection with the
precious metasi When this is settled, there will
be ample opportunity to determine what shall be
the character of the circulating medium-whether
il shall be all reenbacks, or all bank notes. or
mixture of both.
The Ohio Republicans solidly and earnestly in
favor of a redeemabie currency. They defend the
Resumption Act and demand that it be carried out.
Their party is wholly purified from the poison of
sOft-mOncy notions which afflicted it to some de
gree few years ago. The tone of the Republi-
press Is clear and harmonious, ana the
party speakers give forth no dlscoTdant Ut
tcrances. The party alignment is perfect and the
ranks unbrOken. Never since the rag-money mania
broke ont ten years ago have the Republicans OF
OHIO been i'm such a healthy condition as 70 their
financial beliefs.
One feature of the canvass is of great importance
in its probable influence on the position Of the Re
publican party as a National organization in future
contests have said that the Republicans Of Ohio
are a unit in sustaining resumption and advocating
a CONTRASTS currency. They defend the banks, too,
when they see them unjustly attacked, but they do
not regard the greenbacks as mere evidences OF in
dcbtedncss long overdue aud to be paid and
retired hs soon as possible, Leaving me
field clear for bauk currency. such was the ola
Republican theory such still the theory OF many
but not of the majority OF the Republicans OF ONO
and Of states further West i know not now ~
may be in the East, but the masses OF the people
here are attached 10 the RTeeubacks ana VIII not
consent 10 them retired for the purpose Of max
Iug room Tor more bank notes. Whether an exclusive
~ t;oycrumcutal currency would he practicable and
beneficial feature they have not July considered
but they have made up their minds that thcy 40
not want currency composed exclusively OF bahK
notes 4 party that should advocate purely bank
currency would be beaten Overwhelmingly IA ONO
and in every Western Republican state. Inc teel-
ing in tavor Of retaining the grcenbacks IN cTcua-
ton has not the slightest connection with the sOtt-
money hsresy. however. 1t Is SIMPLY preference
for government money over corporation money
While the Republican campaign proceeds on the
plain principle that redemption should be the foun-
dation Of our National financial system. the Demo
cratic line Of argument is as crooked rail fence
ON all questions other than the bank question. Tue
attack on the banks is straightforward and persist
emf. Mr. Thurman undoubtedly intends that It
shal be the issue Of the next Presidential canvass.
As an opponent of the whole banking system, he
believes he can easily carry OF the nomination from
his Eastern competitors. Neither ne nor any OF MS
followers squarey faces the question OF redemption
The Nationals are still tho unknown quantity in
our politics. They have not given signs OF rapid in
crease of late, although greatly encouraged by the
Maine election and elaed with the notion that they
are the party Of the future The fact IS, there is
considerable element left for them to work upon.
They have done all the damage possible TO the Re
publican party, for, as l have shown, the present
Repuhlican organization Is solid for redeemabe
money and has no longer wayerng element that
can be coaxod away by the initiation sophlstries. The
Democratc party is now suffering some loss by the
proselyting of the Greenbac Eers-how much cannot
be determined but enough to distress the party
leaders Still il is only the fanatical hat-mOney
partlsans who can he drawn OIL. The great body OF
soft-mouey advocates in Ohio remembering the Bll
Allen campaign, and delighted at Humans change
of base find themselves entirely AZ home IN the
Democratic party, and readily overlook niue ~
sincere trucking TO the stubborn hard-mOney
Democrats IL is n very different condition OF things
from that in the East where the Democratic Leaders
have ueyer courted the grcenback dcluslon In It's
nreseut aspect, the National movement in ONO Is
lar more threatening to the Democratic party
than to the Republicans. 10 bus falr 20 give
Tie Republican State ticket much larger plurality
than could be hoped for without IT, and 1t will end
i'm fhe election of Republican Congressman IN the
Toledo district the Cleveland district. rosters aus
trict and in the LIST Cincinnati district. L. S.
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