New-York tribune., 1878-10-16
NEW-HAMPSHIRE POLITICS.
A MUDDLE AND A PUZZLE.

PLATFORM THE DEMOCRATS sTRADDLE The
CURRENCY QUEsTIoN-TRADISG.
lFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT oP THE TRTBUNE.l
CoNCoRD. n. H., Oct 12.-New-Hampshirep politics
are sufficiently complicated and involved, this year,
to puzzle Philadelphia lawyer. The combinations
by which political results are accomplished in New
York City are generally as unintelhGbleto to one who
does not reside there as a dead and forgotten Ian
guage or as the Democratic cipher kilograms before
THE TRIBUNE experts translated them but the
man who has mastered New-YOrk would have to
give up in despair when he tackled New Hampshire.
Imagine the state of mind in which the seeker after
knowledge here Is left after talking with dozen
different persons, and getting many conflicting
opinions, when he is told by a from whom he
expects learn the exact situation, that the result
of the election in this State will not probably be
known until next June
New-Hampshte is Republican State TOR has
BEEN when the last vote polled, by from 1000 to
1000 majority. Whenever the Democrats have
gained an ADVANTAGE it has been easy to explain 1t.
for the leaders Of both parties always know where
all their voters are, and if they do not come out
there always good reason for it. Last year the
Republican majority reduced to 03S. The
"stalwart" Republicans in New-Hampshire were,
and still are probably, more numerous than in any
other New-EnGland State. and some of them gave
evidence of their discomfort last Spring with the
Southern policy Of the Administration at Washing
ton, by remaining at home election day. The
Southern question is much less prominent in the
campaign now in progress here than during any
previous one since the close of the war. and If 1t
were not for the fact that new element has entered
into the political problem within tho past few
months, the outcome Of the present fight would not
be in doubt. | refer, of course TO the Groenback
movement, which received unexpected impetus
in this State from the Maine election in September.
Just here it may be we'll to say word about the
election laws of this State. the provisions Of which
It is important 10 remember in order 10 comprehend
the political situation here. No election Of Cover
nor can take place in this State unless one Of the
candidates receives clear majority of all the votes
cast The Democrats have no hope of securing
such n majority and the next best thing for them
to dois TO defeat the Republican candidate il they
can since that will give to them another chance of
capturing the State Government after the popular
election in November is over; for if no election
takes place then. the Legislature in joint conven-
tion must select one Of the two candidates who re-
ceived the highest number Of popular votes. But
the election i'm November may not even determine
the political complexion of the Legislature. can
didate to either branch Of that body must receive
majority of all the votes cast in order to secure
an election, and the number Of uncomfort-
ably close districts in the State is very
large. In districts where no Representative
is elected on the 9th Of November a new trial has to
be made, and this is repeated until some one gets
majority or the district votes not to send' Vacan-
cies in the Senate caused by failure to elect filled
by those members of the Legislature who are chosen
in November acting in joint convention II, then,
tn re should be no election Of Governor by the peo-
pie, If the House be very close, and there should
be several VACANCIES in the Senate. n few Green
hackers who will probably get seat in one House or
the other will hold the balance Of power and no
man on earth can tell, until the LEGISLATURE meets
next June. which party will control that BODY or
what the politics Of the next Governor United
States Senator viii be.
The Greenback movement in this State apparently
amounted to very little before the election In Maine.
In Vermont which lies just the other side of this
State, and by the community Of interests which
exists between them exerts more or less influence
over New-Hampshre, voted a week before Maine,
and the new party seemed 70 have gained no foot
hold among itS green hills. The large vote cast for
BARLOW i'm the lid Congressional District was not,
IL is said given by Grcenbackers, but by Ropuhli-
cans who were dissatisfied with the way in which
the party machinery was run. But when the news
came from Maine il aroused the politicians here and
turned the current Of the campaign into entirely
new channels. The Democrats seemed at frst to
overlook the fact that their party in Maine had
been split in two and virtually destroyed, so great
was their rejoicing the loss OF the State by
the Republicans. Having no hope, therefore,
of carrying this State in square, stand
I'D fight, the Democrats at once set about
encouraging the Grcenbaek movement. hoping
TO prevent anything from being determined in the
popuar election and willing to take their chances
when the fight is transferred to the Legislature
next Summer
The Democratic party was in excellent condition
10 resort TO this trick. In ts State Convention 1t
had stradded the currency question so successfully
that its platform is fish, Hcsh or good red herring,
according to your reading of it. You pays your
money and YOU takes your choice" Not hampered
bv principles too. the Democratic politicians saw
the opportunity opening before them to drive some
prosperous bargains and TO secure, by trading with
the Greenbackers some things that they would GER
tainly lose if they depended OH their own unaided
exertions.
From the day Of the Maine election the fight in
this State has been confined to the currency ques-
ton. Tho Republicans, instead Of being dis
couragcd or alarmed, threw out their banner in-
scribed "Natt Head and Honest Money" and there
has been no backing down in any part
of the State. The people are talking about
hard money and soft money in the country stores
and on the street corners they interrupt the Re
publican speakers with questions that show how
earnestly they are thinking upon tho subject, and
speeches which treat only of financial topics arc
discussed with much appreciation as a lecture by
Henry Ward Bcecher or DR.. Chaplin would be.
Everybody has an opinion to express, and although
it is often crude idea put in homely language, IL
shows popular desire to understand the question
and to have 1t rightly solved. Some Of the conclu-
sions reached even by people who have been unin-
structed would do credit to very elaborate course
Of study and reasoning. Congressman Frye OF
Maine who is making some exceedingly effective
speeches in ths State tells the following story illus