The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-08-27
HORATIO SEYMOUR.
The Ex-Governor eo social and III
isnnciai Questions - Communism
and Protection offsPriogs of the
Snme Parent-The West. and its
Need of a sound Currency.


Correspondent the New York Herald.
UREA. Aug. 9-Your correspondent
visited Gov. Seymour at his farm In
Deerheld. to-day. The conversation
took a political turn. as follows:
Governor, what. in your opinion. is
the political cordition Of the country
at this time?''
"rhere is confusion in the ranks OF
both parties. General distress makes
general discomfort. These give birth
90 various theories about Government,
labor aud finances. Many OF them are
Wild; still they are of interest, as they
show what thoughts are in the minds
| If men ard what views are held by
large classes. While their theories may
be false, still they prove that those
who entertain them are in trouble; and
| they will bring out many facts which
will be of value. The discussions Of
this year in the end will be OF great
use. To cure errors. they must be
brought to light Many crude fancies
perish when men seek TO bring them
out and TO defend them, and nothing
cures discomfort so surely as to let
those who are dissatisfied get up par
ties and try TO organize and manage
them. As rule such parties fall into
ruin before they can be brought into
the field Of action. This year will ex-
plode many errors, will shatter many
new parties, and, it is to be hoped, will
make clear and establish many truths. y
NO TROUBLE FEARED.
"Do you fear any trouble from the
~ 80, "a.
who seek to divide property"
30. no. In this country they are
the most harmless Of men, and will do
more good than hurt. They make
,lear by their idleness and their follies
the need Of sound social organization.
When they talk Of gaining their ends
by force, and their desire to wade mp
70 their knees in blood. they only teach
our citizens the need of good laws vel !
enforced. Their impotence here shows
he strength of our Government, be-
yond that of others. A madman may
shoot a King and shake State. but
| ma aiorities cannot be assassinated IL Is
| a blunder to interfere with their parades
with arms in their hands. IL would be
a good thing il they were obliged to
show themselves with all their weapons
and banners, aud notices. on frequent
occasions. Not only are the majority
pf our people owners OF property, but
uot one poor man out Of a hundred in
his country would give up his chance
Jf gaining wealth for all that the Com.
munists could give him il they had full
sway; such parties are only dangerous
10 countries where society is so stratifi-
ID that the laborer has no hope, no
chance to lift himself above want, un-
less he can oyerturn the social and po-
itical condition under which he lives.
WHAT THE SEw PARTIES NAY DO.
"But what will other new parties DO
who hold less destructive ideas than
Communists
They may elect some of their nomi.
nees; they may qualify the action OF
the old parties, get them out Of their
ruts, bring up new topics for discus
| sion, and In these WAYS may be of use.
| The existence Of these new orgsniza
! 'ions prove that there is trouble and
| distress in our country, and they will
| force the governing party to look into
their causes. | do not think these or
| CARNATIONS will be long lived AS
rule, they appeal 20 classes. and not to
/ the whole body Of our citizens. The
past history OF our country shows that
outside organizations pass away with
| the causes which gave them birth.
You think, then that some good
lay grow out of the present confusion
in political uffairsY'
"Yes. The Communist is only a
highly-developed tariff-man, who be-
lieves that the Government makes the
prosperity Of country, and shonld in.
teriere with the busines Of its citizens
They both believe that the property
Of the country should be given TO an.
other TO make his business prosper.
The one saj this should be done by n
| division; the other reaches the same
end by taxation. They agree 20 the
vital principles Of their theories that
| Government must protect labor; that
! political power, and not industry and
pursuits adapted to the condition OF
our country, are the true sources of
wealth and prosperity. We have reas-
on 20 hope that homes. Communists
will see that there is the most want aud
distress to-day among factory-operat-
ives who have been protected into pow
erty by Government, when, il they had
been let alone, most OF them would
now be owners of farms.-living, not
in close tenements, but amid the beau
ties and abundance Of the open, fertile
country. On the other hand, high-tar-
n men, when they study Communism,
may learn they get their wealth by TAX
/ ing others, which in principle is no
better than taking it by division. Com
munism, in its open form, can never do
much harm as IL does in its latent
shape in our navigational laws. Maine
/ shipbuilders will not allow our merch-
ants 10 buy vessels outside Of our
country. As they cannot get them here
al prices which can make them pay,
\ American commerce is driven from the
oceans OF the world; and we cannot
send what we make or raise 10 any
markets where they want TO buy what
we want TO sell. But for this fact, all
classes OF farmers, mechanics, aud la
bOrers would at this time be prosper
Gus. II is a curious fact, that the
wealthy manufactui OF New Eng
land and Pennsylvania have been pur-
chasing the doctrine Of Communism in
urging that a class OF American labor
ers must be protected and supported
by taxing American citizens through
tariff.
THE GREESBAcK QUESTION.
"What do you think of the greenback
question? Will not the West demand
an imitation Of TIE currency"
81 think not in the end, although in
Aation is popular with many at this
time. There is also a prejudice in the
minds Of the people Of the West grow
iDg out Of the division OF our country
into debtor and creditor States. This
is increased by the stupid and selfish
ways in which the privilege Of issuing
J National bank notes was divided. Most