The Portland daily press., 1879-09-05
Democrats and Greenbackers.
Where Are the Greenbackers Going'



The Cincinnati Enquirer remarks with
great frankness that there is very little TO di-
vide the genuine and sincere Greenbacker
from the Democratic fold. Speaking of the
possibility of a portion OF last years Green
back vote being diverted to the Republicans, it
says:
"If the Greenbackers want TO abandon their own
party they will be found crowdng the mourners
benches Of the Republican organization.
If they go elsewhere than where they now are, 1t
will be to the Democratic Party, where their views
are held SO nearly as to leave no practical point OF
difference.
This may be accepted as true, as far as con-
Germs the identity OF the Greenback and DEM
ocratic ideas, because for the last four or five
wears the Democrats have adopted every doc
trine seriously laid down by the Greenbackers,
and have as party, sustained nearly every
measure which the latter have proposed. When
the Greenback element required an attempt to
defeat the Resumption act, the Democrats
joined them, although at tha: time there was
only feeble beginning of the separate organi-
Zation which has since become so formidable
and so exacting. When the Greenbackers,
with whom increase of appetite had grown
with what it fed upon, demanded the repeal OF
the Resumption act, the Democrats attempted
to secure it. On the eve of resumption the
Democrats, supported we regret to say, by some
Republicans, increased the difficulties in the
way of preparation for that event by directing
that the legal tenders should not be actually
redeemed, but should be resSued, and the
amount OulSlttUulUO Dc HdlutdlHou
ished. And in the last two sessions of Con-
gress, Greenbackers and Democrats agreed in
trying to secure, what they have since joined
in proposing in their platforms, the abolition
of the conservative, safe and carefully limited
system Of national banks and the replacement
of the bank-nOtes by Government notes. The
only actual difference between the Greenback-
ers and the Democrats now is that the former
are more outspoken in defining the purposes
for which the latter are constantly working.
And in Ohio even that difference cannot be
said to exist, since the candidate OF the Demo-
Gratis is Gen Ewing, who holds and advocates,
without reserve or qualification, the widest
notions that the Greenbackers have ever con-
ceived.
But, while this is true, it does not follow
that all those who voted the Greenback ticket
a year ago, will vote the Democratic ticket
now The Greenback vote at that time was
largely an expression of sentiments rather than
opinions, and these sentiments were discomfort
and fear. Many people were discontented be-
cause the depression in business, which had
lasted for five years, was only very slightly les
sened. Employment was scarce, trade was
still dull, capital was timid and opportunities
for profitable occupation were few. 10 tins
discomfort was added feeling of fear as to
the possible and probable consequences OF an
attempt at the resumption of specie payments.
No one could say with certainty that the at
tempt would succeed, Or even that it would not
make them worse. The belief in the necessity
and advantage of resumption was based on
general reasoning and the study oil facts IN our
own history and that OF other commercial ma
tions with which the greater part of those who
were attracted to the Greenback party were
not familiar. The belief that it was impractI-
cable and dangerous was, ON the other hand,
the natural conclusion from the fact that times
had been prosperous when paper money was
plenty, and that since the passage OF the re-
sumption act times had been bad. When 1T Is
remembered that the vast number OF the
younger portion of the community IN every
III 4I,1co haf1 md
age, had had but very slight experience, OF
none at ALL under sound currency, it is not
strange that the fattering promises OF the
Greenback orators and writers should nave
taken q deep hold upon the public mind
But the situation is very different now
Much of the cause of discomfort, and all the
cause of fear regarding resumption, have been
removed. Business throughout the country IS
unquestonably better. 1t is not necessary to
| cite the general facts drawn from the statlstlcs
| of commerce to establish this statement. EV-
| cry man in the country knows that 1t is true.
| Even those who are themselves still idle or un-
| fortunate know that employment is tor the
| most more readily obtainable, trade more ac-
! tive manufacturing more enterprising, and ag-
! ricuture more promising. On the other hand,
| RESUMPTION has taken place without any OF the
| untoward results which were predicted. The
| Treasury was not depleted, the Governm'
| was not bankrupted the currency was
| swallowed up by Wall street spectators, th>
| business community was not convulsed or even
| frightened, there was no contraction OF the
currency, there was no paralysis OF trade or IN
| dustry On the contrary, trade has steadlly
| gained, exports have increased, public and pri-
! yate credit has improved, enterprise has re-
.sm aihonoa and above n, VIC 8agNSe foNAse1 thSes
| so far from falling a prey to the mont
| kings" of the Old World, we are able to draw
from Europe all the gold that we need, and to
keep that which we produce. 1t is impossible
that these facts should not have some effect
upon the minds of many who were frightened
q year ago by the gloomy prophecies OF the
| Greenbackers and seduced by the promises
which they held out should their notions be
adopted And in proportion as these Iacts do
have an effect the Greenbackers will avoid the
Democratic party, which blindly insists on the
| same deceptive remedies for evils which no
longer exist, and cannot be made TO appear to
exist There are unquestionably some ele-
! ments of uncertainty in the present flatterlng
situation, but they lie exclusively in the posi-
| bility of Democratic success. We have tested,
| by the severe test of experience, the practical
value of the Republican policy of redemption;
| If that policy can be developed and continued
| the advantages we have gained may be rem
| dered secure. 1t is only by relapse to Demo,
cratic ideas that they can be imperiled, and
| this is a fact which cannot be wholly lost up
on that portion of the Greenbaek party which
| was drawn from the Republicans