New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-15
THE GREENB1CK PARTY IN ONO.


The Ohio campaign, which opens for the
Republicans so auspiciously that the support
ers OF General Ewing already begin to groWl'
is likely to prove the making or the spelling
Of one political party at least. The Green
bac, parry has name TO live, and the ONO
election Will show whether II is dead or not
In the elections Of last Fall It's part was not
glorious. In fact, perhaps no other party
ever threw away as many votes. Ii cast votes
enough in all the States to constitute q very
respectable balance of power, and yet, so
grcedily did Its candidates and managers rush
after Democratic support, that 1t succeeded III
elrcting a thin omnibus load Of representa-
tives, and found part of these in the Demo
cratic caucus when the session began. More
than ninc-tenths of the votes cast by the
Gteenback party were wasted, because they
were so cast that the Democratic party appro-
pgiatcd all The results and all the glory.
Ii has become clear 10 the managers OF the
Grecnback party that it may better die out
tight than be nibbled up IN this fashion. In
plain truth, there is a definite purpose which
that party represents, and which the Demo
cratic party III many localities also pretends to
represent. and one or the other can emhody
that purpose with some force. but it becomes
ridiculous when ii Is kicked about as foot
b.ll between two parties. if the Democrats
are 10 represent it, there is 30 more Use for
Greenback party than iOr fifth wheel OF
coach. and if the Gfeenback party is to have
that place the sooner the Democratic party
is dead and buried the better. These ideas
have been growing for weeks, in the minds OF
men of the GreenbaclS persuasion, and the net
result is that General Ewing goes back 10 his
home from the sad sea waves III medlta-
tive frame of mind.
If the Greenback voters cast their votes
mainly for Mr.. Ewing they may fail to elect
him, hut they Will not fail to put IN end to
the separate existence Of the GTeenback party,
and to ITS possibility of divertrng Republican
votes. For they will make it known by voting
for him that there is no reason for the exist
euce OF any other than The Democratic party,
in their opinion, for the expression OF the be-
Hets which they avOw. 1t Is only too plain
that this will make an end OF the diversion of
Republican votes. Then the small politicians
of the Greenback faith viii see that they have
no future except III the Democratic ranks, and
thus the party viii die a natural death. 1t
has had no night TO exist, for months, and no
mower to continue existing, except III the hope
that il might draw away enough Republican
votes TO form a balance of power In the next
Presidential election and if that chance is
thrown away by vote for a regular Demo
cratic candidate in an election Of supreme
importance, the party may as well order its
funeral at once.
The leading men of the Greenback faith have
already expressed their opinion in the matter
Dretty clearly The discomfort of General
Ewing is not unnatural, although the kindest
feelings toward him personally are expressed
bv the extremists. They say, however, that
General Ewing is of some use where he is, and
would be of no use whatever as Governor. If he
sbould be transferred from seat in Congress,
that seat would probably be filled by hard
money Republican, and the cause of soft
money would lose an effective man in Con-
eress and gain nothing On the other hand,
they reason that an independent course this
Fall will make the Democratic party more
ready to consider the wishes of the Greenback
men in its Presidential nomination. If they
can show power in Ohio, and in some other
States-power enough to justify the claim that
the Democratic party cannot win without their
aid-they can probably dictate its nomination
next year, and thus virtually control the Pres
ideptial election in case of Democratic sue
cess. Toward this end. all the shrewd Green
back leaders are bending their efforts. But if
,hey give up that independent position, and
become at once a mere tender to the Demo-
cratic locomotive they are well aware that
the next National Democratic Convention Will
consult the interests of the party IN New-IOrk
Il. .1,s..I
ers with Ihanks in a platform. The Green
back party, in short has to decide whether 1t
will vote itself out of existence or not, and
upon its readiness to commit harI-kaIi depend
whatever hopes General Ewing still INDUCES.