The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-12-18
SOME PRESIDENTIAL POINTS.
from the New York Tribune. ]

What are we to expect in the next
Presidential campaign? At present the
Republican party only has a definite
and positive policy. We know what it
will advocate: Justice TO all citizens,
OF whatever race or color; protection to
all voters; faithful enforcement of all
laws OF the United States; honest pay
ment of honest debts; hard money and
scrupulous defense of the public credit.
On what pretext will an appeal against
the supremacy of the Republican party
be made?
|. The Greenback party, as such, will
not trouble politics next year. It has
tried, and has failed. If it had any
purpose, that purpose has vanished
since resumption brought general pros
perity. If it had any adherents, they
have gone back to other parties when
they have discovered that the Green
back party had no chance of success.
Perhaps there will be a Greenback
ticket, but there certainly will be no
reason for it.
2. The Democratic party, as a party
OF imitation or reputation, can make
little Roadway. It's ablest men see that
its career in that direction is ended.
It can get beaten, if it likes, by kicking
against the pricks indefinitely, but it
will not commit itself to soft-money
notions unless it has lost all hope of
success, and has decided to make such
failure as will leave it less embarrassed
hereafter. Perhaps the money cues
ton may be lodged; perhaps it may be
made conspicuous without chance or
hope OF success; but this is tolerably
certain, that the Democratic party will
not put stress on questions OF that sort
if it fights to win
3. The outcry about Federal election
laws will be abandoned. Democrats
know that it was blunder. They see,
what they ought to have seen before
they began the contest at the last ses-
sion of Congress, that no party can
afford to stake it's existence upon it's
success in sweeping away laws designed
to prevent fraud. If the existing laws
are defective, amendments can be pro-
posed But it is not possible to put
amendments into such form that they
shall constitute prominent issue for a
national contest.
4. The course of the Government to-
ward the South will not be a matter of
Importance in partisan discussion. The
Republicans will not, and the Demo
Gratis cannot, assail the extremely leni-
ent and generous course of the present
administration. All discussion as to
the course of any previous administra-
ton will be treated with contempt by
people who do not propose to revive
the previous administration. Chatter
about Grantism and Imperialism will
be disposed of, if, as we believe, the Re-
publicans see fit to disregard the few
men who wish a third term for their
own convenience.
5. No opposition party can possibly
escape the consequences of its depend
ence upon the solid South for nearly
the whole of it's votes. The question
whether those who tried to destroy the
Union ought now to be selected to gov
ern it will of necessity be presented
sharply, because any opposition to the
Republican party will rest all it's hopes
of success, if it has any, upon the united
vote Of the Southern States. A party
in that position must face the question
whether the conduct, the temper, and
the opinions of the South are such that
it can safely be intrusted with the con-
troll of the Government.
6. The attempt to divert public at
tention to new topics viii probably oc-
cupy most of the time during the next
session of Congress. It is not likely to
succeed, because there is no other ques-
ton upon which public opinion is
formed or aroused. Debates about the
tariff will fall fat, because the people
have no sire IL meddie With existing
laws on the subject of taxation. Clam
ors for reduction of internal taxation
will please some Southern men who
lack understanding as to the real effect
of tax on tobacco, but will be little re-
garded in States not now Democratic.
The strength of the Republican party
is mainly in it's almost unassailable po-
sition. It cannot be attacked with force
except by men who thereby confess that
they want to cripple the Government in
it's revenues, to dishonor it in its fiscal
obligations, to place it at the mercy of
the States, to secure victory in elections
by fraud, or to nullify its constitution
and to defeat it's pledge of equal rights
for all citizens.