Year: 1878

The Chances of a Breaking Up.


1t is often said that the present
political situation forebodes disso.
luton ofboth the Republican and the
Democratic parties, and the formation
OF new organizations upon issues
that are coming to the front. The
assertion is not in the nature of a
novelty. 1t has been heard at in.
tervals ever since the war closed, but
the new questions upon which men
were to divide have either never been
propoundeu or else they were not of
Importance enough to wean men
from their party allegiance. Now,
however, we have the fact established
that q new party is already in the
field, atid that it is making astonish-
ing progress throughout the country
is perfectly apparent. Butt if its com
Repent parts areselosely ined il
WIZ be found Blasa6 it lis MAIDS up III
various Heterogeneous elements that
are for the moment united more by
the popular restlessness and eager
ness to grasp at anything novel that
is offered than by any other motive.
The narrow escape of the Republi-
can ticket from defeat in the Presi-
dental campaign Of 1876 taught no
lesson more plainly than the one
that the masses of the people were
anxious for change, and that a
large proportion of them were even
willing, to secure that end, to re.
store to power party upon which
for sixteen consecutive years the ban
of condemnation had been placed.
The existing condition of affairs is
sometimes compared to that of 1851
80, when the Know Nothing furore
swept The country. There is, indeed,
Il striking similarity between the
two periods, especially us twenty
four years ago sagaciOus politicians
predicted that KnoW-Nothingism
would be short lived, just as clear
headed men are now saying that the
initiation and reputation movement
will be only temporary. But admit
ting all this, we cannot fail to re-
member that the Know-Nothing ag-
itatiOn had at least the effect of
sweeping away what was left of the
old Whig party, and it is not unlike
ly that Greenbach ism may do as
much for one both of the parties
now remainli seems, however,
most probable Cl.at as the false mon
ey party must have an opposition,
that opposition should logically unite
under the colors Of the organization
that comprises the larger number of
! hostileS, and this is unquestionably
the Republican. The Know Moth
ingS We're astonished at their own
success until the wave broke against
Virginia, and Henry a. Wise first
ouOppSu lUS IllpcluS.


The Greenbackers of to-day can as
little forecast their future as could
the Know Nothings of the past. AS
we have intimated, the new party
embodies very many discordant fac
tons which, if they were to obtain
power, might be expected to split
over the employment of it. They
have developed no really great lead
erS, unless we are to place Gen. But
Ter in that category, and it may be
doubted if he has the genius to cover
the whole field of the nation More
over, for the enforcement of the pa
per money scheme in its fulness much
depends upon the result of the next
one hundred davs. If Mr.. Sherman's
resumption plan proves a success, it
will be knock-down blow to the
Greenbackers. If after the 1st of Jam
uary next we have free circulation
of gold, silver, national bank notes
and legal tenders upon a mutual
equality, what becomes of the CLAN
or for more money? There would be
imitation of the healthiest kind-an
initiation of two hundred millions of
coin: and not even the most absolute
fiatist DretendS that specie is not good
enough money, provided that there
is no premium upon it, and
it circulates among the people.
Let us but realize resumption, and
the Greenbackers can have but two
excuses left for maintaining their
attack on the currency system. One
is to destroy the national banks the
second, absolute Reputation. That
the latter is what great many of
them are aiming at we firmly be-
lieve, but while they now mask their
designs resumption would compel
them to show their hands and de-
velop their projects. And in speak
ing of Reputation we include the
redemption" Of the bonds in Green.
] L