Year: 1879

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.


WASHINGTON, March 25, 1879.
LEADERS OF BOTH PARTIES PREPARING FOR THE


PRESIDENTIAL cAMPAIGN-EFFoRr TO PLACE


FALSE ISSUES BEFORE THE PEOPLE.


What is passing hero just now is mainly des-
perate attempt by the leaders of both parties to get
themselves into shape for the Presidential campaign
next year-to create some false issues which shall
suffice to excite the public mind and keep tho two
present parties alive and intact until after November
1880 Hence while few moderate and sensible men
of both sides would gladly settle the differences cons
cernng the election laws and could do in half an
hours discussion, they are powerless because the
leaders side with the extremists. and think dead
lock aproracted struggle for their in Sercst
The party leaders of both sides believe they dare
not go to the country any question OF
roal public value interest The republicans
fear the strength Of the soft money and imitation
timent in many of the States which they must con-
troll to win the Presidency next year. They were at
one time inclined to take up tho defence of the
national banks against the democrats, but they
reluctant to risk much this now, and are
agreed that their safest course is to raise anew the
cry against the "solid South" The news received
by them from various parts of tho North and North
west persuades them that they have succeeded BY
bringing up JEFF Davis and by circulating stories Of
Southern predominance in Congress, in alarming
and infaming the Northern fears.


I'VE have walked up tho North at last" said stall
1srt yesterday. THAT speech of Zach Chandler's
did heap of good. Wen show the Confederate
brigadiers there's solid North well a solid
South next year.


Itisin pursuance ofthis policy that the republicans
have determined to oppose all legislation except tho
passage Of tho appropriation bills. Mr.. Conger. in
the House, announced this morning that he would
object to all proposals for legislation except the
regular appropriation bills. which is equivalent TO
announcing deadlock; for hand it is said
that the President objects to having tho political
legislation tackled on to these bills, and, on tho
other Mr.. Conger declares that his party will not
low be even brought before the House separately
for objection under tho rules fatal to anything
except appropriation bill. Mr.. Conger practically
said to the democrats. therefore, TINT unless they
gave up entirely the political legislation proposed
and which they have the necessary votes to pass
through both houses, there should be desdfoct. II
is in pursuance OF the plan that Senator Hoar
denounced to-day the lacking Of political legislation
on the appropriation bills as Unconstitutional
revolutionary. and. if persisted in leading to tho
overthrow OF constitutional government and the do.
etruction of the national life"'


All this twaddle is, OF course, meant for home con-
sumption. 1t is intended to fire the Northern heart
to place the republican leaders more before the
Northern voters as the savors Of the Union and 70
perfect that issue for the campaign Of 1880. .st
The democratic leaders are desperately sons
cerncd for an issue as their opponents. Many Of
them would like to join hands with the greenbackers
and fight il out the fat money issue but they
see that they cannot do without splitting their
party to pieces and they have a suspicion that the
.l--I
next year. Moreover. it is privately confessed in
democratic circles that Mr.. Tilden, he lives long
enough. is the inevitable candidate. and he would
not tolerate g-eenback committal. The democratic
question, therefore, is precisely that with which the
republicans also are struggling. how to find and
make an issue for next year which the whole Of
their distracted party be unitcd false ISSUE Of
course. because all real questions neither party
dares TO commit ITSELF As the republicans have de-
termined on the "soid South" and the danger OF
rebel supremacy their ISSUE so the democrats
cude that the fraud cry tho only thing that can
unite them. Whether democrats for hard or soft
money. for liberal tariff high protection for or
against subsidies all be united it is thought ON
the fraud ISSUE and it is to make that plain and in
tensfy in the popular mind that the leaders have
so vigorously insisted on the effort to repeal the
election laws The immediate repeal Of these laws
Is matter of practical Importance. for there are
elections this fall. 1t may happen that after
exciting and prolonged debate sufficient TO arrest
the stention of the country the whole scheme viii
be suddenly givcnup


This 10 the real meaning of the extra session. II
10 the preliminary skrmsh for the Presidential elec
ton. II is matter in which parcel OF ambitious
and unscrupuious politicians both sides are en-
gagged for their advantage. entirely reckless Of
the country's interests IL is on tho one side as
much as on the other hollow fraud, q proceeding
which has relation to the countrys welfare which
could not happen IL both parties were not seeking
with all their might 10 avoid the real questions and
issues In which the people concerned. aud the
real meaning of which is that neither of the existing
parties s capable of serving tho country or inclined
TO thoughts Of statesmanship. II the object of
political party IL 70 carry on tho government
upon certain known policy or prineipcs IL is
clear that thcrc is for tho existence of
either OF the present organizations. for neither
makes even pretence TO principles Of any kind. and
both contain members favorng the most diverse and
contradictory policies. Senator Blaine N . strong
advocate OF subsidies for instance: but Senator Ed
munds opposes them and nearly half the democratic
party, especially in the South, stands with Senator
Blaine and against Speaker Randall. A vote on legal
tenders silver shows in either House that there are
numerous republican infationists and dcni6s ratio
hard money men. In fact in the face of any real
question in which the country's interests are in
vovod, both parties here in Congress fall to pieces
81 aud IL is seen that for purposes Of practical
legislation both are clcss and corrupt bodies:
yet 10 seems not improbable that, with greaA skil,
and no scrupies at all. the leaders OF both will row
be able TO tide their rotten organizations over tho
next Presidential election at the of very great
injury to every Legitimate interest In the country


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