Year: 1876

place in advance of the Presidential contest
have SO demoralizing an influence on our
national politics that it is greatly to be re-
gretted that oil the State elections are not
held in November on the same day as Presi-
dental elections. The effect of victory or
defeat on subsequent elections is so great
| that parties are tempted to make sacrifice
of their principles in the hope of concili-
ating States where the local sentiment is In
opposition to their views, as was always
done by the democrats in their national
platforms so long as Pennsylvania held her
State election in October. The predoml-
nant democratic sentiment has always
favored free trade, but no democratic ma
tional convention has ever made bold and
unequivocal declaration to that effect, lest
the party should lose Pennsylvania In the
preliminary battle and thereby weaken its
chances in the final contest. The conse-
quence was that small minority of DEM
ocratic protectionists was always able TO pre-
vent frank declaration of party sentiment on
the tariff The recent change of the Penn
sylvania State election from October to No
vember has removed that source of danger,
but more formidable one is presented in
the two important States of Ohio and In
diana, which continue to elect their State
officers in October, and in which the demo-
cratic party is infected with more danger
ous heresy than protection. If there were to
be no October election this year in either Of
these States there would be little difficulty
in harmonizing the democrats of Congress on
the currency question. But the infationists
are strongest in precisely the two States
which can exert the greatest influence on the
Presidential canvass. The infationists are
mined to make the most of it. If it were
merely a question of finging away
Ohio and Indiana and letting them
60 TO the republicans by default the
democratic party should not hesitate to
make the sacrifice. What vexes the demo-
cratic politicians is their fear that the loss of
these States in October will destroy their
chances of carrying New York in November;
for without New York they cannot elect the
President unless they get the electoral votes
of the October States. Ohio and Indiana to-
gether have thirty-seven electoral votes. and
New York has only thirty-fve SO that if
nothing were regarded but the mere count
it would be better to lose New York than the
two October States. The Southern States
are equally sure whatever position the Ma
tional Convention may take on the currency.
That trimming platform would hurt the
party much in the Pacific States is not at all
certain. The currency of those States has
always been hard money, and they
have comparatively little interest in
the legislation of Congress on that
subject. The real question which agi-
tates the democratic politicians is whether
they have better chances for carrying New
York on trimming platform after success
in the October States or on a hard money
platform under the discouraging effect of the
loss of those States. We have no doubt that
the bold, honest policy would be the
wise one, but the action of the party in Con-
gress gives no reason to hope that it will be
adopted But if the National Convention
puts forth trimming platform and never
theless loses the October States sweeping
overthrow in New York will be inevitable
by the double effect of the October reverses
and the rotten platform