Year: 1875

best informed Of our political observers fear
victory for the democracy. Such a victory
will be the most important political event in
our history since the Wilmot Proviso first
made slavery a political issue. Nothing
could be more disturbing to the democrats
in New York than the success of the demo-
Gratis in Ohio. We are in this peculiar posi-
ton, that the victory of Allen will be the de-
feat of Tilden. With the Ohio democracy
successful upon platform of reputation
and rag money it will be difficult, if not inn
possible, for the republicans to save Penn
sylvania.


The inhationis lists in New York have thus
far found no recognition in the councils
of either political organization. Democrats
and republicans alike have pronounced in
favor of the national integrity and in a man
ner worthy of the great Empire State We
must not suppose from this that there is no
sympathy for Ohio in New York. We have
faction, composed of republicans as
well as democrats, which looks with
friendship upon Ohio. and will well
come the success of Governor Allen. The
inhationists of our State are moving and
threaten to resent the action of the Conven-
ton at Syracuse. Even politician as able
and far-seeing as Fernando Wood is said to
be raising money in New York to assist the
friends of Allen in Ohio. If Mr. Wood takes
this position it means that he proposes to
| put himself at the head of the inhationists
in New York and to insist upon distinct
! political recognition of their doctrines and
their leaders. 1t is significant that at the
recent meeting of the anti-Tammany or
ganizations last week no allusion was made
to the democratic State ticket In the
! past, when there were local controversies
in New York, the mutineers were osten-
tatious in their devotion to the State
ticket. They were content to claim
only ''reform in New York" This was
the case when Tilden ran for Governor.
Both organizations of the demooracy-that
commanded by Creamer as well as that Of
Tammany Hall under Kelly-earnestly sup
ported the Governor and were treated by him
as friends. But the new organization, or
what Is the basis of a new organization,
studiously avoids saying one word in compli-





the democratic ticket nominated at Syracuse.
The exception is the German wing under
the command of Mr.. Ottendorfer This
fragment has indorsed Governor Tilden and
proposes to give special support to the hard
money plank in the platform Mr.. Often
dorfer was treated with peculiar malignity
and coarseness by the Tammany leaders at
C1roo1ca He ohouc nm ornoupt If ca1f- 1ap;o1
that is unusual among politicians in support
ing a ticket whose principal defender is ex-
Sheriff Kelly. This comes from his devotion
to the principle of hard money.


Therefore, although Tilden at the head of
the democratic party may feel that he is Sc
cure; that, like Macbeth, he is as broad and
general as the casing air, he is still in the
presence of danger. If Ohio goes democratic,
and if Pennsylvania manifests disposition
to follow, nothing can prevent the formation
of an active initiation party in New York 1t
is well understood that the leaders of this
movement propose, as soon as the Ohio
election is over, to organize themselves.
There will be a State central committee
and local committee, and the inhationists





fight Tammany in New York. Fernando
Wood will make his campaign for the Speak
ership. He will commend himself to the in
hationists of the South and West by raising
the rag money banner in the metropolis.
When we note that, with few EXCEPTIONS the
democrats in the new Congress from both
the South and West are inhationists that





be in the new Legislature have very generally
accepted imitation as their policy, and that
the strongest men in the -Pendleton,
| Allen, Hendricks and others-have gone
| squarely on the record in favor of imitation,
we cannot underrate this movement or the
| effect it may have upon our political future.


Let us suppose the success of Allen in
| Ohio and the formation of an imitation party
| in New York. What would be the result? 1t
does not mean by any means that Governor
| Tilden will be defeated, even if there should
| be large secession from his ranks Infa-
ton would take as many voters from the
republicans as from the democrats, and
perhaps more. There are as many leading
republicans committed TO this delusion as
democrats. Any attempt to weaken Governor
Tilden or to destroy his administration on
the currency question would only bring to
his side that large element of republican
voters who respect the Governor and
believe that he is animated by q
desire for reform, and feel that there
are no State issues so important as the
extirpation of the Tammany and Canal
and other rings. In the eyes of the sensible
patriotic citizens of this State there is no
issue as grave at this time as that involved
in the support of Governor Tilden's admins
tration. Consequently even strong party re-
publicans who honor Mr.. Seward and who