Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-10-30
OHIO ELECTIONS.


the recent elections in Ohio, which ought not to
be lost to the country, at time like the present,
when many are led, from the facility and success
with which the most pernicous and disorgani.
zing doctrines are infused into the public mind,
to despair of the permanence of our free nsttu-
tons. Although unfortunately for us as a peo-
pie, our experience, instead of serving to direct
US with greater safety in our onward course, is
rather like the stern-light of vessel, which only
illumines the waves behind, and discoses the
dangers that are past-still this truth is made
manifest, that however wildly and madly popu-
lar feeling may be urged on for awhile in course
of folly and recklessness, under the artful ap-
Peals OF the demagogue, there is sober sense, a
redeeming spirit in the people, which may be re-
lied upon to "right the Ship" when once they
are brought to hear the roar of the breakers, and
the danger becomes palpable.
We had a memorable instance of this in 1910.
Dragged down by successive steps from height
of prosperity which the country had never before
attained, to depth of the greatest depression
and suffering, by the mad policy of party, the
sole aim of whose leaders was seif-gratification
and personal aggrandzemen,, the people were at
length aroused TO a feeling sense of the mischev-
BUSINESS of the measures which they had been in
duced to sanction, as well as the heartlessness of
those to whom they had given their confidence,
and in a storm of Indignation, "mighty as the
ocean in it's WRATH" expelled from power, and
overwhelmed in one common condemnation, the
foul betrayers OF their trust. And so now it has
been again, although on a more limited theatre,
in the State of Ohio. By one of those fraud $
which has been but too often resorted to by a
party whose maxim is that sail is fair in poll
TICS" Ohio, notwithstanding she is Wing by
thousands, has her representation SO arranged in
the Legislature as not fairly to reflect the will of
the people, and as a consequence the political
power of the State had been for years in the
hands of minority. Thus under the destruc-
tive rule Of Locofocoism, she has had her Bank
ing system uproosed, her currency destroyed, her
Industry paralysed, and her credit sunk almost to
the lowest point of depression. Fortunately,
however, under the stimulating influences of the
general distress, she was enabled, year or two
ago, so far to right herself as to secure Wing
ascendancy in the Legislature; and from the
beneficent measures thus obtained for her relief
she was just beginning to experience something
like return of her former prosperity. But the
Locofocos Were not satisfied. Emboldened, as
we may suppose, by the unexpected success of
their party in the late Presidential election under
similar circumstances, they determined again to
rally for the conflict. Accordingly they inscribed
upon their banners "Repeal' of all which the
Wings had accomplished and called upon their
party every where to come up to the battle
threatening with irrevocable expulsion from their
ranks any who dared TO finch, or refuse obedi-
ence to sheir Jacobinical behests.
1t was under these circumstances that the late
contest in Ohio was waged, and the victory Of
the Wings, therefore, is one Of no ordinary i'm
portance to the State. And may we not be en-
couraged TO hope also, that its influence and ex-
ample will not be without benefit to the country
at Target If Locofoco principles cannot be re-
duced to practice without producing reaction
even among its own followers, may we not ex-
pect to see the people at length learn wisdom,
and eschew them altogether, as at war with the
prosperity and best interests Of the country?