The Washington union., 1857-10-03
THE AppRoAcHINa ELECTION IN ONO

1t may be observed that the results of the general
elections of Ohio are attracting attention
than formerly. This is undoubtedly, in some de-
gree, attributable to her wonderfully increasing
numerical strength, if may use the phrase but
il must be chiefly ascrbed TO her relative local posi-
ton as integral member Of the Union This is pc
culiarly noticeable at the present uncture when con-
certed and widespread efforts making to divide
the people of the confederacy on questions which,
years ago, Washington characterized as "geograph-
cal'
For though Ohio is frontier State, yet it cannot
but strike rejecting men that she may be well es-
teemed in some respects the political focus of the
Union. There, as to common centre, the various
political and social influences which make and mark
American character converge. And herein lies, per-
haps the solution of her varying elections. While,
on one side she feels the influences of the East touch
ing as she does the two greatest States OF the
Atlantic confederation, the other she joins hands
with the great West, which has all the distinguish
ing features of the generous and genial spirit of the
South, from which she is only separated by her own
cherished river. And thus the present status of
politics. combined with her peculiar position, gives
to her coluing election something more than nor
NAL interest and Importance.
To the republic at large it may seem OF no direct
concern whether not the treasury OF Ohio becomes
"a den of thieves ~ nor may it personally and
at once affect remoter States should Ohio elect
governor and Legislature whose avowed purpose is
to incite and keep up an intestine war in distant
Territory, while availing themselves OF every OPP
portunty to bring the State and federal authorities
into angry collision at home is it even probable
that single elector in Maine or Louisiana would
sleep less soundy upon hearing that the people of
Ohio had solemnly at the polls recognised equality
with the negro.
It seems, however, almost impossible but that the
rejecting voters of Ohio realizing that they are
part of common Union, deeply impressed with
the Importance of the coming election and the in
fuences its results will exert not only within but
without their immediate State organization Before
the whole country they must soon determine to
either rebuke or honor peculation-to denounce or
to commend the prostitution of State power for the
unhallowed purposes of disunion-to sink contented
ly to the level of the negro, or to vindicate with
their votes the claims of superior and higher
order of civilization.
So far as we may augur from the press there is no
particular excitement shown in that State, either by
the democracy or their opponents. In fact, the
memory of the allabsorbing of last year is
as yet too recent to expect any great manifestations
of enthusiasm by either party. The elections of
1857 have been distinguished accordingly through
out the Union by the comparative quetness in which
- box Off fba
stion having in every poll sustained heavy numeri-
cal losses. In neither point, most probably, will
Ohio be an exception to the rule. There is, indeed
stiffness, but it is the pause before the thunder
storm, which shall purify the political atmosphere
The events which have distinguished the advent and
continuance of blackrepubGcan rule have been
so remarkable as to attract attention in another
hemisphere. The bonds of the first State of the
West have, under Gov. Chases administration sunk
from lib to 90 cents the dollar. The most alarm
ing defalcation yet known in American history has
become part of her history. Her State government
has come in disgraceful and unsuccessful collision
with the central government, and meanwhile her
whole financial machinery has become deranged, al
most beyond the power of repair. Folly and fraud
have alike run riot in of noblest States, and
her credit trembles and falls in the scale.
1t was in 1914 that first the opponents of democ-
racy seized upon the negro question as an opening
wedge to divide the Union. Those opponents, con-
yened at Hartford became imperishably Infamous,
it is true but their policy and principles, like the
plague in garments lived to contaminate the air of
the republic. Twenty years afterwards the disease
again showed itself in the first organized strife be-
tween the dominant and the servie race. The story
of its gradual spread need not be repeated here. 1t
was reserved however for the black-republicans of
Ohio for the first time-may it be the last Ito de-
clare by it's presses and orators the absolute social
and political equality of whites and blacks.
The voice of Iowa has already been heard on the
minor issue of qualified suffrage, and the tremendous
falling off of republican ballots at the recent Maine
and Vermont elections on issues less broad, it is
true, but still kindred to this, leave little room
for doubt as to the result in Ohio.
And we may congratulate the democracy of Ohio
on being the first dvision--the advanced guard of
the grand armyto meet this question, satisfied as we
are that victory, partial or complete, awaits them 1t
is true that we lost the State last year from
obvious as not to demand recital. Even then the
democratic party "went into the Reserve with
orty gilmore than 700. The former stronghold ofour
party however-the backbone us. 1t is
not so now In former times the democrats of Ohio