Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-04-03

r.
For the frst tma since the organisation Of
the Republican party, have we suffered a dis
astrous defeat at our city election. The
causes which have led to this state Of affairs
are numeroua and some Of then, we must
say, are humiliating.
The Democracy, knowing their inability to
carry the election under their true colors,
adopted the ruse Of getting up what they
called Union tieket-a ticket composed en-
tirely Of Democrats who sympathized with
the Disunion wing of the party at the South.
Under this title they succeeded, undoubtedly,
in getting many OF that class known as float
ing voters, whose hearts are not in our great
cause, but who vote with what they think
viii be the winning side.
Another, and primary cause of our defeat,
was the total want Of Organization Of the
party. We recently came out CT Presi-
Dental election with an overwhelming ma
jority, which begat feeling Of security
amongst the Republicans which was not
justified by the facts in the case. Each and
every man Of the party depended upon others
to do what be should have led OF in doing.
The result was, there were no chanengers at
some Of the pOlls-ne Republicans On hand
to help organize the polls-and in some eases
there were no tickets on the ground at the
time Of the opening of the polls, and none
were brought till after seven O'Clock. Hence
it is not surprising that we should have lost
many votes from this cause.
Then, again, some disappointed Republi-
cans, who had expected to be nominated for
some Of the Offices, turned around in their
spite and helped circulate "UniOn tickets"
working in this way all day, much to their
discredit
Another cause was the extraordinary
amount Of scratching" that was done by the
different Republican candidates. For lie
stance the candidate for Street COmmis-
sioner was known to be peddling Democratic
tickets with his name in place Of Russell's.
Another ticket peddler, friend Of the Re-
publican candidate for Mayor, getting indig-
nant at the apparent selfzhness of the candi-
date for Stseet Commissioner in working for
the election of himself and the Democratic
ticket forthwith commenced scratching of
the wonld-be Street Commissioners name
from his pile Of tickets, and thus it was that
the different candidates sacrificed each other
hoping thereby to forward their own cleo
ton. This feature in the election was an
extraordinary one, as was evidenced in the
fact that there were more scratched and split
Republican tickets in the ballot-bo1es than
there were straight ones. Hence, many Re-
publicans were made to vote the Democratic
ticket indirectly. LI HG
The Democratic candidate for Mayor was a
man who could command more votes, prOba-
bly,, than any other man in their party. His
personal popularity took very many votes
which any other candidate could not have
received.
A stormy day is proverbially bad for the
Republicans. This does not reflect much
credit upon their enterprise or patriotism,
but it is nevertheless true, and Monday last
was one Of the most disagreeable days of the
season.
These reasons combined to defeat the Re-
publican ticket not, we admit without some
Others which we do not touch upon to-day.
We must not be disheartened by this defeat,
but prepare for another campaign. Let US
gain wisdom by an experiences and see to it
that when the next election day comes
around, we are prepared to meet the enemy
and come out with flying cOlors.