Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-07-04

Forewarned is Foresrmed.
m the Columbus Journal. June 2eth.

| F0rewnrned ts FOreermeds
From the Columbus journal, June 2eth.
We may confidently expect from our
political opponents this year the appli-
cation of new system ofparty strategy,
| and the most consummate energy and
skill in carrying 1t out. To be apprised
OF the plans of the enemy in advance Is
to insure their defeat. Ifthey find them
selves met at every point by vigilant
and powerful force, theiFffailure Is iren-
dered certain. For this reason we wish
to call the attention of our friends to
some points already known of sufficient
significance to indicate their policy, that,
being forewarned we may be forearmed.
The Democratic party IN Ohio have no
more expectation Of electing their State
ticket this fall than they had of electing
Mr.. Vallandigham in 1858, or Gen. Nor.
gan in 1855. The more honest members
of the party admit this without hesita-
ton. They know that Judge Thurman
will be defeated by a majority ranging
somewhere about forty thousand. They
are making great preparations for can
vassing the State, raising large amount
OF money, calling out their best talent
for the labor of the campaign, and pre-
pairing generally for hard work. Yet
notwithstanding this, we repeat it, they
have no expectation of carrying their
State ticket. The contest SO far as that
party is concerned will really be to gain
a majority in the Legislature, and while
Judge Thurman Is nominally canvass
ing the State for Governor, he ia really
canvassing for seatin the United States
Senate.
1t may be doubted that this is the cor
rect theory of the Democratic campaign,
but there exists evidence sufficient, even
at this early stage of the canvass, to con-
I yfs.d ea..f N.. ~.
place, Notwithstanding the well known
knavery of our opponents, no one can
fairly charge them with being fools, at
least with being such great fools as an
expectation of electing Governor in
1867 would argue. They would never
organize and work as they are doing upon
any such hopeless task. Then we see
them bringing out as their candidates
for the Legislature the very first men
of the party. Men of talent, wealth and
influence, who are expected to exert
every energy for their own election. For
example, In Musilingum County they
Hon. Ed. Ball. The first an ex-senator,
ex-candidate for Congress, ex-candidate
for Governor, and President ofa railroad
company whose line extends through
five counties, two of which they hope
to change this fall. He is an old party
hack, with plenty of money, and the
control of large number of railroad EN-
ployes that are voters, and may be voted
at several different precincts on the line
of the road. He will also doubtless have
the influence of one of the largest railroad
lines in the country to his assistance, and
to the help of the party in Belmont
County, where the issue may be regarded
as doubtful. Mr.. Ball is well known as
political manipulation of great skill,
who attained all he has through the
Union party, which he deserted during
the war with competency. He has
control of the public works in his Coun-
ty, on which heavy repairs are being
made which will require the presence of
large gangs of workmen for some time
to come. These will be powerful in o
| County where we elected our represen-
tatives two years ago by less than one
hundred majority, and should admonish
our friends there to be up and doing if
they would successfully resist this strong
combination. Mr.. Jewett was defeated
in that County ins1S6l, notwithstanding
the possession of all the appliances we
have referred to, and he can be again in
1866.
In the Guernsey district they iilbring
out Hon. VIM. Lawrence, an ex-Con-
gressman of large wealth and talent, not
D>N"s''S ''''p "iotiiSp uOuOb-
ful, but to have the advantage of his
| wealth and influence in other counties
adjoining, where it can be made availa-
BILE. These instances we have mention
ed are but straws which indicate the
course of the Democratic current. II
Will be found hereafter that in all the
doubtful counties similar nominations
are made, and everything will be subor-
dinated to the great object of carrying
the next Legislature.
Here is the lesson in all this for the
Union party. "It is right to he taught
by an enemy" We must follow their
example, and so far as is consistent use
their tactics. The policy of selecting
tirst-class men for the Legislature has
been too long neglected, and should be
at once adopted, and we will thank the
opposition for inaugurating q policy so
much needed If it will compel the dom
inant party to do the same.