Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-10-15


this annihilatien of Union majority Of
nearly two to one in the Legislature? We
frankly confess that the great cause of
Union loss was the commitment of the
Union party to negro suffrage. Much must
be allowed, doubtless, to the thorough or
ganizstion of the Democratic party, and to
ifs ibcessant work. Every Democratic
vote In the State was polled, and every
waverer was reached and piled with every
possible argument. Something must be
charged, also. against the comparative in
efficiency of our own State Central Com
mittee, who were very slow about getting
tor work, and made many omissions aud
blunders. Something, again, must be laid
to the violence and indiscretiOns of some
Union speakers. We think that the Union
party toould hGue polled three or four thou
sand more .ootes u Senator Wade had been
kept quiet, and Senator Chandler of Mich
igdn had stayed at home. The general
and prevalent idea among the more ig-
norant Germans, too, that the Republican
party was in some way committed to an
anti-Iager policy, contributed somehow to
our losses, but. after all, the great weight
which bore down our party was the negro.
The returns OF the election demonstrate
that the prejudice of color is yet strong in
Ohio, and in the Republican party, and
wherever it was the strongest we find tie
Democratic gains the largest. The Demo-
cratic counties and the Southern OHIO
counties. where the inhabitants are mainly
immigrants from the Southern States, and
where pegro Immigration is dreaded,
have shown immense Democratic gains
solely on this issue. Strong Republican
counties have been reyolutionized, and are
now Democratic. And throughout the
State the returns convince US that Preju-
dice has overcome Reason, aud, that the
position Of the Republican party in favor
Of equal Justice has been an element of its
weakness ~ XfsVI 3TfTt5
The second cause of our defeat is the
plausible argument of the Democratic
speakers in favor of paying off the national
bonds and the general feeling that our
taxation is onerous, which hasbeen artfil-
ly fostered by every Democratic speaker in
the country. The masses are not financiers
or political economists; and the Democratic
proposition, ludicrously rotten and illogi-
cal as it is. has gained them votes among
the poor ~ s-s Jfll y '
os Such are the causes of this Democratic
gain In Ohio. Its lessons are worth ponder
Ing. And first let us declare that we are
not ready, as some weakened and whey
bloodedS Republicans are, to abandon the
Equal Suffrage principle. though we con-
fess it has helped to diminish our majority.
We believe it right, and, though a majori-
ty of the people of Ohio have voted against
it, we propose to convert them to the right
In the future. 1--WE are going back into
those camps" as Sheridan said at Cedar
Greek, We propose to pick the flint and
try 1t again. The principle of Equal SUI
frage is just and sound; it is the vital issue
with the Republican party, and we shall
not abandon it because of one defeat.
The great lesson of the canvass should
be the necessity of unity and harmony in
the Republican party. We must act to-
gether, we must ostracize nobody, we must
give up private and personal animosities,
and work together for a common triumph.
We have been so strong for the past ten
years that many Republicans have in
dulged in quarrels, factions have sprung
up, struggles for Office have alienated
Union men, and the siren 9Th of the party
has been injured by private dissensions.
We must stop all this. We must welcome
to the party all who are willing to act with
us now, without criticizing their record in
the past. We must nominate our best
men-we cannot afford, as the election has
taught US, to bear the burden of corrupt,
dishonest or incapable nominees for office.
We must not meddle with side issues. We
must stand shoulder to shoulder. for the
Union party and the Union principles. The
Union party of Ohio has been in majority
toe long for its own best good. q A partial
defeat and the rule of Democratic Legis-
lature, will helpit.
'ro1i IFrom the Toledo Blade, of Oct. III 'rq
THE Coon THERE Is IN IT.-The Repub-
lioan party has met with an overwhelming
defeat, both In Ohio and Pennsylvania. In
Pennsylvania, our 1900 maiority has van
ished, and in Ohio, If we elect our State
ticket at all, it will be by q majority so
small as to be hardly worth the counting.
All this is bad, but troubles are frequently
blessings in disguise, and we firmly believe
that this infliction will so eventuate. 1t Is
not the first time, in the history of the Re-
publican party, that we have been beaten,
nor will it probably be the last
In Ohio the Republican organization
had become too powerful for its
own good. The majorities of 100,-
600 for Brough, 10000 for Cox and
$4,000 last tall, gave US such confidence in
our ability to succeed under any and all
circumstances, that the best men of the or
ganization became careless. This is always
one result of continued success. In addi-
ton to this there was another element of
weakness that grew out OF the strength OF
the party, The impracticables-the men
of various hobbies who were kept In our
ranks by stress of iwar-as soon as the
pressure was removed which kept them
pulling straight, began to demand the use
Of the party to carry out their peculiar
ideas. This one wanted this, and another
that Incorporated into the Republican
creed, and when repulsed they lost interest
in its success. ,4r
sAidefeat was needed. The lazy and in
different Republicans will, under the stim
uius of disaster, get back the vigor that
characterized the early history of the par
ty, and will, until another series of sue
cesses enervates them, attend to the per-
formance of their duties. The men of
hobbies, seeing the impossibility of sad
fdIin0 10 MOI ~ vuith nfhnr than ito 1o-
gitimate business, will hold their hands
until the great mission of the party is ac-
complished, and, as during the war, har-
monize with those who agree with them
upon the main issue. though differing wide
ly upon other questions. We shall have no
more side issues introduced.
Purified by defeat, and made painfully
conscious of the danger staring us in the
face, the Republican party will go forward
next year to certain victory. The election
of Republican President is a necessity 80
imperative as to admit of no divisions, and
the defeat this fall will force us to the ef-
fort necessary to do it and do it WE'LL
True, our work would have been easier had
we won the field this fall; but victories cas-
lily gained are seldom improved. We need
ed the outside pressure to bind us closer to-
gether.
Let no Republican despair. Recollect,
the defeat of Fremont in 1856 was followed
by the electionpf Lincoln in 1860, and the
disaster of 1852 was made more glorious by
the brilliant victory of 1868. We shall go
forward steadily until the great principle
Of Liberty and Equality triumphs In every
State, and until all the offshoots of despot-
ism are laid in the grave with their parent,
slavery. There's a'good time coming.
CONSCIENCE is generally an unerring
monitor, but the trouble Is that it only
troubles the small criminals, whilst large
ones do not seem to be afraid of it. In
France it Is reported that, at Rouen. a sim
gular act of restitution has taken place.