National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-15
THE OCTOBER BLBCTTONs


The main interest in the October cleo
tons centered in Ohio. At this writing
the returns are still meagre, but sufficient
have been received to confirm the belief
that the State has gone Democratic, and
that the opposition has succeeded in elect
ing a larger number of Representatives in
Congress than it was expected, up to even
the day of election, they would elect All
the indications are that the State has gone
Democratic by about twelve thousand ma
jority, which is the figure by which Allen
was elected Governor q year ago. This
is the second time that Ohio has gone
Democratic since the Republican party
was organized, and, disguise it how
we may, the fact is significant. The
contest, however, was waged on private
and personal grounds, rather than upon
broad national issues; so that we still have
the faith that at heart the State is Republi-
can, and would 50 record her verdict m a
struggle involving national matters. The
enemies of the party viii endeayor to make
all the capital possible out of the result; we
shall be pointed to the example she has just
given all over the Union; but the slightest
consideration of the situation will show
how groundless and how futile is all the
boasting which we shall undoubtedly be
compelled to hear.
The defeat in that State is due not so
much to 8 distrust of or a dissatisfaction
with the party, nationally considered, as
to a feeling Of personal hostility and ami
mostly towards some of the men who led
the party. Take, for instance, Mr.. Par
sons his re election was counted upon as
certain. His district was strongly Republi-
can, but he was nevertheless defeated. Does
any one doubt that if a man of unimpeach-
able integrity had been nominated in his
place; if a pure and upright Republican
had been selected to lead the party in the
Congress campaign IN his district he would
have been elected? Mr.. Parsons was not a
man Of that character, and he was beaten
by several thousand votes. Independent
Republican journals like the Cincinnati
Gazette opposed him bitterly, and thou
sands Of Republicans, who would have
been glad to support man of the same
political faith, with a somewhat different
personal record, voted against and defeated
him. Socially and personally Mr.. Parsons
is a very nice gentleman; very popular
and plausible man; but he lacks the ele-
ments essential to make him a good and
faithful Representative, and he has been
beaten. But in the Twentieth (Ohio) dis
trict it was not the Republican party that
was beaten, but dick" Parsons, and all
that the name Of Dick Parsons stands for
lack Of personal integrity and general I'M
scrupulousness and infidelity. The sooner
the party ceases to be responsible for men
like him the better will il be for it, and the
stronger will it become.
Tie contest in Indiana seems to have
been very close. In 1872 the State was
carried for Governor Hendricks by over
twenty-five thousand majority. These
figures the Democrats have not been able
TO maintain. The main contest was over
the Legislature, which viii elect United
States Senator in the place of Mr.. Pratt,
whose term expires in 1875, but all &C
counts seem to agree that the opportunity
ofsendiRg Mr.. Hendricks back to his old
place has been lost. That was the princi-
pal prize in the canvass, and that the Dem.
ocrats have lost. The reelection Of Mr..
Holman is Democratic victory, because it
was supposed that his district would GER
tainly give 3 Republican majority. In
him, however, and in Mr.. Kerr. who it
would appear has been elected, the country
has gained the services of two good and
efficient men. Indiana always has been
Maynard and uncertain State, and so far
as the late contest goes the honors appear
to be pretty evenly divided A large num-
Der Of special and general questions en-
tered into the campaign-national, local
and personal, and in these days of lax party
discipline It is really difficult to write with
any degree Of certainty upon the subject.
There is, however, no ground for alarm so
far as the Republican party is concerned.
1t has more than held its own, and is prob
ably stronger TO day in the State than it
has been for several years.
Iowa stands nobly up to her old Repub-
Lean record, while Nebraska records vic
tory on the same side. The elections in
West Virginia, Arkansas and Dakota were
Of minor importance, and they viii not,
however they may have gone, affect the
canvass IN other States.
As We said in the beginning, the Repub-
lican party should have carried Ohio, and
the fact caunot be concealed thst it is
serious setback to the party elsewhere
One Of the most intelligent States in the
T1nior-tbe Massachusetts, of the West
Ii Is painful to think that majority Of her