The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-18
The Ohio Democracy.

would have belonged to it if the new con-
stitution OF Pennsylvanla had not post
poned its annual election to November,
The only really great State which con-
tinues to hold elections in October
is Ohio, and the well known effect
of preliminary party victory on the ensuing
general contest will make the political battle
in Ohio this year the most important that has
ever occurred in that most populous,
wealthy and influential State of the West
Pennsylvania having relinquished her old
position as the keystone" of our politics
and taken her place with the great mass
of States which hold their elections on the
same day, Ohio comes TO the front rank
of influence as marking the set of the
political tide and controlling the public
judgment of political probabilities The effect
of the Ohio election on the November contests
will be tremendous, because this one
State is now invested with the i'm
portance which formerly belonged to it
and Pennsylvania. The division OF political
forces between these two States is no longer
necessary, and both the administration and
the opposition will concentrate their efforts
this year upon the campaign in Ohio.
The hopes Of parties in the great Presiden-
tial struggle Of next year viii sink or rise in
proportion 10 their success in Ohio
next October. If the republicans
should carry the State they will
have arrested the great "tidal wave
which proved so disastrous last year, and
they will have q reasonable prospect
OF recovering lost ground IN other
States in the Immediately following November
contests and of reinvigorating their party for
the Presidential campaign. But if, on the
other hand, the democrats should keep all
they gained in Ohio last year, and
increase their strength the country will re-
gard such a result as the knell of republican
ascendancy. A crushing defeat in Ohio would
so discourage and demoralize the republi-
cans that the November elections would
60 by default, and the party would be as good
as beaten before it enters the Presiden-
tial contest With SO much at stake
on both sides the Ohio campaign
bids fair to he one of the liyeliest
and most energetic that has ever taken
place in our politics. All the strength of
the administration and all the strength
of the opposition will be strenuously
exerted to secure victory on which 50 much
depends. Ohio is the key Of the Presidential
campaign, and the battle will he fought on
both Sides with a strenuous desperation pro-
portioned to the value OF the result.
The two parties in Ohio are pretty equally
matched, and neither has any reason
to b discouraged aside from the
blunders OF their leaders. Two years
ago Governor Allen was elected by
a plurality OF less than a thousand, and
there was temperance vote Of moro than
ten thousand, consisting, Of course, Of repub-
licans; for the democratic party has never
favored prohibition. II the temperance re-
publcans had voted with their party
Governor Allen would have been de-
fsated by a large majority. Last year
tho democratic majority in Ohio was seven
teen thousand, but the total vote of
the State was eighty-seven thousand
less than in 1872, showing that the demo-
cratic majority resulted from the failure
Of large body Of republicans TO participate
out this year, and should act with their old
associates, a republican victory would be easy
in spite OF last years ''tidal wave"
The position Of the Ohio democrats is en-
barrassIng in consequence OF their views on
the great question Of the currency. A ma
iority Of them are arrant infatonists.
The financial heresies Of his own State arr a
source Of great embarrassment to Senator
Thurman, who needs the support Of the Ohio
democrats in the Presidential Convention. but
knows that lie has 10 chance Of an election to
the Presidency on an imitation platform.
The imitation tendency of the Ohio democrats
is their weak point Sunset Cox has been
gcncy, and hc made one Of his
most witty and captivating speeches
at Columbus on Wednesday evening.
lie il popular with the Ohio democrats and it
was a good stroke Of policy 10 bring him
back to his cd State to smooth the
way for Thurman by acting as q
missionary among the financial hea-
then. II was foreseen that it would
be fatal to the democratic party at large for
the Ohio Convention TO adopt an imitation
platform, and Humans friends played
good card in bringing Cox back among his
old admirers to smooth down the difficulties
Of the situation.
Unfortunately, Mr.. Cox has had no success
as a missionary. The platform adopted yes
terday IS about a. square-iooted a piece
Of initiation absurdity as could have been
expressed This platform is AZ least honest
It expresses, without subterluge or trim
ming. the real views, not only Of the
democracy Of Ohio but Of most Of the West
ern States. II is quite possible that the dem
ocrats may carry the Ohio election On this rre-
posterous platform, for the republicans Of the
West are also infected with the initiation