Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-10-26
The Recent Elections,

~ weighed, will be found exceedingly dam
aging to the Democratic party. The mere
disappointment Of failure in Ohio, and of sue
cess by very slender majority if at all in In
diana, will count for much. The most des-
perate efforts had been made. All the argu-
ments and all the campaign tricks which the
party had at command were employed, with
marvellous organization, abundance of money,
and great skill in fraud. Yet the majority in
Ohio is certainly larger than it was last year,
and in Indiana the Democrats have not held
their advantage In both States they have
lost on Congressman. The electoral vote of
Ohio, and of every other Western State, with
the possible exception of Indiana, will go
to Gov. Hayes. But this is not all. There
are other considerations which will powerful
" affect public opinion in New York, Con-
necticut, and New-Jersey, where the battle is
now to be fought.
l. Nothing but the extreme repudiating
wing of the party has prevailed, if there has
been Democratic success in Indiana. That
State, immeasurably worse than any other in
respect to the currency question and the pub
lie credit, has been carried, if at ali, only by
demagogue whose sympathy with the worst
Democratic element made him strong in that
State, as it would have made him weak in
those which are now to decide the contest.
The worst and most dangerous end of the
party gains the upper hand. Precisely be-
cause the party can win, in such State as
Indiana, and with such candidate as Will
liams, it will be the weaker in New York.
IL In few cities in Ohio great gains were
made by the Democrats through the temper
ance question, and the stories widely circu-
lated at very late hour respecting the atti-
tude of Gov. Hayes toward foreign-born
voters. In New York, New Jersey, and Con-
necticut the temperance issue cannot be raised,
and there will be ample time to make the po-
sition of Gov. Hayes thoroughly known. The
remarkable gains which the Republicans made
in the rural districts of Ohio, even in compar-
ison with the enormous vote of last year, indi-
cate that similar gains may be expected in
Eastern States. An equally strong Republi-
can vote in either of the close Eastern States,
with similar gains over the heaviest vote ever
polled by that party, would insure Republican
victory in all.
III. At the West, the voters of German ma
t;vity have usually voted with the Republi.
cans. and those who were influenced to vote
against Gov Hayes counted as loss to that
party and as gain to the Democrats. 1t is
not probable that the same weak stories can
be used with effect month hence, but even
if they should be, the German vote in the
Eastern States has been mainly Democratic.
". 1t is not at all certain that the electoral
vote of Indiana can be secured for MIR. Tilden.
Mr.. Hendricks carried that State in 1872 by
1900 majority, but 10000 Democrats refused
to vote for Mr.. Greeley in November, and
Grants majority was over 81, 900. 1t is quite
possible that the extreme infiationists, VINO
were enthusiastic for Williams, may be less
hearty in support of the electoral ticket. MIR.
Hendricks himself, because of his trimming,
has not been popular with this class of fanat,
les. They have been educated to hate MIR.
Tilden and the New York Democracy, and II
would not be surprising if one in hundred OF
them should refuse to vote in November next
as one in eight of the Indians Democrats did
refuse to vote in 1872. But loss of less than
one per cent. of their total vote would appar-
emily insure Republican victory.
V. Finally, the most disheartening fact to
/ the Democrats is now conclusively establish
ed, namely, that the hard times, the demand
for change, and the cry of reform, product
no effect whatever. The Republicans hole
eyery State at the North which they carried
prior to the election in 1872; they show I
much more united and solid array; they poll
larger vote, and manifest greater confidenc
and determination. But the Democrats hav
relied with absolute confidence upon. the CT.
of reform, the hard times, and the desire for
change.
These being important, as the elections Il
Maine and Vermont, Indiana and Ohio con
clusively prove, the Democrats will presenti
begin to understand that it is the same oil
fight over again, upon issues which have ne'
er failed to secure Republican victory, again'
} Republican party strengthened by thousand
of Liberals and Independents who have
times opposed it. The dream OF it'd
wave" mehs away. Disgust, disheartenmen
: conviction that defeat is inevitable, will tax
possession OF Democratic minds in spite of a
the boasts Of leaders. Reform and the har
: times were their strong cards, and they fai
l 1t will not do for Republicans to be over-col
.. fident. They have.a hard fight before the
: in this State. But it will be tl:elr own fau
8 If they do not triumph.-TN. Y. fri6r..e.