Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-10-14
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES,
OF OHIO.
WILLIAM A. WHEELER,
OF NEW YORK.
(From the New York Tribune, l2th.)
Ohio and Indiana.

Ohio and Indiana.
There seems to be no doubt that Ohio
has gone republican. SO much OF positive
fact at least may be rescued from The
wreck of estimates and conjectures. The
figures of the majority are still in the
clouds, but they are not necessary. 1t is
enough that the republicans have pulled
through with an unpopular candidate tor
the leading office, and have saved State
which few days ago the democrats were
counting on as pretty surely their own.
1t is certain, also, that in both Ohio and
Indiana the republicans have made gains
in congressman at a rate which, if sus-
tanned In other States, will recover for
them the control Of the popular branch
of the National legislature. As to lndi-
ana, both sides have claimed 1t and each
has given it up at intervals during the
past twenty-four hours. and perhaps the
safest thing that can be said about it I'M
der the circumstances is that the State is
very close and the result doubtful, and
very likely nothing but the official returns
will'decide it. With regard to the State
elections proper in these two great Octo-
Der States, the democrats can hardly lay
claim to anything that can furnish the
faintest prestige of success in November.
They have counted largely on defeating
the republican candidate for Secretary of
State In Ohio upon the score of his being
specially unpopular on account of his
views upon the question Of prohibition.
They have been sorely disappointed in
that result. All their effort and all their
money-and there is no doubt that ther
have expended money lavishly in the
S,ate-have been in vain. The republi-
cans. In spite of unfavorable circumstan-
ces-against which they will not have to
contend in Novemper-have elected their
State ticket. 1t is true that they have been
driven to their trumps, and have been Sc
riously frightened. but they have won.
and In that fact they find their compen-
sation, for 1t insures them the State be-
yond peradventure in November.
In Indiana the democrats had all the
chances in their favor. Their candidate
for Vice President is the present Govern
or, and without doubt their most popular
man. They had the advantage of being
or seemed to be on the popular side Gin
Indiana) of the currency question. They
had a sure majority of the voters,
according to all the late election returns
and they had made an active canvass. had
used money freely. and left no stone I'M
turned to keep the State in the democratic
line. Circumstances could not have been
more favorable to them. 1t seemed al
most madness a few weeks ago for the re-
publicans TO claim that there was any
possibility, even the remotest, of saving
the State. All the indications, from the
conditions of politics down TO the betting
In the pool rooms, were most favorable to-
the democrats, and up to last week it
seemed almost certain that the State
would be democratic. The man who Sc
riously predicted anything else was wild.
And yet here is Indiana in doubt
thirty-six hours after the event, with the
chances, it is true-if we may depend on
the balance of conflicting reports-in ia
vor of the democrats. but with the prob
ability of a majority either way too small
to interfere much with the effect of the re-
publican victory in Ohio, or the general
drift In favor of Hayes. These facts.
taken at the best for the democrats, are
anything but encouraging. They see of
course that the force OF the tidal wave on
which they ran majority into the present
congress Is entirely spent. They cannot
help seeing that the Intense desire for a
change upon which they counted so much.
and which is understood to be Gov. Til
denis sheet anchor, is not to be counted
on to bring them into power; and il prob
ably by this time begins to dawn upon
them that the great two-horse act of rid
log on hard money at the east and soft
money at the west Is not brilliant and
distinguished success. What with the
change in congressional delegations and
the republican victory In Ohio, and-to
say the least--the depressing uncertainty
as to Indiana, our democratic friends have
but little 10 comfort them. Defeat, GER
tain and inevitable, stares them in the
face.
Asslos ahe effect upon the Presidential
elecffer. here can hardly he two opinions.
Gov. 1flden's candidacy. as is we'll known
to every observant person who has any
knowledge of politics and politicians. has