The New York herald., 1876-09-23
The October Elections I'm Ohio and
Indiana.

Indiana.
Both parties are sufficiently alive to the
great Importance of the elections which are
to take place in these two States on the Sec
ond Tuesday in October. If the republi-
cans should carry them both or the demo-
Gratis should carry both the Presidential
contest will be virtually decided on that
day. Until within the last two weeks it has
been generally believed that Ohio would
certainly 60 republican and that the
result in Indiana was doubtful. While
this opinion prevailed both parties
were preparing to make a great con-
centration of effort in Indiana, the repub-
licans in the hope that the battle might be
decided by the preliminary skirmish, the
democrats in the fear that they would lose all
if they should lose Indiana. But within the
last week or two Ohio has become so doubtful
that Indiana has ceased to be the chief point
of interest, for the republicans could not
afford to lose Mr.. Hayes own State, even if
they should take Indiana away from Hen
dricks.
The republicans carried Ohio last year by
n majority SO small that they thought it poll
tic ut the very outset to organize the cam
paign with view to strengthen the party in
that State, which now, for the first time,
takes the old place of Pennsylvania in the
van of the Presidential contest. Since
Pennsylvania amended her constitution,
two years ago, changing her State election
to November, Ohio has become the most i'm
portant of the October States, and the party
that carries it will get formidable start in
the great national race. 1t was with view
to this coveted advantage that the Republican
National Convention was held in Cincinnati,
and it was one of the strongest reasons for
nominating Hayes But if, after ALL the re-
publicans should lose that State their cam
paign will be found to have been organized
on false basis. 1t is damaging blow in a
Presidential canvass to have it ascertained in
advance that the candidate at the head Of
the ticket cannot carry his own State. In a
case like the present in which Governor
Hayes was nominated because he was
thought to be the one man who would GER
tainly give Ohioto the republicans, itwould
be exceptionally mortifying and discourag-
ing to find this expectation disappointed on
the first trial. 1t is not yet at all certain
that the republican party will be put in so
bad a position but the fact that Ohio has so
suddenly been tran ferred from the list of as
suredly republican to the list of doubtful
States is calculated to excite anxiety, if not
alarm, among the republican leaders.
We print this morning a letter from a
correspondent whom we have sent to Ohio
to survey the ground and who, besides
giving his own impressions, reports con-
versations which he has had with SEN
ator Thurman and General Ewing, on
the democratic side, and with Senator Sher-
man on the republican side. Messrs. Thur
man and Ewing agree in thinking that if the
election were held to-day victory would
perch on the democratic standard. AS they
were interviewed separately, and as each
had more confidence that the democrats
could carry the State at present than that
they could carry it on the 10th of October
they virtually concede that it is quite possi-
BILE for the republicans to retrieve their
chances. The truth would seem to be that
over-confdence, taking it for granted that
the State was so safe that they d not need
to put forth any great efforts They have
been suddenly awakened to q sense
Of their danger, and vigorous
canvass for the remaining two or
three weeks may enable them to recover lost
ground. But it seems pretty clear that they
have no great confidence in their ability to
do so otherwise they would not take so
much pains to show that the loss Of the State
in October would not prevent Hayes from
carrying it in November. They, Of course,
profess belief that they will succeed in
October but if they felt really sure they
would not need to "hedge." Senator Sher-
man said to our correspondent that "the
October election here is always mixed up
affair = but he expressed great confidence
respecting the result in November. "Then
you are confident" said our correspondent,
"about the result in November" ?" To which
Senator Sherman replied, II am, indeed, so
far as Ohio is concerned There isn't a
shadow of doubt of a great republican
majority"
But we incline to think that if the
democrats carry the State in October they
will also carry it in November. General
Ewing seems to concede that the Ohio
democrats will support their State ticket
with more zeal and unity than their national
ticket. General" asked our correspond
ent. ''where are the greenback men GO
ing?' He answered, "They will vote the
State ticket in October-that is the most of
them will; in fact, nearly all of them will
But in November they will be less likely to
give an active support to the Presidential
ticket" We must not overlook the fact that
General Ewing had personal interest to
snhserve in giving this oninion He is a