Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-18
The October Elections.

1t is stating the truth in the uildest terms |
when we say that the interest of the whole
country centered upon last weeks elections
in Ohio and Indiana. BY many such results |
were looked for as would virtually settle the
Presidential election. Had both these states
gone Republican by decisive majorities, the
question of General Hayes election would
seem to have been well assured aud an adj
verse result would almost as surely have
followed democratic victory in both states.
But the Presidential election was not to be
settled by these elections. 1t remains an
open question, and is to be fought out to the
bitter end, virtually in the state of New
York.
Ohio has always been considered Repub-
lican state, though sometimes sweryed from
its normal condition by discussions and local
matters. The democrats have made strong
fight this year. knowing that to carry Cover
nor Hayes own state would elect Tilden to
moral certainty in November. A great
deal of work has been done, and money has
been freely spent. The Germans have been
repealed TO on the temperance issue, and
every string has been pulled which could
possibly prejudice the ignorant masses
against any part of the Republican ticket.
The result however is q severe blow to the
prospects Of democracy. The full Republi-
can state ticket is elected by about nine
thousand majority, and there cannot be the
slightest doubt of much larger majority
at the national election. Four members of
Congress were also gained
The result in Indiana was a very prac-
tical defeat of the democrats, though they
have elected their state ticket, including
Williams for Governor, by slender ma
iority. The amount of speaking, noise and
campaign rallying throughout the entire
state has been something marvellous. The
democrats have confidently boosted that
they were sure to get at least ten thousand
majority, while the most the Republicans
reasonably expected was to run in their
nominee for Governor--General Harrison
which they came very near doing. Indiana
| mas always peeh capflciOus STATE IN loou
it went for Lincoln, but two years later,
when the nation needed its support and vote,
it went democratic by nearly ten thousand
majority. The next five years the Republ-
cans held the state, with majorties ranging
from one to twenty-one thousand. In 1870
the democrats again carried the election.
The most wonderful turn over was in 1872,
when in October it went democratic by one
thousand three hundred aud thirty-seven, on
the heaviest vote ever cast, while in Novem-
Der, it gave Grant a majority of over twenty
one thousand over Greeley, on a reduced
vote. For the past two elections the demo
Gratis have carried the state. If the state
could not be carried by them, this year, by a
large majority, with all the concessions made
for soft money, with Hendricks as Governor
and the most fanatical appeals, there is
every prospect that the state will repeat its
vagary of four years ago, and November
will witness Republican victory. Last
year the democrats had eight Congressman
to five Republicans. The Republicans now
have nine and the democrats four.