New-York tribune., 1876-10-10

Ohio. Indiana. and West Virginia hold their
State elections to-day. All three states have
been thoroughly canyasScd by both parties,
Int tbe ereotcst interest is felt in the result
in Indiana. the closest OF the three. There the
campaign has been hottest, and the field most
vigorously contested. Standing on the edge
Of the decisive struggle in the three states, ii Is
hardly worth while 20 hazard predictions when
so little time will elapse before the result is
known. 1t is enough 10 say that upon such
information rs has been attaInablc, impartial
Observers. if indeed there are any such are OF
the opinion that Ohio will certainly be Repub-
Hcan, West Virginia as certainly Democratic, and
Indiana close and doubtful, with perhaps at
this moment the chances a very little III favor
of the Republicans. The history OF the cam
palgn has already been very fully set
forth in The TRIBUNE's daily record OF It's
progress, and there is 10 need 10 Iecapitulatc
its features. Our readers are familiar with the
facts and understand the situation. There l.
of course a very excited state of public feeling
in all the States, and especially in Indiana,
where the clo,cncss of the vote and the eager
ness of each side TO seize every advantage that
offers serve to intensity it. In this condition
and more or less serious disturbances of the
peace, and some of our reports indicate that
grave apprchcnsiOns are felt lest there may
be scenes of disorder and violence at the polls.
That there will be prOvOcatiOn on both sides
cannot be doubted; the hope is that the proper
authorities have taken all necessary pIccau-
tions to preserve the peace and that all disor-
derly demonstrations will be Tcprcssed without
delay. That there should be this intense feel
ing and consequent danger of collision Is in
eyitable so long as the present system Oi elcc-
tionS prevails, whereby two or three states hold
lpg elections in October are made centcrs OF
interest and are looked upon as virtually de
Gliding by their votes the Presidential contest
in November
Heretofore PENNSYLVANIA has divided with
Ohio and Indiana the excitement aud interest
pertaining to the October elections. but the
change in her Constitution has taken her out
of the list of October States and the cOnse-
oueDce is a concentration of public interest on
the rest. II seems very plain that the plan Of
holding elections in October IN two or three
States is full of all manner of mischief. As to
the effect of to-day's elections, II Is so well
understood by the pubic that it Is hardly
worth while to waste words upon il. The
people have pretty much settled down to the
conviction that if Ohio and Indiana are both
Republican the contest is virtually ended, what
ever the politicians may say to the contrary.
No expenditure of money nor any effort
to kindle up popular enthusiasm for the
Democratic ticket will avail 20 prevent the
triumphant election of Hayes and Wheeler.
Should Ohio be Republican by small ma
ioyity and Indiana Democratic, the campaign
will go on with renewed vigor on both sides.
And if all three States should 90 Democratic,
we apprehcnd that the effect would be to the
last degree depressing to the Republicans.
We wish VIC could believe that there is
to be no illegal voting and no dishonest