New-York tribune., 1877-08-07
TILE nrESTLON ~ OHIO.


TIE QUESTION IN ONO
Were the election in Ohio simply for The
choice Of State officers. and disconnected en-
tirelv from the issues of national politics, 1t
would make little difference whether the Dem
ocratia or Republican ticket was successful.
The very rema. Sable guSh OF the kepubhcah
cond,date for Governor makes it lmpOssl-
ble for sensible Republicans to get M
any enthusiasm for him, and will probably
prevent many from giving HIM their votes.
His boast that he held no railroad bonds
nor stock. nor any untaXed Government bonds
that he never had and never expected to--was
simply nauseating. The Republican party has
done some very foolish things during the past
eight or ten years, ana IT has put into once
some very weak and incompetent men, but II
nav at least be said in its behalf that 1t has
nor been in the habit of nominating men for
HIGH Office who have rcsOred 50 0peny to sUch
mischievons demagOguery as characterized MI
Vests sDcech. One of the few things left 10
which the party could "point with pnde,
was that 1t had not engaged III the
"Bluc- jeans business. But the RepuD-
lean candidate in Ohio seems to have
taken for his example the impeouniouS
young man who asked of prudent
faith his daughters hand. There's only
".ne question:" said the old gentleman,
"and that is as to your pccuniaY CIR
"cumstances." Bless you, there's 10 trouble
"at all about them" returned the ingenious
youth 81 haven't got any" Mr. NesrS
chief merit as candidate seems III bis
own opinion TO be that he has not any Pc
cunary circumstances.
If it was only a question which of these two
candidates. Nj. West or Mr.. Bishop, should be
GoverDo, of Ohio, the contest would be OF
little interest for the people OF Ohio, ana none
Whatever for people outside tne State. But the
result of the election will have larger sig
pifcancc. 1t will be the FIRST election iii any
State since the policy Of the Administration
with reference to the various que ions oi
public interest has come 10 be generally known
and the result will be accepted as an APP
pYoyal or disapproyal of that policy, ac
cording as the Republicans or Democrats WIN.
The election or defeat Of Mr.. West is OF small
consequence as compared with the effect OF a
vote of confidence or lack OF confidence III their
own Administration. 1t must be admitted, OF
corrse that there exist such differences OF
oniniop IN the Republican party concerning
the wisdom of the general policy already out
lined hy the Administration, and still wider and
more prominent differences as to the wisdom OF
specifc acts. But we believe it Will Lot De de-
MED that there is no difference OF opinion among
Republicans when it comes to choice be-
tween continuing the Government III h"puIl-
car hands and turning it over TO tht Democ-
racy. Upon that question all are agreed. III
NAV he in this case choice Of evils; but
No Republican, however much he may dis
onnroye some of the features of l'reSl-
dent Hayes's policy, or however dlSgJsted
with Mr.. Vests cheap demagogGery VIII
hesitate at ali when j comes to ch1osl 2
between the two paIties-and that after all
must be the real question in Ohio: not which OF
these two candidates is the ftteSt to DE Governor
of Ohio but which of the great parties has ID
the long run shown the greatest capacity iOr
wisely administering the Government.
Another very important consideration is that
the Legislature to be chosen at this election
has a ID States Senator to elect IN place
of Mr.. Stanley Matthew's who is now
serving out the nexpired term of Secre-
ta,y sherman. with the House in the
ba Is of the Opposihon and the Senate almost
| evenly balanced DflWtfN liit bNp H'tAh's -
is a matter If the highest Importance that a
Republican Legislature should be elected and a
Repub!ican United States Senator secured. II
does not promise to he very active or en-
tbusiastic campaign. 1t IS an "Oif year" III
politics, and neither party appears to have
put forth extraordinary oxertions thus far
to arouse enthusiasm. The campaign will
doubtless be dul! and unnterestng and
.he vote light. Bat the chief thing
to be borne in mind by Republicans Is, as we
have stated, that the result will be taken as a
vote of confidence or lac'- Of confidence, not
merely in the present Administration, but in
the party which elected IL. And there is no
| fault in the Administration, and no blundcr of
conventions or leaders or candidates in Ohio
that cannot be overlooked and cOndoned,
rather than that any encouragement should be
given to the mschicyous party miscallcd Dem
! Ocratic.