Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-11-02
yaoillations in Ohio Politics.

There is a agood deal of comfort for de-
spondent Ohio Republicans just now in
the political record of this State during
the past twenty years. Beginning in
| 1854, when the issue was the extension of
slavery to the Territories, Ohio rolled up
a majority of 77,423 against the increase
Of slave territory. The next year, the
birth.year of the Republican party, Mr..
Chase was elected by 1850, but two
years later the Republican majority
in the State dwindled to 1 1,4St. In 1859
Gov. Dennison had a majority of only
1926, but two years later, under the in
spiration of the war, Gov. Tod swept the
State by more than $4,000 majority.
This was thought phenomenal vote, as
indeed it was under all the circumstances.
But the very next year the Democratic
State ticket was elected by 5,577, and
the Democrats, as now, exulted over the
belief that Ohio was Democratic State
| for the rest of the war il not for the re-
mainder of the century. The Republic
ans were far more discouraged than they
are to-day, and with excellent reason.
Ohio had then more than a hundred
thousand men in the field, and the people
at home had apparently abandoned them.
This delusion was but temporary. In
! 1868 the issue was that of loyalty against
treason, the Union of Ohio against Cop.
| perheadsm. Brough was the leader of
one host, Vallandigham of the other.
The result will never be forgotten. From
an adverse majority of 5,577 in 1869, the
Republicans in 1868 built up towering
majority of 101 900, and Ohio was re-
deemed.
Lincoln in 1864 carried the State by
50,5S6 Cox was elected Governor the
year following by 30, 936, but this major
ity dwindled in two years to 1888, by
which narrow margin Gen. Hayes first at.
tanned the Governorship. Twelve months
from that time QS6S) Grant raised the
Republican majority once more to Al
617, but it dropped again the following
year to 1918. Grants majority in 1879
was 1851, but the very next year the
apathy that follows Presidential con-
test again prevailed, and William Allen
was elected Governor by SIT votes.
Last year Hayes majority for President
was 1876 but this year the old Buckeye
State sags back in the harness as usual,
and the Democrats, casting 1000 less
votes than they did for Governor two
years ago, still elect their Governor by
nearly %, 900 votes. Except that the Dem
ocratic majority of this year is larger than
usual-there being in other words an un-
usual crop of stay-at-home Republicans
the result of the recent election is not
out of keeping with our average expe-
rience in the off-years" following Presi-
Dental contests. The talk which one
hears about the disintegration and
death of the Republican party in Ohio is
baseless and absurd There is no disin-
tegration that deserves the name. The
side issue vote this year was only 49 per
cent. of the whole. There are just as
many Republicans in Ohio to-day as have
ever been here, and they will appear
whenever there is an issue to interest
and call them out. There is high and
serene minority of Ohio Republicans who
need the spur of some palpable and vital
purpose. They had it in 1861, in 1868,
in ga, in '6S, and in '72, and they were
not found wanting. These men have
been going more or less irregularly to the
polls since the war to " save the country,
and they have grown tired of it. This
year they thought that their efforts
toward saving the country had not been
properly seconded at Washington, and
they sulked little. There are still Re.
publicans, however, and the next cleo
tion, made upon live and progressive
platform, containing something new,
vital and worth fighting for, will see
them again at the polls.-CleoeIanO
| Leader