New-York tribune., 1877-10-11
TILE OUIO ULEEdI.

Communism has carried ONO. lhat Is the
one thing certain, whatever else may be con-
iectwed. No doubt dislike cf the Presidents
course toward the South cost some Republican
votes, but nearly all those who voted the
Democratic ticket heartily approve that course,
as do the majority of Republicans. Many
votes were lost In consequence OF the lnactivl-
ty of officials, who have been i'll the habit OF
giving much time TO campaign work, OF
through dislike of mistaken methods and too
palpable blunders of the Administration.
Yet it is certain that a large majority
of citizens of both parties approve the en-
deavOr to curb the undue influence OF Office
holders in party management, and, though
they may not judge the Presidents methods
the wisest possible, sincerely wish success to
his aims. No doubt the great issue of More
Beer or No Beer had some effect, as usual;
and there were minor issues which may
have contributed to the result. But the one
solid and certain fact is that the COmmunistic
spirit, shown consistently for years by the
Democrats, displayed only little more fully
by the Workingmen's organizations, and famed
into greater intensity by the language OF the
Republican platform and the speeches of some
Republican leaders, has swept ONO. The dis
rinctiye advocates of CommuniStic notions
poll d an unexpectedly large vote. They drew
comparatively little from the Democratic par
ty, because its conduct has for years been con-
genial TO men of such opinions. The Demo
Gratis alone have a plurality, the Democrats
and Communists have a large majority; and
of those who voted the Republican ticket there
were probably rs many who sympathized with
the nonsense of their platform and with the
first speech of their candidate, as there were
of staunch opponents of these opinions among
those who voted the Democratic ticAet.
How did it happen, then, that Ohio manfully
resisted this spirit in 1872 Those who are
familiar with the phases of that remarkable
contest are not ut ell surprised at the result
this year. The Republican party would nave
met similar defeat had tbe election in
1876 taken place before the middle of Sep
tember The very localities in which the party
was at that time utterly demorahzcd are the
localities in which it has now suffered the
heaviest losses. Youngstown would have made
Mahoning County heavily Democratic, had it
voted before General WoodfOrd spoke there in
1876. The iron and coal regions were full of
disaifected Republicans, who wanted to vote
for more money, no resumption, and Democ-
racy, and the German workingmen in Gin
cinnati Cleveland and Toledo were liz most
uncertain humor. At the same time, because
the party did not strike boldly at financial
heresy, thousands of sincere, hard-money Re-
pubcans were disgusted, and were in no hu
nor to vote at all Later in the contest, the
policy was changed. A vigorous and success
ful attack was made upon the repudating ten
denotes of the Democratic party, and nearly
the whole of the threatened loss was pre-
vented.
1t is not wise TO hide the fact that financial
heresies have made dangerous progress in Ohio
since 1875. The platform of the Republicans
this year was fatal encouragement of the
very spirit which has defeated them. The
speech of Mr.. West gave still more encourage
ment to that spirit, and disgusted many sound
Republicans. 1t ought to be added that the
outcry for reconciliation of silver had pro-
cisely tho same effect; 1t made thousands hos