The New York herald., 1877-10-13
Amusing Situation Of the Contest for
Minor Offices.
HOW THE OHIO ELECTION is REGARDED
Republican Defeat as Explained in Ad
ministration Circles.
PRESIDENT HAYES POLICY AND PURPOSES,
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.


OHIO ErEcrIoN-wHAT IT SIGNIFIES AND
WHAT THE EFFECT is LIKELY TO Be
PRESIDENT HAYES POLICY AND PURPOSES.
Tho Ohio election s stll tho prominent topic OF dis
cussion here and il Is noticeable fac that IN admin
istraton circles the result s takcn very phosoph-
caily The loss Of the senatorship Is of course, do
piored but otlerwisc prominent members OF the ad-
mnisration attach but little importance to the eec-
tion They say that several circumstances concurred
to bring IL about, among which hostility to the Prcs-
dents policy is but one, and that not the
most prominent First tho communstic
biunder In the platform, which disgusted
many sensible voters, especially when 1t was empha
sized by tho speech OF the chief candidate. Noxt
comes the that Ohio is thoroughly pcrmcntsd by
tho greenback and imitation heresy, which can DO
overcome only by extremely positive and energetic
campaign, in which this question shall bc courage
ousy and ably discussed, Us II was In 1875. In the
recent canvass It was not squareIy mot at all. The
speakers not agreed upon it. Garfield, Matthews
and Cox did not agree on the silver question.
Tho Cincinnati Gasette openly favored a repeal
Of the Resumption act; the Commercial de-
manded the remonetzation OF silver, and Father
TAFT enraged the country voters by talking of
Cernuschi, OF whom they had never heard. Next, to
quote still further the talk In administration circles,
the people tired Of politics. they had exciting
democratic voters encouraged by tho hope OF
succcss tho republican voters did not believe that tho
country In danger. Many of them, seeing the
porous question out OF the why and the country
safe remained at home and took active part the
canvass Finally, II IS freely acknowledged that
part OF the republican voters dissatisfied with
tho Southern policy, and, being 20, refused to vote
Besides this, tho machine politicians offended
by the civil service policy, aud would not put forth
l.~
on tho currency question, the muddle Of the
and general lack Of interest. oven than through
dissaisfaction with the now policy. the result came
about
II is conceded that 1t may strenthen the democrats
In Now York, Now Jersey and Pennsylvania, but what
offs The defeat OF the party in all these States
would mean the defeat OF the ant,-adminstration
in It, Ifthese choose by dividing the party. to bring
on it defeat the blame will fall upon them in tho peo
pe's minds II Is also conceded that for tho moment
the opposition within the party in Congress may
gather head and find itself abo to make domonstra
ton Of some Knd but the question then arises, What
can they dog Tho Presidents friends say that he has
no policy which no desires to iniorcc; he has
friends whom he desires TO reward and no enemies
whom ne wishes punish; he 10 not candidate Tor
term aud has, ia fact, no private OBJECTS to
GAIN and his chief public object that which lies
est HIS heart s to pacy the country, 10 bring the
sections together friendship, and by dvorcing the
civil service from partisan politics, to take away
from party struggles that fierce, uuscrupulous and
perous character wh,eR they take on when they
struggles for plunder and bread and batter.
Now, say these friends OF tho President,
what head can his opponents make? What
can they take hold OF Suppose they reject his nom-
inatons will send in others: he will try to select
good men, II his opponents reject good men, SO
much the worse them. AS for legislation, nobody
is as TO think OF overturning the Southern
policy That question is dead And for the rest tho
President will certainly veto jobs II such therc should
be- but he not his friends say propose to impose
apy policy whatever Congress set himself
against the measures which may bo adopted by
that body. No great exciting questions, they add,
are likely TO como up the immediate future, and,
far as public measures concerned thcrc is pros
pcct OF political ull, broken only by personal DIS
pu,cs and the airing grievances in which the pub.
lie has little interest and which cannot agcct tho
President or tho administration. There has been
some talk here Of demand by tho antadmnstra-
ton republicans for reformation OF tho Cabinet In
accordance with their wishes, and thore have even
been projects for shelving or two Cabinet minis
ters tempting them by life ofces. But there is not
the least likelihood that any such PROJECT Will
succeed present. and is certain that any demand
mon the President OF this kind will have effect
upon him. Finally, the Presidents friends say II tho
republican leaders wish the ground they have
los. with country, let them heartily and honestly
indorse the Presidents policy. That Will show them
10 be honest reiormcrs At present BY their opposi-
tion they stand condemned as the opponents OF re.
forms generally conceded to be necessary but party
leaders who oppose reforms, even TO tho extent OF
abusing their own administration when It attempts
those reforms cannot hope for success. They invite
defeat