Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-10-13
BEFORE THE T I

The Importance of the late election in
Oaio was clearly stated by the New York
Herald of last Tuesday. 1t said:
The chief interest in the Ohio electies,
except within the State itself, hinges on
the question whether President Hayes is
TO be Endorsed by bis own State. The
President and Secretary Sherman natu-
rally feel q great deal of solicitude on
this point, as do also Mr.. Conkling, Mr..
Blaine, General Butler and the dissatis-
fled Republicans whose sentiments have
been expressed with more plainness by
Benjamin Wade than by any other Re-
publican opponent of the policy Of the
administration. If Mr.. Hayes loses his
" State in the first election which
takes place after his inauguration
Messrs. Conkling and Blaine will attempt
10 turn the loss against him by holdi0g
it up as a proof that his policy Is
weakening his own. party even in that
part of the country where be is held
IN greatest personal esteem. II on
the other hand, the Republicans
should carry Ohio to-day by a fair ma
iority, the Republican opposition TO
the new policy will be discouraged and
matters will 20 smoothly enough for the
President during the extra session of
Congress which is to begin next week.
10 the only important election which has
yet been held, that OF Maine, tie Re-
pnblicans are so strong that they were
in no danger Of losing the State, and
even bad the parties been more evenly
balanced Mr.. Blaine would have desired
success as a means of maintaining his
own influence. But Republicans Of Mr..
Blaine's way Of thinking in all parts OF
the country would not be sorry to witness
a Republican defeat in Ohio, which they
could use to embarrass the President and
discredit bis policy. But all his sup
porters desire a Republican success 10
Ohio. Mr.. Hayes carried the State in
1875, when be wal elected governor, and
again by an increased majority 10 1876,
when be was running for the Presidency,
and the prestige of his great position
would have made a third victory easy if
his policy had not caused differences in
his own party. he may think himself
fortunate if the party barely escapes de-
feat now, or ever if it should elect the
governor and lose the Legislature, since
an %equivocal success would be better
than sheer defeat.
The prospect 10 Ohio is so very doubt.
full that nobody can predict the result.
That the supporters of Mr.. Hayes are
anxious and alarmed is proved BY the
fact that the Ohio clerks in Washington
have been sent home to vote, which seems
ridiculous enough, in view of the fact
that fifty thousand Republicans in that
State who reside within their polling pre-.
cincts will not take the trouble TO vote
Neither Mr.. West, the Republican can.
didate for governor, nor Mr.. Bishop, the
Democratic candidate, has excited any
enthusiasm in the anvass The sup.
porters of either would gladly sell him
outfor q majority Of the legislature. The
Ohio legislature serves two years, and
that chosen to-day will elect a United
States senator to succeed Stanley Mat.
thews. The Republican majority in the
senate has become so very slender that
the election of every new senator has
become a matter of national interest.