The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-10-16
THE ELECTION IN OHIO To-
DAY--A NEW ATFORII AND
NEW LEADERS FOR 1880.

The election to-day IN Ohio monopo-
yes popular attention as never before.
The President OF the United States is
at his home at Mansfield that he may
vote. The press everywhere is silent
and stump speakers unheard, that
States and people may catch notes Of
victory or defeat presaging the result
OF elections involving more than one
hundred thousand offices and four hun
dred millions of money. These are
thereal Issues, while the unthinking peo-
pie are sought to be amused or excited
by furious appeals affecting State and
personal rights. The foremost orators
Of our time exhaust ingenuity and ell
oquence in showing either how inno-
cent helpless blacks are bulldozed in
the jungles of Louisiana or swamps of
Ylzoo, or how the rights of men are
violated by United States marshals and
By detectives, more properly called the
body lice of despotisms. But when
the days work is done and the
fiery patriots rest at their own firesides
unbosoming themselves before
choicest friends, 1t is not of the
countrys woes and griefs or of violat-
ed negro rights or constitutional law
of which they speak. They talk of
the result in Ohio and New York as
these may determine who shall succeed
Hayes and who shall distribute Offices
and honors and power in 1880. There
Is thus public and private aspect OF
this intense interest manifested by all
classes on the election which progresses
to-day. Its moral power will be felt
IN New York OH the 4th of next
month when it will be decided whether
Tilden or Sherman shall be the next
President.
Lat the orators snd professional
speech-makers have their own sweet
way and explode magnificent
pyrotechnical speeches about the
North aud South and the
crimes done here and necessity
for the absorption of imperial power
by the central government and it Is
xsiI,gel and very exciting and very
Dssutiful; but all this terrific uproar
and splendid rhetoric is only designed
at last to assert the great Importance of
investing one or another army Of
100000 hungry placeholders, after
1880, with spoils aud offices. 1t may
be needless to mention these plain
facts, but if there occur disputed
right to the succession as in 1876 and
war ensue, the fight will be for plumber
and power and not about Yazoo or
Kemper county tragedies or State
rights. Contemplating the conflict in
Ohio in this, ITS true aspect, we
must confess that the defeat of Ewing
-to<dzy Will have marked effect in
New York and we may know to-mor-
row, with almost absolute certainty,
whether the Democracy can afford to
make Tilden their candidate in 1880.
Very certainly, the presidential con-
est, so far as he is concerned, will be
determined finally on the fourth of
next month when it will be known
whether Conkling or Tilden may be
supreme in the Empire State.
In 1875 Hayes, then candidate for
The Governors office in Ohio, received
es7. SO votes; when candidate for
the presidency IN 1876, he received
$50, 5es votes. In 1877, West, the
Republican Candidate, received 249, 105
lTotes, SO, GOO less than Hayes when the
batter became President. Then Hayes
peat Allen IN 1875 8, GA votes; and in
Sis76 he beat Tilden 1916 votes. These
wonderful fluctuations show that the
strength OF men and parties in Ohio