New-York tribune., 1879-11-08
WHENCE REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES COME.
A LETTER FROM OLIVER .oHSsOS-THE EXAMPLE
OF THE WESTERN RESERVE.

OF THE WESTERN RESERVE
To tho Edftor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Somebody has had the curiosity to an
alyze the vote OF OHIO tho recent election with
view where the Republican majority came
FROM II out, H is stated, chat setting
ten counties composing the Western Reserve, the Dem
ocrats a majority I'm the rest Of the State OF 1900
The Western Reserve only overcomes this VOTE but
carries the majority In the whole State up 10 the hand
some figure of 1000 and over.
There must be reasons for this performance Of Re-
pubcnnism IN that part OF the State that worthy
Of attention. We remember that the Reserve was
settled almost exclusively from New-England.
and that the fret settlers carried with them New-Eng
land principles institutions sud habits. It probably
owing TO this circumstance that the Abolition move
ment under Garrison which began the East made It's
FIRST Ohio the Reserve Its first victory
IN the Western Reserve College, OF which the Rev. Chas
b. nce OF the Rev. Dr. storrs, OF Brooklyn
the president, while the Rev. Beiah Green aud Ezur
Wright, jr, professors These all powerful
men, and they converted TO abolition an early
day They kndled fire the Reserve that Is yet
extimgushed Joshua r. Giddings lighted his torch at
this fire. and made conhagraton in the eastern coun
ties which no represented In Congress for long a
period During the whole antslayery conflict tue Abo-
loniss expended much labor In that region Mr. Gdnng
found out that tbs way 10 keep his place an
anti-sayery man IN Congress was to aboliionze his
sOnlan agents. and often went with them TO their
mertings carrying them IN his own convey FROM
dong all IN his power To gain for tnen favorable hear
ing. Among the agent, who labOrtd much there was
Mrs. ABBY Kel". Foster. to whom Mr.. GIdngs always
gave most cordial welcome You Garrisonians." he
used to "Deat the busn, while we ant-slavery
Wings (lftcrward the Republicans catch the bird"
Garrison himself was often there were other strong
aud powerful lecturers Oberliu, with his un-
compromising bOlionism, mas also been work
ing there since 1888 The result is that the r.,
serve l. abOitOnZed more thoroughly than any other
part Ohio and It II alb 10 give the state 10 the
Republicans In spite Of an adverse m orty elsewhere.
Some Republicans are lli-iUrmct enough TO sneor at
Mr. Garrison and his friends n theg had never done
ANYTHING practically for the overthrow of the slave
power; venture To that the places where they
labOrei most constantly. and expended tine most lime
and money, among those where the Republican
party has its greatest strength. lately reminded
READERS tnat Connecticut had often been saved
the Republican cause by the vote Of Wlndham County,
where abOtonsm took its early impress from Garrison
and his associates; and | msht csim that the
reason why Massachusetts IL 80 steadffs II and
stalwart In her Repupllcapism Is that there
Mr. GatrsOn's influence powerfully felt. ven
ture the assertion the In that State where
his Influence was strongest now the most firm in
their kepubcanisB; while the towns where the Demo-
crsis strongest are generally those Ia which,
for one reason another hi, influence cOmpara
uvelv weak.
There Is this that should be needed. n is
that power nf reform Is proportion to its thor
oughness aud that the best political results flow nom
moral causes. OLtviR JOHNSON.
No. 81 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, Oct. 30. 1879.