The daily gazette., 1880-08-18
Let Ohio be the Battle Ground.
From the Brooklyn Eagle.

State of Ohio in the October cleo
tion, that would end the Presidential
contest. General Hancock's cleo
ton in that event would be regarded
by friend and foe as a foregone con-
clusion. The Republicans would
not give up the fight, but they would
relinquish all hope of success.
They would make a contest for Con-
grcssmen in November. They would
struggle for position, and for the
future, and for nothing more. The
Republican leaders would pretend
to believe that they could carry
Ohio i'll November after losing it in
October, but they would not be sin
cere. They might even go so far as
to pretend that they could elect Gar
field without the aid of Ohio, but
all intelligent citizens would dismiss
this claim as preposterous. IF the
Democrats can carry Ohio, in Octo-
tober-and we believe they can
Hancock will be elected President
by an almost unprecedented ma
.jority on the electoral vote. 1t
would be safe to count upon the
votes of all the States for Hancock
now claimed as doubtful. At this
writing New York seems to be sure
for the Democrats. The voters of
New Jersey and Connecticut are
allied i'll interest, and in political
feeling, with those of New York,
and it is morally certain that these
States will vote together this year.
In California and Oregon Hancock's
chances are at least as good as Gar
fields. Pennsylvania, Illinois, and
Wisconsin are regarded by Hancock's
more enthusiastic supporters as
doubtful States. They will not be
doubtful, with the stampede"
which would be certain to follow the
loss of Ohio to the Republicans in
October. Tens of thousands of
voters are desirous of being on the
side that is certain to win in Presi-
dental contest, not because they
have any direct interest in success,
but not being clear as to their duty,
they are disposed to settle their
doubts in Democratic sort of way
by siding with the majority. This
much may be accepted as certain,
that if the Democrats can elect their
candidate for State officers in Ohio
in October, General Hancock will
certainly be elected President of the
United States by a very large, if not
not an unprecedented, majority.
We notice that the Republicans
seems to be confident not only of their
ability to shape the strategic plan of
the campaign for themselves, but for
their Democratic opponents as well.
The Republicans are anxious to make
Indiana in October the battle-ground
| The Republicans have far less chance
of carrying Indiana-apart from out
! side influences in their favor-than the
Democrats have of carrying Ohio in
the October election. Still, if the adj
ministration is allowed to concentrate
all its influence on single State, its
adherents will have great advantage.
Besides all the power and prestige of
the administration, the Republicans
can count on generous subscriptions
from the great corporations of the
country. If Indiana can be carried
by the use of money in October, the
Republicans will not lose the State.
For every dollar the Democrats can
raise in this campaign to be applied
for specified purpose-remote from
those who give the money-the Re-
publicans can raise $100. The ex-
perience of those who take part in the
present campaign is to this effect -
For the legitimate purpose of the can
tho hnynnaratc nat N ,,ni ica oil l,a
money they require. They are better
off in this respect than they were in
1876, when they had a wealthy candi-
late for President. Then the candi-
date was expected to furnish all the
money needed now every Democrat
stands ready to contribute his share.
But for what may be regarded as the
doubtful, or illegitimate, expenses of
the canvass, the Democrats have little
or no money. The Republicans can
have money in abundance without re-
gard to the political use to be made of
it. Without difficulty the Republi-
cans could put 81, 900, 900 into Indiana
in October. The Democrats must re-
ly Oh their party in the State to carry
it. If the Republicans are obliged to
00nU IOr tnelr lll6 Ill Ol1O Ill OCJODbT,
Indiana will be let alone IL will be
sure for for the Democrats but if the
Republicans are allowed to plan the
battle, they will stake all on Indiana,
and they will be we'll content if the
Democrats do the same. The Demo-
cratic managers are fools if they do
just what their opponents want them
to do.
During the war it was said that the
real defenses of Washington were be-
fore Richmond. The way for Demo
Gratis to make sure of Indiana is to
make the fight in aud for Ohio. If it
seems to be in danger, not speaker
or dollar will be sent into Indiana
by the Republicans.
If there is the requisite wisdom and
dash in Democratic management this
year, word will be at once sent along
the line :-"Ohio is the real objective
point. We believe we can carry
Ohio, and end the great struggle be-
fore it opens. At all events we mean
to try. Ohio is the battle-ground"