The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-11-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, d. c.,
Nov 2 1870

Nov. 8, 1880.
Probably the result yesterday will
be attributed to a thousand differ
ent causes, but among them, all of
us will agree that three or four rank
first in order in influence. First,
and most important, was opposition
to a "solid South" as representing
a question as to the i~nviolability of
the Union. Beyond doubt this idea
that somebody in the South a led
to overthrow the Government, and
would be aided by a Democratic vic
tory, turned the scale in many States.
I do not think sensible people in the
North gave much attention to such
nonsense until Gen. Grant began to
preach it from the stump. There
are thousands of people in the North
educated and ignorant-who in
variably think of Grant and no one
else whenever the affairs of the coun-
try are mentioned. 1t is not worth
while now to quarrel with the super
stition.
Next in Importance, as an issue,
was the labor question as affected
by the tariff. The votes of opera
tives in mills, workshops and factor
les turned the scale in several States.
An impression was abroad, false, of
course, that control by the Demo
cratic party meant free trade and re-
duction of wages. Hancock's cleo
ton meant NO such thing, but, no
matter who should be elected, a re-
duction of wages was sure to come.
Those thousands who voted for Gar
field to prevent it, and who perhaps
changed the face of the election, will
find during the next year or so that
they voted against the inevitable.
Third in Importance among the
causes leading to disaster was the
putting of ex Senator Barnum at the
head of the campaign. He was never
ftfor leadership. 1t was Tilden, not
Barnum, who achieved victory in
1876. But aside from the question
as to his fitness, he represented in
the public mind much that was
thought to be irregular in the pre-
vious campaign.
In connection with this subject OF
campaign management 1 wish to say
a few words. In the minds of hon,
T est Democrats there is On objection
always to mere management" A
central authority, authorized to pass
questions about which it car know
nothing, is repulsive. The State
Committee, or, better still, the Dis
trict or County Committees should
hereafter control matters in theil
own neighborhoods. When any.
; thing is needed in the way of speak
ers or documents there should be {
committee with headquarters in thil
city, to supply what is wanted. The
practice of "bossing'' a campaign il
thirty-eight States, from any one
point, is a failure. 1t might hav'
| good results once in a hundred
| times, but hardly oftener than that
, At this time-I write on Wednes
day morning-it seems certain tina
both Houses of Congress are to b.
t returned to the Republicans. This
though an evil, is a less evil from
I the fact that Garfield will be a ia
-, better President than he has been
Congressman. The instincts of tn
General are all right. AS n of
| body of three hundred men he ha
never been able to fix properly hi
own personal responsibility, and ha
done those things which he ough
\ not to have done. AS President, h,
will, 1 have no matter of doubt, Sc,
l his way clear and do his duty in {
way to astonish his friends and Dem
ocratic enemies. He will be just il
all things.
: The defeated candidate is prob
D ably the best soldier the war produc
ed on the Federal side. His con
sentative political ideas at one tim'
and his soldierly honor at another
kept him during the civil war from
D the high preferment which other
grasped for. He has ideas clear a:
crystal on the subjects likely to b.
important to the country for all time
He is not only an able soldier but
man of the highest honor. He Cal
: wait four years. CoRDwAINER.
I 1t is a significant circumstanc,
thot Of tho AT 057 mmirropfc uh,