New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-24
INDIANA

The October States VIII un1OuDtedly setiic
the Presidential election, If they result In
favor of the Republicans The rush and swing
of Republican victory in Ohio, Indiana ana
Iowa will have great influence upon the close
and doubtful States of the East. But II these
States are divided in October, the contest will
be close and doubtful to the end in New-York,
and without Newly DIRK no intelligent Democrat
exnects success Ohio and Iowa are expected
to give Republican majOrities. The Democrats
virtually confess defeat in Ohio, because
they make no such effort in that State as
would be made if they had reasonable hope
of success. But they hope to hold Indiana,
and will make most determined and unscru-
puous efforts there.
Eastern Republicans are without reason APP
prehensive as to the result in Indiana. The
State is "fair fighting ground" but there are
excellent reasons for believing that the Re-
nublicans have the best chance for success, if
thew work effectively to the end. brief
review of these reasons will serve to give
Eastern Republicans a better idea of the work
done at the West.
Indiana is q close State. In 1868 the Re-
publicans had only 961 majority on the
largest vote then ever D0lled; in 1872 the
Democrats and Liberals, upon still larger
vote. had only 1887 majority; and in 1876,
with a Greenback vote of 1928 drawn
largely from the Republicans, the Democratic
plurality was only 5,OS4-little more than
ore vote in hundred. The confidence of
Democrats as to the State is based almost
wholly upon the vote OF 1878, when the hard
g tines reduced the Republican vote to
the minimum and the Greenback vote
amounted to 80, Ais. AT that time the Dem
ocratic plurality was 14,113 The fact par
ticularly worth noticing is that the hard
"timesn election is the latest held in Ind-
ana. while in other Western States great
change III favor of the Republicans was shown
in 1879.
Ohio, for example. is the nearest State, and
is politically divided nearly as Indiana is. In
1873 there were 1922 Greenback votes
polled in Ohio-nearly as many as were cast in
Indiana-and the Prohibition vote was larger by
1887 than in the election OF 1879 Surprising
that the increased Prohbitory vote was cast by
Republicans, and that those who refrained
from voting in 1878, but voted in 1879, were
in equal number from both parties. the Greeu-
hack vote in Ohio must have been cast in the
proportion of nearly to 1 by former Repub-
jicans. For when the hard times had passed.
and a full vote was pollcd in 1879, the Re-
publicans gained 62,141 upon the vote of
1878, and the Democrats 48,166, while
the Greenback vote declined 20, 160.
There was every reason to suppose that
General Ewing, the champion OF imitation
in Congress, would draw off nearly all the
Greenback voters OF Democratic antecedents.
and vet he was beaten by larger majority
than was given for President Hayes III 1876.
In brief, it appears that about 2O.799 former
Greenback or Democratic votes were cast for
the Republican candidate tor Governor in
1879. against about 1851 former Greenback
votes cast for Ewing. Ex .etly such change
"a was made in Ohio last year. if made since
1878 IN Indiana, would give the Republicans
a plurality OF about 5000 in that State. But
there ia every reason to SUPPOSE that the
Greepback voters will be less inclined TO
favor the Democratic ticket in Indiana this
year than they were to favor General Ewing
in Ohio last year.
Business is better. and the country is more