The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-25
the warmest part of the coming struggle.

Had MIR. Tilden and his friends real
lied four years ago how vitality important
to his success it was to carry Ohio, the
result of the last Presidential election
might have been different. As it is,
Ohio and New York are undoubtedly to
be the aattle ground for the next Presi-
dency. Two or three things are there
fore plain. A New York man might prob
ably carry Ohio, though this is by no
means sure, but no New York Democrat
whose name has been suggested could
hope to carry New York.
On the other hand an Ohio man
might be named in whose aid local in
1uence and State pride would be secured
here where the hardest fight must be
made, and who, while being well known
to and somewhat identified with the
people and interests Of New York, yet
from being wholly disconnected with the
local quarrels, would unite the warning
factions, and render a Democratic
success in that State morally certain.
Under the present apportionment the
Electoral College is composed of three
hundred and sixty-nine electors, making
one hundred and eighty-fve necessary to
a choice. Of these the Southern States
proper cast one hundred and thirty
eight votes, and all these may safely be
counted as pretty sure to go Democratic
this fall. This leaves At votes to be pro-
cured in Northern States. From the
outlook at present the surest effort for
the Democrats to secure these seems to
be the carrying of New York (95
votes) and Ohio az votes).
If, therefore, the Democratic party ex-
poets success in the approaching Presi-
dental campaign, it is pretty clear
proposition that an Ohio man must be
selected as its standard-bearer, and every
square mile of the two great States of
Ohio and New York contested inch by
inch. 1t is true with the Southern vote
to start on q majority is secured by add
ing New York and Indiana, but how
can these reasonably be expected by the
Democrats? Mr.. Hendricks could not
carry New York, for he would be pretty
sure to meet the hostility of the Tilden
faction, and be slaughtered as Mr.. Schell
was in his late candidacy for Mayor Of
the City of New York. Mr. Hendricks
has hob-nobbed too long with John
Kelly to escape the knife of Mr.. Til
denis friends if opportunity for revenge
is offered.
New jersey and Connecticut are pretty
close, and added TO New York make the
required total, but neither of them has a
local favorite who would be more likely
to carry them than would an eminent
statesman from another State. They
will do much better therefore as part of
possible reserve than to be counted as
essentials in a Democratic table. Gen.
Hancock is from Pennsylvania, where
State pride and local influence would
not be of the slightest possible aid in his
candidacy, The more, therefore, you
figure the palmer becomes the fact that
if the Democrats would make success
probable they must select as their cam
didate an eminent statesman from Ohio
who is also very strong in New York.
1t is, perhaps, none of our business as
a non-partisan paper to be volunteering
information or advice to political parties,
but because we are non-partisan and have
surveyed the political field with an eye
rather to arriving at an intelligent con
clusion than to bolster preconceiyed
political opinion we feel ourselves able tc
render dispassionate judgment as to the
actual status of either or both the politi
cal parties now struggling for supremacy
in the Nation.