Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-08-12
Bright Prospects of Republican
Success.


as the principle weapon. and stink-pot
as auxiliary. The Hancock movemen
began with loud hurrah. Cool Repub
licans predicted that it would soon di
out, and candid and careful review o
the situation to-day will show that ther,
is really less ground for Democrat,
hope than there has been in any previ
GUS Presidential campaign since tht
war. In 1868, at this date, the Demo
Gratis had great hope on account of thu
supposed influence of President John
son, and the prominent Northern Repub
licans who had acted with him. Ii
1872, at a later date than this, Demo
cratic leaders still expected to brins
their followers in full force to the sup
port of Mr.. Greeley. In 1876, even Il
the end of the contest, there was the
widest confidence among Democrats oi
all grades. On the other hand, the Re
publicans have greater confidence, anG
greater reason for confidence, than they
have had at a corresponding time in any
other Presidential contest since the war
In 1868 they were in serious doubt as tt
| the effect of Mr.. Johnson's patronage
and his conspicuous ST porters. In
1872, at later day than tbs, it was ad
mitted by Governor Jewell, who was
then, as he is now, in an official position
to know the situation, that there was
serious danger of Republican defeat. In
1876, the stress of hard times, and the
reputation of Mr.. Tilden as a Reform
er," made such inroads among Re
publican voters that the result was
doubtful to the end.
To-day the Republicans have reason
to believe that Garfield and Arthur will
be elected. They know that III some
States the fight will be close and hot
But men with cool heads and long ex-
perience, who have had part in five snc-
cessive victories of the Republican par
ty in Presidential elections. consider
that the result is already assured, pro
vided the party puts forth the proper eff
forts during the three months which re-
main. And they feel sure that those eff
forts will not be wanting.
There is good deal of chatter about
the Democratic hopes in nearly every
Northern State. The naked truth is
that Maine, Connecticut, New York,
New Jersey, Indiana and California are
the only Northern States in which the
Democrats themselves really think that
they have possibility of success. If
they talk of New Hampshire, it is to
encourage their partisans to spend
strength in hopeless effort which, at
the utmost. might possibly cut down Re
publican majorities. There is nothing
else about their talk in Ohio, Pennsylva-
MIA, or Illinois, and they well know it.
Maine will vote in September, and
will give its opinion of the Infamous
fraud perpetrated there last year. The
hard-money Democrats and the soft
money Greenbackers of last year must
unite to man, in support of particu-
larly weak candidate for Governor, who
is hated by all the old Democrats, or the
fusion has no chance of success. That
unnatural and shameless union could
not be effected under any circumstances.
But it cannot be made now without Sc
rious loss of votes from two causes. The
Greenback force has melted away under
the warmth of prosperity which the Re-
publican policy of resumption has
caused. The decent voters of the, oppo-
sition will not fail to rebuke the nsurpa-
tion of last year. In such circumstances,
the efforts which the Republicans of
Maine never fail to make for their cause
and their country ought to render sue
cess certain.
Republican victory in Maine, State
called doubtful, may be followed in Oc-
tober by Republican victory in Indiana,
the home of MIR. English. Even the
Democrats now openly admit that his
personal unpopulaTity is great. On the
other hand there is an intense opposition
to Mr.. Landers, the wild fanatic who is
the Democratic candidate for Governor,
which has led to the serious question
among Democratic leaders whether all
the risks run by his withdrawal are not
preferable to his defeat. 1t was hoped
that he and his Democratic friends
would satisfy the Greenback voters, to
whom the support of Mr.. De La Matyr
for Congress was promised; but Landers
has not been able, if willing, to keep the
pledge, and the Greenback organization
is in open warfare against the attempted
coalition. Cool Republicans believe
that they can carry Indiana in October
by handsome majority, and that the
Democratic and Greenback voters can
not be brought into the dishonorable al
lance which some leaders have pro-
posed.
If we go to November with Republi-
can victories in Maine, Ohio and Indi-
ana, what will follow? New York and
New Jersey are doubtful. Even if both
should by any mischance be carried by
Democrats they could not gain the need
ed forty-seven Northern votes, losing
Indiana, Connecticut and California, es-
sentialIy Republican States on national
issues, are said by Republicans of the
coolest judgment to be safe beyond per-
adventure. With the swing and rush of
previous Republican triumphs, those
States should give handsome majorities.
But those same previous victories will
turn to the Republican side large
doubling vote in New York and New
Jersey, will show the Greenback men
the folly of helping Democrats to sue