New-York tribune., 1880-10-12
ahead
ono AND INDIANA.

The destiny of the country, in one sense,
trembles in the balance to-day. If Indiana
gives a Republican majority, peace and pros
pcri:y will follow the overwhelming triumph OF
James A. Garfield. But the destiny of the
country for years to come will remain in doubt
until the elections in November, if the result IN
Indiana should be heavily adverse to the Re-
publlcans, and peace and prosperity would then
depcnG upon the vote of New York.
That there will be some local disturbances in
Indiana is not unlikely. But the news OF latest
date iustifies Strong hope that the election will
pass without any serious outbreak, for the de-
termination of the United States officers and
the Republicans has been so Clearly shown and
their organization has proved so effective,
that il is thought comparatively little fraud
will be supported by violence There is dan
ger as there always is when wild, desperate,
and law-defying men have the leadership OF
either of two intensely excited parties, and
counsel their followers TO resort to yiOencs
But neither the jackal nor any nobler beast
will attack the man who can look it straight in
| the eve without finchins, and the Democratic
repeaters, ballot box suffers, and not t-maSers
are usually of the jnckal species. Pluck. firm
l
emergency and the Republicans know that they
are fighting for law, liberty aud the stability
of free institutions. Democratic armed bands
will bully and bluster. But they will think
twice before they attack the United States.
Four wears ago the Republicans carried Ohio
bv 6. 636 plurality, while the Democrats carried
Indiana by 5,O84 plurality. The result was a
close contest, and the election Of President
Hayes by bare majority. If the Ohio Repub-
lcans get larger plurality this year, and the
Indiana Democrats a smaller, the signs will be
favorable for Republican victory in November,
and vet the contest may be close and doubtful.
ANY Republican plurality in both States, how
ever small. would give strong assurance Of Re-
publican victory in November The efforts
made by the Democrats this month cannot be
repeated, and the prestige and momentum OF
victory will aid the Republicans.
According to the latest advices, Ohio looks as
if it might give larger Republican plurality
than 1t did four years ago, although Republ-
cans hardly expect this. Such result, how
/ ever would be a conclusive answer to all the
shameless attacks upon General Garfield. 1t
| would show that the people of his own State
have more confidence in him than they had in
the almost unassailed Governor Hayes, who has
| made so pure and worthy President
The latest advices from Indiana, through Re-
| publican channels promise an exceedingly close
contest, with the bare possibility, if Demo-
cratic bribery does not triumph, of a
small Republican plurality. The Demo
Gratis are also claiming a considerable
plurality, and will have reason to be greatly
astOnished if they do not receive 1t, iDasmuch
| as the State has been almost steadily
| Democratic. Two things count against
| them. The silent business vote, which makes
little display where ostracsm is constantly
threatened, tends to the Republican side and
the personal popularity of Mr.. Porter and un-
popularity of MIR. Landers, render it not i'm
possible that Mr.. Porter may be chosen, even
if there should be small plurality for other
| Democratic candidates, though such a result
cannot be said to be probable.
| We can only justly appreciate the odds
against the Republican party in In
diana, when we remember that al
no single October election since 1868,
a period of twelve years, have the Repub-
| hcans carried the State. To expect to
carry it now is to expect to re-
verse uniform line of precedents,
running through half generation.