Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-10-21
The Failure of Mud-Slinging.

1t has not seemed good to the Demo
cratic party to employ arguments this
year. Perhaps the reason is that it has
no arguments to employ. But it has
used mud, freely and constantly. In
vile blackguardism, the Democratic
campaign of this year has never been
surpassed. 1t may dawn upon the Dem
ocratic intellect to-day that mud is not
an effective weapon in warfare. Gener-
al Garfield, more villainously abused
than any other candidate of either party
for many years, comes out with heavier
vote and larger majority, in his own
State and in Indiana, than has been
given in the elections preceding the
Presidential contest at any other time
for sixteen years. In the heat and pas
sion of the war, when the land was ring
ing with Union victories, and when
Father Abraham" known to all loyal
people as their leader, was candidate
for reelection, the Republicans carried
Ohio by 54,75l and Indiana by 20,SS3 at
the October elections but neither that
party nor any other has ever done as
well since that time, in the closely con-
tested State elections of Presidential
years, as the Republican party has done
in this campaign of mud.
There has been no abuse of General
Hancock. His integrity has never been
questioned; his private life has not been
disturbed; and Republicans have given
him full and hearty praise for his splen-
did services as soldier His political
utterances have been criticised, rs was
proper, and such of his acts as seemed to
show lack of the qualifications needed
in high office. But his warmeSt friends
have never found reason to complain
that Republican speakers or writers
treated him discourteously or indecent
ly. While his supporters were loading
their speeches and crowding their jour
mails with the meanest ISLANDERS about
General Garfield, hosting them on BAN
ners and transparencies, and causing
walls and pavements to break out with
them, the Republicans have cOntented
themselves with argument. The result
is that General Hancock seems likely to
be left without single Northern cleo
toral vote. Mud-slinging may have its
effect at the South, though there is no
proof of it except that Southern politi-
ture in campaign; but it does not pay
at the North. In this part of the coun-
try, a party which has no reasons to offer
had better say nothing. 1t can never
make slander serve instead of sense.
There was an experienced and shrewd
Democrat, Alexander H. Stevens, who
warned his associates, early in the con-
test, that the North could not be carried
by throwing mud at General Garfield.
"He is an honest man." said Mr.. Ste
phens, "and if the Democrats assail his
personal character they will surely elect
him." With what contempt his advice
was received Yet Mr.. Stevens seems to
have been, on the whole, more nearly
right than any other man in his party.
The battle is virtually ended by the cleo
tions in Ohio and Indiana. And those
States, knowing General Garfield thor
oughlY, and hearing with indignation
the infamous falsehoods and mean mis-
representations about him, have re-
sponded in way to make Democratic
ears tingle. If the party had any polit-
ical principle for which it could contend,
perhaps it might change its tactics even
now. As it has none, we suppose it will
continue to sling mud-which sticks
only to ITSELF n. Y. Tribune.