The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-03-25
The campaign of 1868, however, had

Inc campaign OF 1908, however, ma
no precedent before or since in Obi
history for its bitter and relentles
animosities and virulent personalities
1t was John Brough at the head o
the Republican column, Clement L
Vallandingham was his Democratic
opponent. Brough, too, like Tod, un
til the war opened had been one of the
most popular orators that ever elec
trified Democratic gathering. Th,
people of the State were frenzied will
the excitement that grew intensified
as the critical voting day approached
How much truth or fiction there was
in the yociferous charges by the Dem.
ocrats of fraudulent ballots in soldiers
| camps, is not necessary to be herein
discussed. We only know that when
the result was declared there were
476, ,554 as a total vote, and Brough's
majority put at 1O1 ,09S over Vallan.
digham.
In 1865, the war feeling still at fever
heat, Jacob d. Cox, Republican, was
opposed by George w. Morgan, Dem
ocrat. This,:s too, was an animated
campaign, and yet there was an aston
ishing falling off of the total vote, be.
ing 4l7,43O, or SO, lis less than were
cast for Brough and Vallandigham
two years previous. The vote stood,
Cox 223,642. 71organ, 193, ,797. COx's
majority 29,S45.
Rutherford 3. Hayes, Republican,
and Allen G. Thurman, Democrat, con-
tested III 1867. In this instance full
vote was cast, being 4S4,227, Hayes
haying a majority of 1888. There
was some significance in this meager
majority for Hayes. as when
compared with that of 60,055 which
Ohio had given Lincoln over McClel-
Ian the year previous, and that of Al, :
SIG which Grant obtained over Sey-
mour the year following.
In 1859 Governor Hayes encounter
ed the opposition of Geo. II. Pendleton
and was reelected. The full vote was
455, ,297, of which 629 had been given
Samuel Scott. a falling Off of % $50 !;
Hayes majority over Pendleton, 1906.
Edward F. Noyes, Republican Geo.
w. McCook, Democrat; Gid. T. Stew
art; Prohibition, were candidates in
1871, the whole vote being 456, ,37S, an
increase over the preceding contest of
but 1,0Sl. Their respective votes
were, for Noyes 24S. .273; McCook
21S,1O5; StewarS4. .OGS; majority for
Noyes of 16,100.
William Allen rose up to the Dem
ocratic front in 1873, to oppose the re-
election of Noyes. The votes cast
were total of but AS .S7S, a less num-
ber by SO.62O than had been cast in the
Presidential election in 1872, when
General Grant led Greeley by 1851,
Aliens vote was 2l4,654; Noyes 2l3,.
S37; Stewart, Prohibition lO.27S; Col
lins, Liberal 1O,1O9. Aliens plurality
Sl7, but in minority of 16, 100 votes.
The October election in 1875, con-
sidering the bearing it was expected
to exert on the ensuing Presidential
issue Of 1876, was invested with more
than local interest. 1t was, in fact, not
only in Ohio, but in all the States,
more especially the Northern and
Western, made to assume National i'm
portance. Governor Allen, again the
candidate of his party Cor re. election,
was considered as prospective aspir-
ant for the Presidency, and one of no
inconsiderable pretentions. To re-
elect him Governor would materially
strengthen him in public estimation;
to defeat him would virtually remove
him from the Presidential field. To
accomplish this latter result it was
conceded by Republican presses and
leaders throughout the
and by not a few Democrats,
not only in New York and other
States, but also in Ohio, that the con-
test should assume National propor-
tions that this should be the battle
ground for the Presidency q year in
advance; that as went Ohio SO would
go the Union. To effect Ohio the
strongest man the Republicans could
bring into the field was considered
essential, How Governor
Hayes was urged from his retiracy
and pressed again to the front is cur
rent history, familiar to all newspaper
readers. The issue then was Allen VS.
Hayes. with Odell to distract as the
nominee of the Prohibitiouists. We
need not say that the campaign was
animated and holly contested. 1t had
Out few equals, no less than 592, 700
Votes being cast. The vote for Hayes
was 297,Sl7; Allen 292, ,273; Odell D.
1913 Hayes majority over Allen ), Sal
over both 2,951. How much this re-
'ult had to do with what followed the
year following, when Ohio cast $780,
I'll votes for the Presidency, giving
Hayes 1916 of a majority over Tilden
s clear enough to the ordinary COM
In contrast with the result at the
Presidential election in 1876, that for
Governor the following year present
ID features decidedly anomalous. Five
andidates of as many different par
les were in the field, bringing out but
total vote of 5S4,967, falling off
rom the Presidential year of 63, 6O6.
low much that had an agency in the
lection of Governor Bishop is ques-
ion which the reader may elucidate
ccording to his own judgment. In
his instance the vote ranged: For
Bishop, Democrat 271,625; West, Re-
ublican 249. los; Bond, Socialist, 12.-
80; Thompson, Prohibitionist ,S36
ohnson, Greenbacker 16 9l2. The
af Cor Wook 90 |