The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-10-29
THE OHIO ELECTION.

THE OHIO ELECTION.
Private Dalzell,s View of the Cam
paign and It's Results.
Special Cor. Pittsburgh Dispatch.
CALDWELL. o. Oct. IA. 1881.--It
was Garfield in 1879, it was Garfield
in 1880, and Garfield in 1881 who car.
ried Ohio for the Republicans. No.
man living ever saw such a political
campaign as that just now so bril-
liantly closed in unprecedented trE
umph. / have been on the STUMP
in every campaign since the Repub-
lican party was born, except during
the war when was stumping it with
a musket in the ranks of the Union
army, and / may be permitted to say
that never before did any man see
such contest between the Republic
can and Den,oers,tie espartIess nj everl
Dufing the Pfesident's Illness the
State, like the Nation, was dumb
with horror and suspence, and not a
sign was made by either side. 1t
was tacitly agreed that nothing
should be said until either the recov-
cry or death of the great President.
True, quiet meeting here and there
was held before the Presidents last
relapse, but there was so little inter-
est taken in politics that it amounted
to nothing. The people would hear
of no one but Garfield. His sickness
absorbed every thought. All eyes
were on his death-bed. 1t was felt
to be PROCLAMATION of the solemn sew
enty odd days ofsorrow and suspense
to think or talk of party politics.
Such was the condition of the cam
paign until he died. Then followed
the impressive funeral occasion at
Cleveland, with all its sad assecia
tions. That week nothing was done
in politics. l mean nothing public
ly; but both parties were at work
quietly in all the wards and town
ships working up their voters. The
Democrats after the funeral conclud-
ed to continue their silence. No
Democratic meetings were held.
Not one. The tender and sensitive
state of the public mind warned
them that it would be perilous to
hold public meetings.
If they held meetings their stuml-
ers must either repeat the scandalous
and slanterous 1929" and the Morey
letter or take them. Either course
insured disaster. So they masked
their batteries and prosecuted a still
hunt in the dark. The Democrats
never were SO quiet before. But the
vote shows how busy they were to
get out the full Democratic vote.
Their campaign was wisely prosecu-
ted. They had Hobson's choice.
They took the only course open to
them, and yet it led to defeat.
On the other hand, from the week
after the Presidents funeral until the
day of the election, the Republicans
held meetings everywhere. 1 never
saw meetings better attended. 1t
was surprising to see so many people
at every meeting. They were quiet.
l never saw such quiet, sober, SOL
emn and thoughtful political meet
ings. The people could think of
nothing but Garfield. The speakers
could think of nothing but Garfield.
AT all our meetings you heard moth
ing but Garfield. Garfield seemed
to preside at every meeting. If he
had risen from the dead and stood
us as he did years ago, in all
his matchless strength and glory, and
addressed us in his charming and
style as of old, he could
not have seemed more really present.
His name was on every lip. 1t was
an inspiration, 1t filled the canvass
with an enthusiasm that prepared the
great majorlties you have seen re-
corded for Garfield and his Admins
tration last Tuesday. There were no
drums, no cheers, no confused noises
at our meetings as in other years
all quiet as funeral services-but
deep undertone of earnest thought
fulness preyaded them all and was
visible in every eye. 1 never saw
like it.
Would Ohio go back on Garfield Z?
Would Ohio forget her favorite son
in his grave' 1 heard these ques-
tions everywhere. No other thought
was tolerated in the canvass. No
other man was dreamed of from first
to last. Garfield did it-he did it all.
1t was glorious sentiment, but sem
timent, say what you will. rules the
world at last. The Republic sprang
from sentiment as Minerva from
the head of Jupiter, and it was a sen.
fimnnf which hathpd 0nr H.,n. e., o,,