The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-11-08
lNplilinhhlcaltu-I
American Politics.

/ Inc LiecIoh IN Onio, mas Decn ire most inter
esting topic brought from the States by the late
mails. There is great significance attached TO the
result of elections in Ohio, because that State,
perhaps more than any other, Is a Representative
State in the sense that thu result of its elections
indicates, to great extent, the current of politics
for the time being. This is partly owing to the
fact that its annual state elections occur month
earlier than in any other of the large States and
it is therefore the first to give indications of the
current of events referred to-
Last year the Republican State ticket was elect
| ed in Ohio by a majority of some twenty-four
thousand. This year the Democrats have carried
| the State bv nearly the same majority showing
a change Of between forty and fifty thousand in
single year.
current politics of Ohio, to understand the cause
of this wonderful change WIKI a united party,
and full vote, Ohio has been Overwhelmingly
Republican for many years. But on the 'of
years, 50 called-that IS in the alternate years
when no Governor or President is to be chosen
the majority has usually been SMALL and in two
instances IN the last twenty years or more, pre-
vious to the present year, the Democrats have
actually carried the State-once electng their Gov
ernor, and once carrying the State Legislature.
This is an ''of year.; but that does not account
in full for the great revolution that has occurred
Questions have been coming up, for a number Of
years in Ohio as in other States that acute poll
ticians foresaw destined to distract the equa
nimity Of parties, and to good extent force re-
construction Of their metes and boundaries As
before the war Of the Rebellion the Slavery ques-
ton was a disturbing element, and finally forced
the old Wing party out of existence, and compelled
the Republican, its successor to take anti-slavery
ground so of late years questions have brought
about the result we see in Ohio; and we may as
well be prepared TO see similar results in other
States-perhaps throughout the Union.
Prominent among the elements producing the
result in Ohio, is Pyohibitio,,-no one can doubt
that Last wear the Prohibition party in Ohio
polled over 10000 votes; and it had been gradually
Increasing for a number of years, with no indica-
ton of abating until one Of the other parties
should take decided Temperance ground. As the
anti slavery agitation referred TO mainly affected
the Old Wing party, and drew Its recruits from
that party the agitation of the liquor question
made its chief inroads upon, and drew its recruits
from, the Republican party.
The Republican Legislature of Ohio this year
passed law, known as "The Pond Law, heavily |
taxing liquor sellers Of all classes a measure
which it was expected would suppress three fourths
of the grog-shops in the State. The result in tine
month or two that law was in force, showed that |
The expectation was well grounded But the Su- |
preme Court of the State decided the law TO be |
unconstitutional, on the ground that the permits |
sion given, implied, OH the payment Of the tax,
was virtually license to SELL which Is forbidden
by the State Constitution. The Legislature also |
passed law allowing lOcal option in all College
Towns; that is authorizing the Municipal author |
tiles of cities or towns having College within /
their boundaries, by ordinance to suppress the |
sale of intOxicants altogether, except for medi-
cinal purposes, IN their respective localities AS |
there probability that the Republican /
Legislature would take any rotrograde action at |
its next session. but rather that il would authorize
Local Option in all the towns Of the State, the
very natural consequence was, that all those in /
any wise concerned in the importation, manufac
ture sale of intoxicants, with all who are ten
aciOus Of the privilege of drinking, united in
league to overthrow the Republican party, and not
only effect repeal of the legislation already en-
acted but prevent anything Of the kind in the /
future. The lowest estimate Of the amount of |
the fund raised by the Liquor League to influence
the election, is one hundred thousand dollars. |
Some estimate it at twice that amount Such |
union of elements, and the expenditure Of such |
sum, could not otherwise than affect great mass
of voters among the ignorant and debased of all
parties and classes.
Another law of the same Legislature, which III
the opinion of the writer had as great an effect |
upon the election as these already referred to- is
law known as the smith Sunday Law an en-
actment requiring all liquor selling blishments
and places of amusement 20 be actually closed on |
Sundays; and making other provisions to prevent |
the dissertation of the Sabbath. This law arrayed
against the Republicans not only all who are in
terested III the liquor traffic, and those who are
tenacious of the privilege of drinking at all times
but 1t also stirred up the extensive German ele-
ment among the voters, who, with rare exceptions,
are not only tenacious Of the privilege of beer
drinking, especially on the Sabbath, but also of
using that day as a day of recreation, and all 1
kinds of sporting and pastme- In the great cities
other large towns the Germans are numerous
and since the of the Rebellion they have gem
orally voted with the Republican party. The
Democratic papers, and demagogues of all classes
omitted no opportunity Of representing to the
Germans that these laws arc entertainments on
their rights as citizens, and stepping stones 10
other and worse measures against their nationality
As the Cincinnati CONNER cif, widely circulating
"Independentn paper put ii: "Ihe Republicans
were going TO force them 10 attend Sunday School,
and drink the filthy river water only" So, in the
great cities mentioned the changes we're well-nigh
sufficient TO account for the political resolution in
Ohio which we have seen.
Undoubtedly, some of the measures of the Re
publican Congress, at its late session,-notably
the River and HarbOr bill-had an effect greatly
to augment the number Of 'stay-at-home" Re
publicans That was law, passed over the veto
of the President, making enormously extraTagant
appropriations for the improvement Of rivers and
harbors. 1t was put through on the tickle me,
Billy method" You vote an appropriation for
Iinker's Creek and will vote one for Paddy's
Run" &c.
was not prepared to see 50 great revolution
in Ohio, notwithstanding the causes enumerated.
But did expect the elections IN New York, Penn
sylyania and Indiana-not to say in Massachusetts,
occurring month later, to res1lt IN the triumph
Of the Democrats Not, however, TO any great
extent, for the same similar causes, In New
York aud Pennsylvania, the Democracy are united
while the Republicans are divided. III a manner
that it seems impossible to reconcile before their
elections. The Republicans IN both States are
overthrow the rule Of Bosses to squelch the
$ Machine" as it Is called otherwise, to get rid
Of the clique Of oice-holders aud Office seekers,
who have for years ruled for themselves, without
regard to the rights and interests Of the masses.
It is probable that Roscoe Conkling and Don Cam
eron, head bosses in those States respectively,
would rather see the Democrats in the ascendant,
then to see themselves repudiated By their own
parties. The result must be, the ultimate triumph
and publication Of the Republican parties, in
States usually and naturally Republican.
Indiana is always doubtful State, and Is greatly
by results in Ohio. So / expect the
next steamer will bring intelligence Of the triumph
Of the Democracy in New York Pennsylvania and
Indiana. ] shall be more surprised to learn that
Ben. Butler-the candidate Of the Democratic and ,
Greenback parties-is elected Governor of Mass
achusetts, than was in the result. 30 marked in
Ohio.
The outcome Of all this Is likely to be, that the
next Congress will be Democratic in both Houses
and probably Democratic President will be in
authority for four years after 1891 It is possible
but not probable, that a reaction that will avert
he latter contamination, viii occur in the next
NO years preceding the Presidential election. At
III events, the Democracy in power must undergo
great transformation in its principles and tao
les, 70 be able to secure any ascendancy in the
States We have considered, and in the Nation, for