The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-10-17
New York World.
The Ohio Election.

. 1t is difficult to see wherein The Re-
puhlicans who study the figures OF the
Ohio election can end any consolation.
II the defeat which has overtaken them
could he ascribed to the operation of
single and removable cause, it would be
OF comparatively little conse quence, but
the case is quite otherwise. Ohio has
never had Republican "boss" or "ma-
chine" Of The sort conspicuous In thu
politics of New York or Pennsylvania.
nor has there been any eminent scandal
unearthed to induce the respectable mem
hers Of the party 10 Withhold their sup
port from is nominees. II is true that
the Republican managers, Foster, Sher-
man and the like, have been men for
whom it was not possible To feel the re.
spect with which one regards the honest
fanatic, or the intellec' ual admiration
which Is sometimes compelled bv mag
niticeDt or clever rascality. There has
been seltishness. a meanness, an insin
cerlty in all the Ohio Republican leaders
of recent years which has almost passed
into political proverb These men
,avc left their mark on the party In
the absence Of any central and control.
ling issue on which they could take the
right or at least the popular side, they
have lei 1t veer and waver, now ccqnet-
ing with the Prohihi,ionists and now
with the advocates OF Personal Liberty,
until both sides became fully convinced
that it was timid and treacherous. Forced
at last 10 declare itself on the side OF the
temperance men, the Republican party
had the colossal impudence simulta-
neously to attempt to cpnciliate the liq-
uor dealers and the German population
of the cities. Whether this was an ar
rangrment between Sherman and Fosiar,
or whether Foster played his associates
false, knowing that all would GO to po-
litical perdition together If the party
was defeated and that he would reap all
the profit if it we're vic orious, it is not
necessary to inquire. Tue fact remains
that the policy of carrying whiskev and
water on both shoulders failed as igno-
miniously as it deserved TO fail, the Ger
mans scratching the Republican ticke,
aud the Prohibitionists voting their own
But this would not of itself have ac-
counted for the defeat OF Tuesday. The
fact that the Congressman were swep,
owe board impartialy with the State OF
ticals, and that in the strongholds OF
the party ever since the time OF Gid
iings and Wade the Republican v,ters
stayed at home and let their party 90
crashing down, remains to prove to the
managers that the dsafecton is not oil
the sort they can conjnre with the Gus
somary cha ms. The Republican party
has been running empt'in's" for some
time past and its best and hlindest
friends are beginning to fnd it ont. Il
is NO longer possible to insist that thp
grand old party shall he maintained in
power as the sole guardian of honest,
and the helpless negro, when its leaders
at the ,uth are Malone and Chalmers.
The dangers that may resultto the cause
of good government from the triumph
of Cleveland, Pattlson or a Bayard
must set N triang to the man who re-
1ects that the de eEse OF purity and adj
ministrative reform is intrusted to q
Smyth, Cameron or Dick Harring.
ton. With Robeson's tool Keifer in the
forefront of their Congressional dclega
tion, sqaired by The apoogis! of the
River aud Harbor bill and of the ma
chine system in the civil service, Butter
worth, how could the Republicans appeal
to the voters OF Ohio for support as The
champions OF honesty, economy and
reform2 o: what use was it to claim
distinction as the party Of "God and
morality" with the reckless, ribald But
terworth ,,a Standard bearer2 The
fact is that the spirits the republicans
have raised abandon them; they are
"beginning to be found out"