New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-08
OHIO At THE FRONT.

/
Again it rests with Ohio to show the true
feeling of the people toward the National re-
pnblican party. Repeatedly it has fallen to
that State to lead the way; many times It's
| faithful Republicans have been called to stand
| in the breach and not once III any Natlonai
| emergency for twenty years, have they failed.
In recognition of their services they have been
extraordinarily honOred. The high places
| that are or have been worthily filled by men OF
| that State attest its great influence in Republl-
can councils. That influence the men of ONO
| will not willingly diminish. The convention
yesterday was conciliatory, judicious and con-
fident. Remembering Garfield with aflec-
tionate pride, the Republicans of Ohio
still showed themselves ready to strain
every point to think well of his sue
cessor. Holding fast to the old body OF
sound Republican doctrine, of which they
have ever been foremost champions, they
met with equal candor and courage the new
issues raised by their temperance legislation,
and stood as firmly as ever on the side OF
order, morality and obedience to the law.
The Republican party appeals to the people
| this year in behalf of free ballot and an
| honest count The country has before 1t
conclusive proof that enough Congressional
| Districts to turn the scale in the House
have been falsely and fraudulently mlsrepre-
sented. 1t has seen that these frauds have
been perpetrated, not against Republicans only
or mainly, bat at the South mainly against
! Greenback voters and Democrats who sought
to resist Bourbon cheating and violence 1t
has learned that this has been done, not once
only, but at successive Congressional and
for nralx
has come to be the gravest and most important
of all questions whether the government OF the
people shall be permanently defeated by this
| conspiracy to rob them of their rights. 1t has
seen the entire Democratic party engaged III
preventing the mere consideration OF contested
cases, because any discussion would expose
| Democratic theft. 1t has heard the Democrats
! of the South threatening that tissue ballots ana
| rifle-c clubs should no more be employed to de-
feat the will of the people and to carry Demo-
cratic tickets in that section, If the party dld
not prevent any exposure and punishment OF
crimes already committed. And it has seen the
whole Democratic party, with scarcely an hon
orable exception, criuging before this threat,
and resorting to most infamous revolutionary
steps in order to retain the power OF carrying
elections by fraud.
There are former Democrats at the SOuth
who have become Independents, because they
feel that this issue transcends all others. They
saw with truth, that it is useless to ask whether
| the people want a high low tariff, hard
money or soft money, banks or no banks, SO
long as the people are not allowed to cast free
votes and to have those votes honestly counted.
| Necessarily this question lies behind all others.
If the people of Ohio express the same convlc-
ton by Republican majority, Independents at
the South will be powerfully encouraged and
aided to overthrow the swindling usurpation
by which Democrats seek to carry elections.
But if the people of Ohio waste their time IN
matters Of less importance, showing indif1er-
ence as to the purity of the ballot box and the
preservation of the right of the people to rule,
resistance to Bourbonism at the South will be
exceedingly difficult
The Republican party is entitled to the conf
dence and support of the people of Ohio on other
| grounds. 1t has established and maintained
an honest currency with the hearty approval
and aid of a majority of the voters of OHIO
But Democratic success would instantly expose
the country to reversal of all that has been
honestly and wisely done to that end. The
Republicans have established and maintained
tariff under which the very puGdlers who are
now on strike have been receiving So per ton
for the work which in England is paid less than
50 per ton, and other labor has been aided in
the same manner. If Ohio were to vote upon
the tariff question only, it would assuredly
sustain the Republican party in an honest
effort to reform abuses ald mistakes in the
system of taxation, as against party which
strives TO destroy the protective system en-
tiIely.
Since the voice of Ohio was last heard in a
National election. the whole world has watched
at the bedside, witnessed the sublime herOism,
and worn mourning for the death of il PIeai-
dent from that State Ohio had known and
honored General Garfield before the Nation or
the world came to know his worth. Can Ohio
forget him before Republicans of other States
have ceased TO resist the reversal of his policy
and the punishment of his friends I President
Garfield was the representative of that Re-
publicansm which cares much for truth and
duty, and little for place or plumber. That
Republican party still exists, adheres to its
convictions, and appeals 10 the people in the
State OF Ohio just as it would have done had he
lived, however much it may have been crowded
aside in some other States by the bosses and
machine workers. The highest tribute that
OHIO can pay TO the beloved leader who is no
more is to vote as he would ask the State to
vote if he were living 1t can pay no greater
honor To his memory than by showing that his
own strong sense of duty, his own fidelity TO
convictions have inspired those who followed