Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-10-18
The Lesson ofthe Ohio Defeat

There is a disposition on the part
of partlsans to whose political theo
ries and practices the defeat in Ohio
is rebuke to ignore Or be little its
tue significance by attributing it to
purely local causes. There is no
such division of the dominant party |
in Ohio as exists in New York or
Pennsylvania, and no special out
cry against bossism such as bodies
i'll to the managers" OF those and
other States. The issues which
were of purely local character do
not account for the election OF dem
ocratic Congressman by change oil
from fifty to sixty thousand votes
The Pond law and the Sunday law
Of which the Germans complained
might account for large defectionS
in the cities and larger towns where
the Germans are mainly congrega-
ted, but they offer no explanation
of the decisive defeat OF the repub-
lican ticket in the rural DISTRICTS
and even in the Western Reserve
so long famous for its unvaryIng
political faith. General causes are
to be looked for. There is, perhaps
much in the view tna' the repuph'
can party is the patty o. combat
and that the period Of combat Is
past. The thrilling battle-cheS o.
war times and Of the times immcdI-
ately subsequent to the war are ou'
OF date, having become ridiculous
and tresome 10 the masses, VINO
look to the future rather then tAe
past, Yet they were the successful
cries until 1876, and it was the
element OF the party winch relies
on the 'eiectrityins' power OF bloody
shirt denunciations OF tie South,
the stalwart, which made Galilelds
campaign Success III 1880, when
It's failure under different policy
was assured. CouIlling's rcsigna'
ton and Garhed's 'eaih. tie ono a
proclamation OF wide differences
b, tween the active, intellectual and
aggressive minority, and the senti-
mental but sluggish and unlnven-
five majority OF the party, the other
the accession TO power OF the min~
oriiy under circumstances that made
reconciliation with the majority
difficult il not impossible -ibcse
were 10 the parry event. pregnant
with tar reaching and disastrous
consequences. They amount to 4
permanent schism between the
brains and body. There IS 10 dir
ective power at work. Torpor,
softncss ard commonplace are the
result. Apathy prevails i" Ohio as
well as in Penns, lvana and New
York, maxim division and defeat
possible where under other circnm
stances they would Uc Incouceiva
Die. The faction which Possesses
the genius and ability to iniuse
warmth. color and enthusiasm into
campaign is in New York the
predominant; one, Il is rue, but il
is the minority faction, and is dis,
credited by tue high handed and
machine methods it employed in
nominating its candidate. IuPcnn
sylvania similar state OF things
exists, and, We may add, in Virgi-
MIA also. TO sum up the salient
features Of the situation it is enough
to point TO the tact that there seems
to be 10 prospects Of reconciling the
party with It's Shrewdest leaders, or
OF bringing the latter TO correct
apprehension OF tue better political
conscience OF the tim S. Civil ser
vice reform, economy, reduced tariff
and taxes are ideas which the bos-
ess OF the old eia will not take in,
but will continue to reject TIL their
successors are in oflicc- Baltim0re
SIN.