New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-13
AN INSTRUCTIVE DEFEAT


An INSTRUCTIVB DEFEAT
The Ohio election has greatly disappointed
Republicans. Perhaps their disappointment
would have been less keen if they had only
considered the natural effect of the treatment
of President Garfield's friends in New \ DIRK
and PENNSYLVANIA upon President Garfield ;
friends in Ohio. The Republican leaders in
Ohio had not thought it a proper time to mani
fest any dlspleasure at the course OF the
Administration. Sons of them, indeed, had
taken much pains to stand well with President
Arthur and the most extravigant and un-
reasonable speech made by any member of
Congress in defence of the appointments of
the present Administration was made by Mr..
Butterworth, of Cincinnati. With some leaders
thus fulsomely praising the Administration,
and none emphatically censuring it, the party
in Ohio was being placed IN such position
that its success would he claimed and generally
regarded us an Endorsement of President
Arthurs course. The sturdy Republicans of
principle, whose hearty detestation of trading
politicians has made Ohio Republic ansm what
it is, have taAcn occasion to show their opinion
about the matter. There is not the least
danger that anybody will now regard the result
of the election in Ohio as popular approval OF
the present Administration. There may be
doubt as to what it does mean. But everybody
knows it does not mean that, at any rate
The Temperance question had much to do
with the result, no doubt. The open alliance
between Democracy and the whiskey-jug and
beer-cas6, though it gave large fund to the
Democratic Committee, and placed thOuands
of workers at tho polls for the cause of Free
Whiskey and No Sunday, did not move tenn
perance voters to corresponding exertiOns.
The reason is plain. The Republican party
had taken considerable pains not to obtain re-
Inducements from that quarter. Part of its
leaders and organs were willing, but part
were not willing. Part would have been glad
to commit the party unreservedly to the sub
mission of a constitutional amendment which
had been promised, in the estimation of many,
prior to the last session of the Legislature. But
others were disposed to try other means for
the regulation and reasonable restraint OF the
liquor traffic Against every effort in that
direction the liquor interest rebelled. 1t fought
against the Republican party just as strongly
and unitedly, because of moderate measures
for regulation of the traffic, as it could possibly
have done had prOhibitOry amendment been
submitted to the people. BY adopting half
measures, the Republican party lost all that it
could have LOST by any other course and
gained nothing. For the vote indicates that
the believers in prohibition were not disposed
to help the Republican party, without assUr-
ance that its success would mean more than a
new and probably futile attempt to restrain
and regulate. In that frame of mind, many
voted for a separate ticket, and many more re-
fused to vote at all.
1t is evident, also, that the conduct of the
Republican majority in Congress, at the last
session, was regarded with disfavor by many
Republicans. This appears in the remarkable
changes made in the Congressional delegation.
Had there been no such feeling, earnest Re-
publican voters would have labored to save
their candidates for Congress, even though,
being disposed to resent Temperance legisla-
tion-tney voted for Democratic State officers
and legislative candidates. So the prohi Dition-
lists, also, though willing to defeat the party
locally because of its treatment of the local
question, would have been anxious to maintain
Republican ascendancy in Congress if the
course of the majority there had met with
favor. But the result shows that the Repub-
lcan Congress had not satisfied the voters of
that party in Ohio Though the Speaker was
taken from that State and is reelected, the
conduct of the majority in dealing with the
important questions pending during the last
session, and especially in regard to the appro-
priations, seems to have produced even more
dissatisfaction there than in Eastern States.
This is one of those defeats that do party
good, provided they are rightly met. The Re-
publican party can see in the light of the Ohio
election, where 1t will bring up two years
hence, if it adheres to its course during the
past year. If it ties itself to an Administration
that makes wal upon majority of the voters
of the party, it will lose something. II it elects
to Congress men who think everything of self
and selfish interests, and little of the public
welfare, men who rant and wrangle, dodge and
dawdle through whole session, neglecting
public business, and Jealous only when person
alities or jobs are on the carpet, it will lose
something. If, in dealing with any new ques-
ton of great Importance, it fails to act firmly
and courageously upon its convictions of duty,
1t will lose something. But 1t is sufficiently