The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-11-07
FaE OHIO DEFEAT.
The Disaster Now Attributed to the
Extravagant Course of Congress.
New York Times, Rep.

New York Times, Rep.
COLUMBUS, Oct. 27.-There are some
lessons to be learned by a glance over
the official vote cast at the recent elecs
ton which the Republican members In
Congress would do we'll 10 ponder over
To charge that the agitation of the tenn
perance question was the sole cause Of
the defeat of the Republican party is no
doubt very satisfactory to the Republic
cans In Congrees, and they are no doubt
anxious to throw off any responsibility
that might be charged to their own aci
count. There is no doubt that the agi
tation Of the temperance question cost
the Republicans several thousand votes,
but not enough 10 give the Democrats q
majority, and that the candidate on the
State ticket polled heavier vote than
did the Republican Congressional candi.
dates clearly establishes the fact that
the people of the State were in no hu.
NOR to indorse the River and Harbnr
steal by returning to Congress those
that had opened the way for raid on
the Treasury. If the Republicans had
had for Congressional candidatts men
Of higher attainments and men who had
not been charged with swindling, the
majority of the Ohio delegation would
have been saved to the Republicans; but
the rotten timber was thrust aside b,
the voters. and the loss sustained will
probably result IN a Democratic Con.
gress.
While the Democratic victory in Ohio
is not regarded as indicsting the prefer
ences OF the people, the shrewd poll.
ticians are free to admit that it is an
emphatic rebuke Of the people against
the loose character OF legislation that
has marked the career of the present
Congress. The rebuke ls as strong as
that which marked the campaign OF 1877,
when Ohio Republicans refused to in
dorse the administration Of Mr.. Hayes.
That Republican Congress, and not
the agitation of the temperance question,
caused the result, is shown by an ana
lysis or the vote. Mr. 2endleton voted
against the passage of the River and
Harbor bill. AS a result, nearly all the
Democratic candidates for Congress in
Southern Ohio we're elected. and those
not elected were defeated by less than
forty majority, and will contest. Even
the third officer OF the Government,
Speaker Keifer, was severely snubbed,
and ran sadly behind the State ticket.
In the northern section Of the State the
stronghold of the Republican party
the home and field of Senator Sherman
was overturned and Congressional
candidates that had had q RepublicaI
majority Of over 1000 we're beaten by
reputable Democratic candidates by
nearly 1000 The following will serve
to illustrate: State Senator Horr was
fortunate enough to manipulate bill
through the Legislature which placed
him in strong Republican district-not
less than $500 He secured the noml.
nation at the Congressional Convention
by questionable means and was defeated
by Senator Sherman's Democratic neigh
bor and townsman Geddes. by maj ,ri!y
of l $50 votes Senator Sherman made
strenu us efforts to save Horr. but with
out success. All his efforts during the
campaign were of no avail Mr.. Sher-
man voted for the passage OF the River
and Harbor bill, and he apparently has
lost bis influence, at least temporarily.
To those who have studied the sub
jact. the conclusion arrived at is that
while the Republican loss was heavy on
account OF the temperance issue, the
real cause for the loss OF the State can
be justly charged 10 the Representatives
in Congress. Despite the fact that there
wasia relentless war waged on Mr. Town
send in all the large cities, because Of his
temperance ideas, he received nearly
1900 more votes than all the Republi-
can Congressman combined. In the
Republican strongholds, especially in the
rural districts. the vote was unusually y
light The decrease in the Republican
vote was nearly 16 600 as compared with
the v, te of last year, and shows falling
off of over 1000 as compared with the
vote for Gen. Garfield in 1880.