Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1883-10-27
CHARLEY 70 STEERS PLATFORM.
The Republican Party Dead ia
Ohio-The DlsintegrasioD OF the
Party lhe Cause Of Defeat
A Neat Little FHIure

lNDIANAPOLIS, OCC. 1O.-l see In The
papers that many Of the Political pro-
phets (like myself have been explain
ing the cycloue which swept over Ohio
last Tuesday, and giving variety OF
reasons why the republicans were de.
feated. Were not modest person
would ascribe the defeat to myself, and
have no doubt but many Of the breth.
rem will take this view Of it. think,
however, that the general cause is clear
enough, and is the gradual disintegra-
tion Of the republican party. The cur
rent Ut The vote shows this clearly.
Knowing as l do the efforts made on
behalf OF the republican ticket in Cuys-
h0ga and Hamilton counties, where,
with an honest vote ON the real issues
there should have been not less than
ten thousand democratic majority,
can see and understand that large
number of former republicans have
grown tired Of voting Tor the same men
aud gang of men, instead of in the
interests of the business of the country.
During the campaign hundreds OF re-
publicans said that they were tired OF
the constant attempts Of the party
managers to do at the ba lot-box and in
conventions the things which should
be done ut the churches. Gov. Foster
said to me one night during the cam
psign:s r-,r T l,--t
.:rLe state can define crime and
af1ix its penalty. but If 1t attempt 10
make a crime Of every act which does
not accord with the views of the ex-
treInely religious, people, the statute
books will soon be filed with laws
which will not be enforced, and in
lime there will come general disre
gard tor laws. The refusal for years
of all officers to notice the violations OF
the law relating to Intoxicating liquors
illustrates the tact. am charged with
being the author or instigator of the
proposed prohibition T.. amendment.
when, in fact, have never believed 1t
a practical possibility even if adopted.
Whole counties would disregard t,snd
the near. st practical approach to it is
in local option. So long as the repub
lican party il OH the side of the mater
ial interests Of the country it can hope
for power, but when it neglects them
for abstract moral questions its voters
will leave it. The reign Of the party
has been long, aud it must keep pace
with the public current or sink"
"And how can it do that w Iasked.
'.Get ON tho practical side of the tar
iff question; oppose the growing ten
dency to monOpolies; declare in favor
of regulating justly the railroad corpor-
atiOns Of the country; limit the power
Of the federal jnd ,ciary, which now as
sumes to run railroads and every 9TH
kind Of corporate business, and finally,
make practical. law preventing the
acquisition by foreign nom residents of
immense landed estates which can be
transmitted pefpetnaliy, and which in
bility in this country. These are the
real questions to be considered in this
country, and the party which deals
with them most iatelligently will and
ought to control"
l wrote out his views at the time, but
he objected to their publication on the
ground that 1t would appear like an
attempt on his part to make q party
platform. The election Is over now,
and the public oan have his ideas.
1t il plain now that without prac-
tical realignment Of practical parties,
Ohio has ceased to be q republican
state. No matter how much may be
expected in the next campaign by the
republicans, if party lines remain as at
present, without regard to local ques-
tions in that state, the democracy may
place Ohio in their list of states. They
have no occasion to repeal the Scott
law. The Germans by their votes
have signified their acceptance Of it,
and the vote Of the whole people on the
prohibition and license amendments
shows their disposition to leave that
question just where it is. As Judge
Hoadly said early in the campaign,
at was NOT question whether. he or
Judge Foraker wOnld make the best
governor, but a question Of which set
of ideas should control in the govern
ment Of the state and nation" Moth
ing was left undone to beat this side of
the case and the forces against him
were under the command OF the most
skillful political generals, but they lost
their battle. II Judge Hoadly had q
bad political record the people did not
care, and If he was lied about it only
gave him additional strength to make
his campaign one Of principle instead
OF dealing In personalities.