The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-09
Ohio.

To-day the Ohio elections take place. So
far as the Democrats Of Virginia are con-
cerned, The worst has been discounted, and
an unfayorallc result can have no very
depressing effect. But suppose the appre-
tensions OF q Democratic defeat should
turn out TO I've not anticipations but simply
expectations foreiastc but n mere
fearY Is a favorable result yet possible?
We know not; but we do know that for
some reason or other the Democrats OF
Ohio have apparently taken new lease OF
life, aud count upon success rs at least
possible. The Washington correspondent
OF the Alexandria Gazette writes as follows
upon the subject:
" A letter from prominent Democratic
politician from Cincinnati received here
this morning says that Hoadly will carry
that city by ten thousand majority, and
that the whole legislative ticket will be
elected. A prominent Democratic Office
holder from the West said when this letter
was read that he believed what it said was
true, and that he had made fair estimates
OF the probable results not only IN ONO,
but in Iowa and Wisconsin also. and thai
his deliberate opinion was that Ohio would
give a large Democratic majority; that in
Iowa the Democrats would elect the Gov
ernor. the Supreme bench, and make large
gains in the LEGISLATURE. and in Wisconsin
thew would have majority in the Legisia-
ture. As all these States are usually Re
publican by large majoritics. these hopeful
ahticipat'ons are not entertained by Demo-
c1ats here. for II they should prove true
they would show that the entire Republic
can organization had dropped to pieces"
Can any reason be given for this changed
state Of things? Very easily. Within the
last two weeks it has become apparent that
the second OF the liquor-traflic amendments
proposed to the Constitution OF Ohio by the
last Legislature has fair prospect OF being
ratified. II will be voted for by large num-
bers OF people in the rural districts. The
votes Of many Democrats and those of more
Republicans will be cast for it. That
amendment will, If ratified, absolutely pro-
hibit the traffic in ardent spirits in the en-
tire State OF Ohio. But even if il shall fail
OF ratification this year, il will show so
much strength in the country districts that
the next Legislature will be expected again
to submit il TO the voters for ratification,
and with the prospect Of its early incorpo-
rutiOn into the Constitution.
Under these circumstances, how will the
Germans vote? Has the alarm of last year
disappeared entirelyy viii the fifteen
thousand German voters in Cincinnati re-
turn to the Republican party this year
We should guess that they will not. II
would not at all surprise us II Judge HOAD-
LY should carry Cincinnati and the other
large cities. ordinarily this would secure
his election. VIII it this yeary There Is
reason TO fear that some Democrats i'm the
counties will vote for FORAKER because the
Germans in the cities are counted upon as
OF HOADLY. This might again
turn the scale in favor OF FORAKER. Will
this fear be realized? 1t may be; but
il is not at all impossible that the
Democrats OF the counties Will sat-
isfy their tcCtotal conscienceS by yo-
ting for the second amendment, and
then crafty their Democratic propensities
by voting for HOADLY for Governor. TO
offset this advantage which will be pos
sessed by the Democrats. the Republicans
may gain the votes of some men who last
year voted the Prohibition ticket, but who
will this year satisfy their teetotal con-
sciences by voting for the Prohibition
and then crafty their Repub-
ican propensities by voting for FORAKER
or Governor. The Republicans expect
llso that some Republicans who stayed at |
come last year will this year turn out to
1ote for the prohibitory amendment, and |
ioting for it will also vote for FORAKER.