Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-06-14
Can the Republicans Carry Ohio?

Can the Republicans Carry Ohio?
Notwithstanding the representations
of Dem ocratic prophets and the loud
cries of Democratic claQuers, victory is
within the grasp Of Ohio Republicans.
The Buckeye State is solidly welded TO
the party of patriotism and national
progress, and whenever the Republi-
cans choose to make an earnest 6ght the
Democratic banner must 60 down in de-
feat. 1t is. therefore, simply idle TO
talk Of Democratic ability to carry the
State this fall, or in the next Presides-
tial election. In proof of this we are
ready to adduce facts and figures. When
Garfield led the column in 1880, the Re
publicans of this State cast 375,O4s votes
beating their Democratic opponents by
81, ,227 majority. The State campaign Of
1882 was conducted under peculiar cir
cumstances. Garfield had suecumbed to
the assassins bullet; more or less dis
trsst of Arthur's administration existed ;
Republican legislation upon the liquor
question had given offense to the brew
ers and manufacturers Of domestic spir-
it's; and all these things combined to
give the Democrats the election, which,
it will be remembered, was only for mi
nor State officers. In that election the
Republicans pelisd 297,759 votes to
Sl6,s74 cast by the Democrats. Compared
with 1880, the falling off in the Repub-
lican vote was 1880 in 1882 In all
probability the detection of the German
Republicans last fall cost the party
about ten Thousand votes. The Prohi-
Ditionists polled only 2,6l6 votes in 1880,
but last year they were able to muster
12,3O2 votes for their candidates. This
temporary increase Of $3.50 in the Pro
hibitiOn vote was also drawn from the
Republican ranks, making total defsc-
tion of, say in round numbers 10000.
This still left reserve force of more
than $1,000 Republicans, enough, had
they attended at the polls, to have
handsomely beaten the combined forces
of the Democracy and Prohibition. That
this is no mere guess is shown by the
Democratic vote of 1880 and 1882. In
the former year that partE r"'lIed its en-
tire strength, which was a4' S21 votes
while in 1882 the sggregatr ii he Dem
Ocratic vote was 316,S74. 1t will thus
be seen that the Democracy last year
only fell 23.947 short of their vote of
1880. Looking at these official figures,
it requires no argument to prove that
with temporary falling of Of 10000
from their ranks to the free liquor and
prohibitory parties, the Republicans
possessed the strength to have carried
the State by a handsome majority, even
if every Bourbon Democrat who voted
in 1880 had cast his vote in 1882. If the
detection which attended the campaign
last year still exists, although it may
reasonably be doubted, the State is safe
tor the Republicans by large majority.
From 1876 to 1880 the increase of voters
in Ohio numbered 66,S1S. The same "a
ito of increase since 1880 would give
nearly fifty thousand additional voters,
of which number fully fifty per cent.
may be claimed for the Republican par
". This increase more than offsets any
strength which the liquor and prohibi-
tory interests are capable of drawing off
from the party. 1t leaves the Republi-
cans with reserve force of more than
eighty thousand over and above the
vote cast in 1882. 1t is only necessary
for them to bring this reserve force to
the polls to sweep the State with the
force of hurricane. The unanimity |
and earnestness of the recent State con
vention gives token that Republicans |
and are ready to buckle on |
the armor for a winning campaign. |
Grave local and national questions pre- |
sent themselves for consideration, and |
the voice Of Ohio will 60 far toward set
Ting the Presidential election in ad-
vance. Uader the circumstances the |
of this State cannot afford |
to be apathetic. They owe it to the |
of Garfield; to his successor in
office; 20 their party friends in other |
States: to the excellent candidates who |
have been selected to lead their forces |
and, finally, to themselves, to hold Ohio |
firmly in the column of Republican |
States. Ii the men who raised the ban
ner of victory in 1880 will fully recog- |
nize their responsibility and determine |
upon Il conscientious discharge Of duty, |
the State will go Republican in October
next as certainly as the sun will rise and |
set on election day Cleveland Leader. !