The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-10-25
The Ohio Election and it's Lesson.

The Ohio Election and it's Lesson.
The following article from the Cincin-
natl Commercial Gazette, possesses inter-
est to all who wish to understand the
causes of the defeat of the Republicans
in that State on the 9th inst.
THE ELECTION AND ITS LESSON.
The prominent feature in Ohio in the late
canvass at the polls was not Republcanism Or
Democracy. but the liquor question, and the
forces engaged in the contest for the second
amendment, while having secured a large vote
for it, have nothing beyond that to show for
their labors except the election of a Democratic
ticket and of Legislature Democratic in both
branches.
more difficult campaign on the Republican
side was never conducted in Ohio, than that
which has, just closed. Upon this point our own
experience is, no doubt, that of every promi-
nent Republican leader i'll the State and es-
pecially that of Judge Foraker, who de-
feated, not by Democrats, but by Republican
votes. Democrats voted largely for the prohi-
billion of the liquor traffic, but at the same time
they took care to:yote their party ticket. The
Democratic press and leaders did not hesitate
to oppose prohibition and also, largely, the
Scott Law, but this did not lose them the sup
port of Democrats who voted for the second
amendment. Judge Hoadly notably opposed
both, and yet he owes his election to those who
favored the second amendment or 1.-THE Scott
Law, or both. On the other hand, because the
Republican party refused to make the second
| amendment a party question, and Its candl-
date said he would not vote for it, he was traded
off and defeated by friends of the second amend
ment, who Republicans.
| The Republican party was between two fires
| !, VT Gid md he
strong second amendment men on the other
1t took middle ground, and displeased both
| sides, and suffered in consequence. Had 1t adj
vocated prohibition, had it made it a party ques-
| ton, it would have been overwhelmingly de-
| feated, and one hundred thousand Democrats
who voted for the second amendment would
have voted against it. The amendment owes
the large vote it received to the fact that it was
not party question, and that people felt free
to vote for 1t irrespective of party.
| Democratic discipline is different from that
| in the Republican party. Last year, for ex-
ample, Democrats who favor temperance voted
with anti -temperance people to punish the Re-
publican party for passing the Stubbs' BILL
This year the Republican party suffered because
of its position on the liquor question, and a
Democratic Governor, who favors free trade in
liquor, is elected, one hundred thousand Demo-
Gratis who supported the second amendment
voting for him, although he said in speech at
Zoar that he did not want the votes of the second
| amendment people. On the other hand, Re-
| publican prohibitionists helped to defeat For
aker, because he said the second amendment
was not party question and he would not vote
for it. They skipped all their political princi-
pies to vote against or defeat, by sulking, man
who agreed with them in all things but one.
Democrats skipped the second amendment and
| voted for their candidate because he was nomi-
mated by their party machinery. The prohibit
tionists put in power party that is opposed in
Ohio to all possible temperance legislation.
The Republican party was perfectly honest in
what 1t did on this question. 1t does not as q
party, believe in prohibition as practical
measure, and it has had the courage of its con-
victions in this regard while doing all that II
could under the circumstances to regulate the
traffic and bring it under control. The Scott
Law, while a tax measure Us also local option
and the residents of any municipality or dis
trict can, If in q majority, prohibit the liquor
traffic. This is the law in Kentucky, and under
it saloons are prohibited in five hundred magis-
terial districts in the State. The Scott Law was
passed as a compromise measure. Extreme
liquor men are not satisfied with 1t, and ex-
treme temperance men are not satisfied with
it. The former want absolute free trade, while
the two, Judge Hoadly, who favors free trade
under graduated license (when that is utterly
impracticable), was elected Governor and 9
| Legislature was chosen that may be expected
| to repeal the local option feature of the Scott
law. Indeed, we shall be agreeably disap
pointed if the Scott Law shall not be removed
either by legislation or by judicial decision.
For two years to come the Republican party
will be relieved from responsibility, and nov
our temperance friends will have the Demo
| cratic party, which some (enough) of then
helped to place in power, to deal with. Mean
time the Republican party has only to main
tain. its ground. 1t has aimed to do what i
believed to be best for the State, and III
the light of what is sure to come under Dem
| Ocratic management it's acts Will be approyet
by those who now diSapprove them.
| The agitations of this question is due largel.
| to the aggressiveness of the associations In the
liquor interest, which persisted in undertaking
to rule the politics of the State. While sue
ceeding in this to large extent, they have nov
been confronted with an enormous vote IL
favor of prohibition, and one-third of this came
from party that the liquor trade depended
upon to stand by them. A large part of thi
vote, too was cast by people who do not believe
in prohibition, or who do not think it possible
of enforcement, but who cast their votes as
reDuke and a warming to those who thrust thu
liquor traffic into politics. The latter may, ant
perhaps to some extent will. take this lessor
home and conclude that it is policy to keel
their business out of the range of tn
stormy weather and to have the traffic reg
ulated and controlled In the direction of guard
ing against the evils that result from it.
ssBUCHUPAIBA.',
Quick, complete cure, all annoying Ki6
ney, Bladder and Urinary Diseases. s
Druggists.