The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-10-18
The Ohio Election.

by a little over 5000, as against Is, 1876
Democratic majority one year ago. The
Legislature will have about thirty Demo-
cratic majority on joint ballot, which Sc
cures the choice of Democratic United
States Senator to succeed Hon. George H.
Pendleton. The Supreme Court will also
be Democratic. We publish elsewhere an
article from the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette, which sums up the causes of Re-
publican defeat, and gives the assurance
that Ohio will wheel into the Republican
column in 1884.
We were very confident that the Repub-
lican candidate for Governor would be
elected by a majority ranging from $4,000
to 1000, until few days before the cleo
ton. Statements from reliable cores
pondents of the leading Republican papers
OF the country, written from various CEN
trail points in Ohio, prepared almost every
one for close contest and doubtful is
sue. The temperance question assumed a
controlling position and subordinated all
others. The Democrats took advantage
of this, and traded votes for the prohibi-
tory amendment to the State Constitution
for votes for Hoadly. Apprehension that
prohibition would carry. frightened the
barley, corn and hop raisers, and the grape
growers, because it would have interdicted
the manufacture of whiskey, malt liquors
and wines. Many of the Republicans,
among these, fearful of the destruction
of their trade, voted the Democratic ticket,
knowing that party was for free rum, free
whisky, free beer, free wine, as well as
free trade in these articles, without any
tax for the support of government Then
the wool-growers had been deceived by
well arranged circulars, holding the Re-
publicans responsible for the reduction of
the tariff on WOOL Senator Sherman had
voted for the compromise tariff law, as
the report of the Conference Committee
OF the Senate and House, and Senator Pen
dleton against it, which contained the re-
duction in the tariff on wool. While SEN
ator Sherman had voted against such re-
duction. sas an isolated proposition, and did
all he could to defeat it, yet when it was
incorporated into the tariff bill, rather
than have no modification of the tariff
laws, by which a reduction of taxes was
effected of $5O,OOO,OOO, he supported the
report of the Conference Committee. He
did this as friend of protection. Mr..
Pendleton voted against it because he was
for free-trade. Notwithstanding this, the
wool-growers, who are for high duties on
foreign wool, turned on the Republican
party and supported the Democratic ticket.
Many of the prohibition Republicans, in
the hope of securing the adoption of the
prohibitory amendment, cast their votes
for Hoadly to get democratic vote for the
amendment. But they not only lost the
amendment, but succeeded in placing in
power, in all the departments of the State
government, the Democratic party, which
favors the widest liberty in the whiskey
trade, and is not only opposed to the prohibit
tory amendment, but the Scott law. and all
other laws which are not first approved by
the saloon keepers and whisky soaks.
So the protective tariff Republicans and
the prohibitory Republicans succeeded in
placing in power the free trade and free
whisky Democracy, and the defeat of the
| Republican party which is for protection
| to all American industries and the regula-
| ton OF the liquor traffic so as to cause it to
contribute it's share, like all other branches
OF business, to the support of government.
About this time, when these Republicans
| begin to realize the results of their craze
on the wool and liquor questions, they are
no doubt quite sick. They have not
only lost what they thought they would
gain, but they have placed in full pos
session of the State government, the
most pronounced foes of all they wanted.
The Democrats who traded for Hoadly
votes and cast prohibitory votes knew they
were safe. They had calculated that if
prohibition had been successful, the Dem
ocratic party would also have been success
| full, and as the Legislature solicited would
have it in it's power to pass the necessary
laws to enforce the prohibitory amend
ment, or not, they felt pretty safe, know
ing that no such legislation would ever be
enacted by Democratic Legislature. AS
| it is, the Democratic ticket received
enough Republican votes to elect it, but
the prohibitory amendment did not re.
ceiye enough Democratic votes to carry it.
So the Democrats win both ways They
get the State government, and also free
whisky, and all through the stupidity and
fanaticism Of Republicans.
The prohibition party, too, is equally
deceived. 1t is deluded with the belief
that it polled 100000 votes friendly to it's
cause, when the fact is, one-half of that
vote is opposed to their policy and meas
| ure, but was voted for the amendment, as
theresult Of dicker to elect the Democratic
ticket. Even if the amendment had car
ried, it would have been dead letter with
a Democratic Legislature. In the general
trading all around, everybody was cheated
except the Democrats, and they won at all
points.
The lesson of the election of the 9th in
Ohio, will yield it's fruits in another con-
test. Republicans will stand to their party
organization, for it represents all that is
conservative in this country on all ques-
lions. The wool-growers, the barley, corn
and hop growers, the grape growers and
temperance people will learn that the
Democratic party cannot be trusted with
any OF their interests, and that the mani
pulatlons in the recent election were the
result ola purpose to deceive and cheat all
others, in order to elect the Democratic
ticket.
OF course party achieving success I'M
der such circumstances will find itself
confronted by insurmountable difficulties,
before which it cannot stand. 1t cannot
adjust it's course to satisfy the friends of
protection and free trade; of temperance
and free whisky; of total abstinence and
untaxed grog shops. There will be kick
ing on all sides, until in the end it will be
the kicking Of the Democrats out of power.
The result of the election in Ohio, in
stead CT depressing the Republicans in New
York and Massachusetts, has stimulated
them to renewed effort. and will bring out
the entire strength of the party. The Re
publican press thrOuphout tho conntrv af-