Daily Republican., 1883-10-11


Enough has been heard from the Ohio
election to show that the Republicans
have sustained a defeat, not over
whelming it is true like year ago, but
nevertheless it Is a defeat, But II must
be admitted that the defeat was br> ught |
about on local, not national issues
The election therefore is 40 test OF par
ty strength when the issues will he dis
tinctly made up and promulgated IN
national platforms. The campaign did
start off upon national questions and so
long as it was coatnra 10 them Tho Re
pub,isans gained strength and there
was not an Intelligent Democrat who
did not admit the success of the Rrnub-
lican ticket. But it was not long before
the dominant issue hpciine "A purely
loca one and "a the day OF election
drew nigh all other issues were lost
siaht of. That dominant issue was the
liquor question embodied in what was
called the second amendment to the
constitution, which prohibit thu man
ufacture or sale of intoxicating liquors
asa beverage. Though Republican,
Legislature passed the law leaving IL to
the vote of the people there was no decla
ration made in favor ofprohihition. Re
publican speakers did not advocate it,
but merely wanted it to be regarded as
a non. partisan issue. But outside OF
this the party was looked upon as being
com nltted to vigorous measures FIR the
regulation of the lilnor traffic and was
considered friendly to prohibition if not
openly in favor of it. 1t hal passed the
Pond liceuse law of 1881, which the
Supreme Court held to be uncons'itu-
tional, and the Scott law of 1888 whi-h
the Supreme Coirt held to be ronst,tu-
tional. Il the Republicans had slapped
right there they would no doubt have
succeeded on Tuesday, but the Scott
law and a law to submit a proh'bitofy
amendment proved to be too heavy a
load to carry through at the 5an.e time.
The Dam &c rats, when they found
that they made no head way on national
issues, and that sure defeat stared them
in the face, suddenly abandoned every
issue that had been raised, and mar
shaling their forces made a combined
and powerful attack upon the weak
point in their adver~ary's outp"s ),
They openly took sides against prohi
bition. The liquor interest Of the STATE
knew That the Democratic patty Wa,
their best friend and though ther,
were thousands of Democrats i'll fave
of prohibition there were twice as many
thousands of Republicans who Were o!'
posed 10 it.
They did not count their forces in
vain. The tariff question was for the
time laid on the shelf. Civil service
reform dropped suddenly out Of the con
test and every other issue except that o
prohibition or no prohibition, wa, aban
doned From that time the fate of thu
contest was sealed and the Republican
party was doomed to defeat Hosdl
the known foe to prohibition who up t.
that time was Il defeated, sad ieuly be
came popular, AM his popularity be
came sweeping like mountain ava
lanche gathering force a. it progre.ser
and bearing all down before II.
Whisky or no whisky beca ne tn
wlt3nw)rl If tl' c)nt-n Ting ptrtirs
Political lines were obliterated. WhIl'
thousand Democrats voted for prOMi
bition and the Republican ticket, tw
Thousand Republicans voted the Demo
cratic ticket and against prohibition
Prohibition has been the cause Of thu
defeat of the Republican party III Ohic
and had the same party not been over
whnIminyly strong in Iowa the SAM
result would have followed there
These causes will not be in the wa
in the approaching Presidential cain
paisn. The Republican, party Ii;
learned experience by the comes
through wLict 1t has just passed an
wi dlvcst itself OF side ISSUES, IN ia
future. The prtsllcntla. contest vi
be tn tht upon national isaUe,, the tar
if leaGins, and i'll such contest Oh
will BE- as sure a Republican State Us
ever Na1 been in the past.
THE FErVIDENT Society IT t|i
city i. making another appeal to til
public for assistance that they may a
quire good winters start II assist Ii
needy, of whom there are always man
in our midst. They propose 10 hold
1 L. Il l. L