Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-10-25
Lessons the Fall Elections Teach.

hconOns lhe Fdll EltctiOnS reach.
The result of the fall elections in Ohio
and Iowa, like every other event in which
the people are the principal actors,
teach lessons which those not blinded
by partisan prejudices and egotism will
apply to their proper uses and put such a
value and estimation on, as will not make
them over jubilant on the one hand or
Respondent on the other. The result in
Iowa was not surprise to anyone, ex-
cept it may be that the Republican ma
jority was not larger. Prohibition to
be or not to be, was the question en-
bodied in the platforms of the two great
parties, openly and squarely advocated
by the Republicans, and as bitterly and
aggressiyely denounced by the Demo
Gratis. The Greenbackers were not to
be counted factor in the struggle, ex-
cept as a standard around which the ap
grieved and disappointed might rally
and dodge the great issues which were
ut stake. Iowa with her great re-
sources and possibilities, by what she is
and has done, is head and shoulders
above her sister states. Her citizens
obey her laws, her debt is paid and pro-
hibltion is an accomplished fact. In
Iowa If any one lesson is more forcibly
taught than another it is that moral in
fiuenccs and questions of principle and
dong 1.-THE greatest amount of good to
the greatest number of people" have
had their weight in the minds of the
voters, and that our politics instead of
beng in the hands of demagogues and
llllterate men, intelligence and moral
suasion are obtaining sway
In Ohio much the same condition of
things in regard to prohibition, existed
before the election, EXCEPT that il was
made an amendment to the constitution
instead of being openly made a party
matter as in Iowa. Last year Ohio Re-
publicans suffered defeat because they
refused TO let this question 90 to the
people, this year they were defeated be-
cause they did. The Republicans made
a gallant tight but the principles of the
party were made secondary to prohibi-
ton, and the radcle prohibitionist did
not hesitate to trade off their state and
local tickets to the Democrats for votes
for the amendments. 10000 votes
were cast This year, which was about
l2'oo0 less than were polled in 1880 and
the statv has increased in population
during the last three years so that her
voting population is at least 2, 900 more
now than then, which shows more than
2l,OOO voters staid at home. most of
whom were Republicans, and of the
l2,OOO votes which were cast for the
FrohlbItlon nominees q large proper
ilon were from the same party. The
night waged was heroic one and the
cause of temperance is stronger to-day
IN ONO for the conflict, even if they
were defeated and dragged the Repub-
lcan party down with it, and which
Will lead them to fight il again with bet
Ter prospects than before, and they will
continue to fight it until victory perches
upon their banner TIE lessons here
taught to great mass of voters is, that
because in an off year when the whole
vote OF one party was brought out and
large portion of the other party's
vote remained at home, and with the
lines drawn closely on local ques
tons the Democrats were able to
carry Republican state by a
small majority, they see in it
great victory in the national contest
of next year. But the shrewd heads Of
both parties do not see it that way, but
as danger threatening the Democracy.
a danger they oftener suffer from than
any other, which is over confidence. In
1880 after the defeat in Maine the Dem
ocrats in proportion as they were elated
the Republicans were spured to work
MS they never did before in Ohio and
Indiana. and with what result is well
known. Local issues are not to be
taken into consideration with national
questions, and in 1884 when the ques-
ton ofcivil rights is refought, the tariff,
civil service reform and other questions
are before the people, Ohio will resume
her old position in the column of soil
Republican states.