New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-06
REPUBLICAN PROSPECTS IN OHIO.

The Ohio campaign has now passed the stage
of preparation. The parties have declared
their aims placed candidates in the Held, an
their candidates have disclosed in their speeches
the course they mean to take, and the powers
they have i'm debate. The effect OF the posi-
tons taken by the parties and the candidates
mon pubIic opinion has also been to some ex-
tent made manifest. The general result has
been to confirm the belief expressed oy the
shrewdest Republican leaders early In the
season-that the State can certainly DO car
ried with proper effort.
The liquor question, upon which the Demo-
Gratis mainly relied at first seems likely to
hurt more than it helps them. The Scott Jaw
works well, brings large sum into the puo-
lie treasures, so that lighter taxes on property
are needed, and pleases the better class OF
liquor dealers because it drives many OF the
worst class out Of the business. The Demo-
cratic politicians who assail it are confronted
with the fact that the Democratic Leglsla-
ture of Missouri has passed o
more severe law of the same sort,
known as the Downing law, which compels
lquor-sellers' to give bonds in the sum OF
IS, 600 each, and to pay from $25 to $500
each for State purposes and not less than 500
nor more than $400 each for county purposes
every six months If this is a proper and
popular measure for an intensely Democratic
State like Missouri, it is asked, why should
Republican Legislature in Ohio be held unpar-
donable for enacting a law less severe In
fact, the new law proves so far popul@ with
citizens of both parties that the shrewdest
Democrats cease to assail 1t, believing that
denunciation of it does their party more harm
than good.
Ii was the hope of the Democratic managers
to avoid much discussion of the tariff question.
They lodged it in their platform as well as
they could, and Judge Hoadly tried to evade
it in his speeches, but the voters insist upon
hearing about it nevertheless. Judge Foraker
has treated the subject with great ability and
effect, as one of the highest Importance, and 1t
is clear that the policy chosen by the Demo-
Gratis will put them on the defensive, in the
hottest part Of the campaign, on the very
question which has deeper interest than any
other for a majority of the voters.
1t was expected by the Democratic mana
gers that =" barreln of money would buy them
victory in the end. 1t is unfortunate for them.
however, that the letter of j. II. Woodward
has been published, affirming tat Judge
Hoadley complained that his nomination "cost
too MUCH" and that $4,000 was too much
/" for any one to spend for the Office, to say
"nothing of the nomination" AS early as
July IL, dispatch from Ohio stated that the
candidate was besieged in his Office by gangs
of political strikers, almost past endurance,
and complained that the nomination alone cost
"fully $4,000, half of which was spout in
a. ~ fha
statements have created an unpleasant impress
sion all over the State. Decent voters dislike
to support q party which is controlled and
seeks to control the State by shameless
bribery. The strikers and bloodsuckers feel
no enthusiasm or a candidate who grumbles
that $50, 900 is too much for the Office. and
the shrewd managers think man who
talks 80 much is not a safe man to do
business for In the end, it is more than
likely that the loudly advertised barrel"
will cost the party more votes than it will
gam.
The Republicans are united, and working
earnestly together the Democrats do not
agree about Mr.. Hoadly's "new Democracy"
nor about the attempt to get rid of the odium
of free-trade ideas, nor about the manner in
which General Durbm Ward was defeated,
nor about the Ousting of John G.. Thompson
from the conduct OF the campaign, nor about
the treatment of Mr.. Pendleton. At present,
it does not seem possible that their full party
vote can be polled for such a candidate as
Judge Hoadly, nominated in such manner
over the 4" old fashioned and popular General
Ward, on platform that turns thee cold
shoulder to "a tariff for revenue only" and
warns up only in the effort to save liquor
sellers from taxation. But the Republicans
will not take success for granted. They will
make and ought to make the utmost efforts,
working to the end as if the result not only
in the State, but in the coming Presidential
contest, might turn upon every vote. Their
preliminary canvass shows large majority,
but the Republicans elsewhere hope that it
will not betray them into Over-confdenee.