New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-13
NOT SETTLED YET.

The Presidential election of 1881 has not
been decided in October, 1883. Some people
expected that itEwOud be. An hundred times
this fall we have heard the statement III the
Republicans carry Ohio they regain what they
shave usually'had, but if Hoadly is elected Re-
apublican defeat next years. certain" But there
has been no talk of that sort from sensible men
aimee the election returns began 10 come i'll. VI
course there is rabble which counts victory
assured every time and all the tme' rag
ments of this numerous but not intellectually
gifted crowd can be found in some editorial
rooms as well az in the grog-shops. But men
who do any thinking observe that the KepuDIlcah
Marty has already recovered a large part of the
vote lost last year on local question, that It's
defeat this year was due entirely to a new phase
of the temperance issue, and that 1t has proved
itself as strong as it.eger has been IN ONO and
Iowa. on all questions that have ever entered
into a Presidential contest.
The close vote in OHIO, notwithstanding the
great advantage which the Democrats derived
from the temperance agitation, makes 1t absurd
for them to count upon victory there in
Presidential election. The tidal wave" has
spent itself and the ebb has begun. When the
DaN HAS Detl lull, duil luO CNBO VI 'hC H'A"' ''
been washed by the glancing waves, ana all tho
muddy shadows have been hidden, If once the
waters have begun distinctly to reccde, the
poorsgt fisherman knows that in n few hours 1t
will be low tide, and how far the long reaches
of Shiny shadows will appear in place of shining
water and that where his boat now Gayly rides
il will then be stuck fast in the mud But some
Democratic fishermen seem to know less than
nothing of the tides OF public opinion, ana
hatter themselves that for them there will be
no ebb. Every sagaciOus politician knows that
a reaction from the tide of 1852, when once
commenced, is sure to 90 en- to the end. More
over. there are also special causes for distrust
of the future on the part of sensible Democrats.
Ohio is necessary to them, and they hoped to
manufacture in October, 1888, a candidate who
could offer them certainty of Ohio in No
ycnbcr 1884. But Judge IORdly has con.
trived to get mixed up in such way that
neither his nomination nor his election to the
Presidency can be regarded as a possibility
In short, the fight of factions in that State has
made it extremely improbable that the Demo-
Gratis can nominate any Ohio candidate with
chance of carrying Ohm.
Behind that lies the ugly fact that the party
has seized too much power and responsibility
for its own good I'm the touching words OF
Mr. WattersOn, the Devil is loose again. He
always is loose when the Democrats get power
to do any mischief. Democracy Is so construct
ed that, out Of power, the dog sometimes wag 5
the tai, but in power the tail always wags the
dog. When a Democratic majority in Con
gress and in the Ohio Legislature has been at
work month or two, the old, old story will be
told again; the rear-parts Of the party will
take command This is going to be exceedingly
trying to Democratic statesmen, and they may
well lay in a large stock of patience. Before
spring flowers come they will need it all.
The year 1884 Will have to settle the Presi-
Dental question for itself. We arc only this
much nearer settlement than We were year
ago. it is proved that the Republican party is
not dead nor broken, nor has it lost the conf
dcnce Of the people, but on national questions
is as strong as it ever was.