The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-14
WEST VIRGINIA AND OHIO,

WEST VlRG1NlA AND UH1U'
The States of Ohio and West Virginia vote
to-day. Simply as local elections the results
would have but little interest outside of their
own boundaries; but as in some degree in
dicative of the temper of the country upon
the national contest to be decided next
month, the vote of to-day has an intense and
absorbing interest In West Virginia the
Republicans and Greenbackers have formed
coalition and are running mixed ticket, but
the best indications are that the Democracy
will carry the State. The fusion has not
realized much, if anything to the benefit of
ton of the Greenbackers and dissatisfied
a portion of the Republicans, while it has
unified and stimulated the Democrats. The
Republican party is not good party to Goa
lessee. Its members are fighting for some
thing else than spoils; hence they do not look
with satisfaction upon union with any party
or faction on basis of division of Offices.
The Democracy being "a conspiracy for spoils
and plumber, readily goes into any sort of
However, the outcome in West Virginia is not
of special importance.
Ohio is the battlefield, and there all eyes
are turned. Indiana knows what it is to be
an October and pivotal State, and the hor-
rors of 1880, as suffered in this
State, are being repeated in Ohio
now, possibly even with exaggeratons. The
country knows which party favors free cleo
ton and fair count They know the his
tory and record of parties upon this question;
and, therefore, they know it is in perfect keep
ing with the character and usages Of the De-
mocracy that they have overrun Ohio with
gangs of plugs repeaters, bummers and Shout
der-hitters; have deluged the State with the
appliances of fraud and corruption; have
raised almost fabulous sums of money to spend
upon the constituencies voter to-day, and
upon susceptible and dishonest election of
icers to corrupt the ballot-b boxes. The evil
dence of these scoundrelly prepa-
rations is cumulative. Gangs of cut
Threats from the large cities of
the Countrywide same or similar gangs which
were in Indiana in 1880-are now in Ohio to
do the dirty work for the Democratic party
The Republicans, particularly in Cincinnati
have invoked the protection of the United
States laws for preserving the purity of the bal
lot, and because they have done so the Dem
ocrats are shrieking with rage, and attempt
ing by threats, intimidation and open appeals
to passion, to brighten the timid from the
polls, even to the point of violence and blood
she'd If there is no rioting ID Cincinnati to-
day it will not be the fault of the Democratic
managers and of the Cincinnati Enquirer,
which yesterday printed such paragraphs as
the following:
Democrats must be prepared to fight the
most gigantic fraudulent machinery that has
ever been devised
"Let them prepare for hot battle"
And this addressed to the United States
officers, sworn to defend the peace and purity
of the election:
'If you hire yourselves out to make fight
you can not complain if you get more fight
than you expected"
Indiana had taste of this 'blood-tub"
style both in 1880 and before, at a time when
the colored voters of Indianapolis were ad-
vised to bring their collins with them if they
came to the polls. But Republicans do not
''scare worth cent, and we apprehend the
gangs Of bummers and blood-tubs, imported
to intimidate honest citizens and keep them
from the polls, will find that they have to
meet freemen who know their rights, and,
knowing, dare maintain them. As proof of
the truth Of the presence of these people in
Ohio. it NAV be asserted that a gang of about