St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-10-30
The Ohio Election.

Ohio was the center of national in
| terest last week. 1t was expected that
| the election in that state would indi-
cate with more or less certainty (as in
former vears) which party will win the
presidency. The democrats believe
that the election of their party ticket,
or even a very small republican major
! ity in October, would certainly give
them the state in November. Their
expectations, however, have been dis
appointed. Ohio is republican, though
she is republican by smaller maiori-
ty than in 1880. The majority or plu-
rality ranges from less than $4,000 for
the Secretary of state to nearly $1,000
for member of the Board of Public
Works. The plurality in the election
of October, 1880, ranged from 10, 900 to
5000. In 1880 the republicans elect
ed fifteen or twenty Congressman,
with plurality of %, 500; this year
they elected ten out of twenty-One,
with an estimated plurality of 1000
or 5000. 1t is in no sense, therefore,
great republican victory; nor is it to
be interpreted as signifying sponta.-
neOus and enthusiastic approval of the
republican presidential candidates.
The republican managers put forth
their best efforts in this great state,
seeing that, if it could not be carried
in October, they could have no hope of
carrying it in November. 1t can
scarcely be claimed that they have
held their own. They have a smaller
majority than they had in October,
1880; but they have overcome, despite
fhr TO fs,rl, h. Il
the adverse majority of $4,000 which
seated Governor HOadly last year.
To Governor Cleveland, with his
free rum principles, the Ohio election
brings no comfort. His party pursued
a most shameful course in the nomina-
ton and support for the supreme court
of man admitted to represent the
rum interests. The liquor dealers is
sued secret circulars attacking Mr..
johnson, the republican candidate, for
his temperance record, and calling on
all who wanted to see the saloons sup
ported to vote for the democratic nom
inee, Mr.. Martin. Prohibitionists
could not ignore the fact that the re-
publican party had placed itself
squarely on the temperance platform,
and they helped to swell the plurality
which Judge johnson received. The
state, with its Christian churches and
ministers, its moral and religious for
ces, would have disgraced itself if it
bad placed the candidate of the saloons
on its supreme bench.
The Blaine managers have sought to
give this election great national signif-
icance. They have assumed that even
a reduced majority would make the
state safe for their candidate in No
vember. They are rejoicing at the re-
suit. Let them not be too sure. There
are elements in Ohio which they seem
not to estimate at their full value. ST.
John is still in the field. The vote for
the prohibition ticket is not the meas
ure of the full strength of that par
ty. Both i'll Robinson and Judge John
son the republicans had temperance
men foT whom many prohibitionists
gladly voted. The 5000 or 10000
votes for the prohibition ticket show
an increase over 1880, if not over last
year.
When men come to face the issue in
November, with all local questions laid
aside, and consider cOnscientiously
their duty to the country, to the cause
of morals and righteousness, they will
pronounce a verdict which will have
no JOY in 1t for bad men. Those dem
ocrats and independent republicans
who love domestic purity and scout n
reform which is laid on rottenness
must turn from Grover Cleveland.
Those republicans who believe that
Mr.. Blaine is dishonest and corrupt
as we most certainly dO-must like
wise reject him. Are there NOT many
republicans who will turn from the
dishonest man of Maine to cast their
ballots for st. John in November Z
Are there not many democrats who