Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-08-28
The Political Situation.

The Republicans are making great
pretense OF carrying, or of t,z;inq. to
carry. West Virginia The probable
ties are. however. that they viii make
little-or no effort TO carry that State.
Their consultations IN that neighbor-
hood are merely fciuts intended to
bring uneasiness to the mind of the
Democratic leaders and to draw their
attention away from Ohio, where Steve
Elkins and his gang propose to make a
desperate struggle for victory in the
October elections. This is matter that
is of exciting interest to Democrats, and
vet it is not of vital importance. There
is little doubt that we shall he able TO
carry West Virginia by a large ma ority
as usual and if we do not carry Ohio
there is nothing lost
1t must be borne in mind that Ohio
is not pivotal State so far rs the Dem
-ocratic party is concerned. In other
words, Democratic victory in Ohio is
not essential to Democratic victory in
other States. We hope and expect to
carry Ohio, bat if we do not there will
be no occasion for gloom Ohio is q
Republican State in Presidential years,
or has been heretofore, and if it should
prove to be Democratic in October the
people would undoubtedly accept it rs
an omen of certain victory. But if the
Republicans shouid carry the State in
October the fact would have no s;gnifi-
canoe so far as Democratic success is
concerned.
1t is this situation-this prospect
thai gives the Democratic party deci-
ded advantage in the contest. Defeat
in Ohio will be fatal to the Republic
ans, and this fact wiz nerve the Demo
Gratis in that State TO put forth their
best efforts. On the other hand Demo
cratic defeat in Ohio in October would
bear no material relation to the Presi-,
Dental canvass. With these facts star
ing them in the face, it is not likely
that the Republican eorruptionists who
have charge of the Blaine campaign
viii waste any effort to carry West
Virginia while their Ohio stronghold
is In danger; and that il is IN danger
we have the best reasons for believing.
There are also other States that threat
en- to go Democratic, though they have
been in the Republican column for sew
eral years. The truth is. ii IS inpossi-
bic TO estimate the OBJECTIONS from the
Republican ticket. since it is made up
of two elements Numerically opposed
to each other--the German element
which has revolted from the Republican
tendency to prohibition, and the Piohi-
bitiouists, VINO declare that Republican
whisky Is as bad as Democratic whisky
That the detection of these two eleme nfs
is very serious is not denied by the
Blaine organs, but they claim that It IS
Offset by gains among Irish Democrats
and working men- We think. however,
that this claim viii prove TO be prepos-
ferrous
The situation in New York Is some
what peealiar-if we mar thus describe
the effect of the seandadous attack
made by the Republican political
preachers and organs on the private
characters of the Democratic candidate.
The Democratic newspapers, we are
rlad to see, have left Governor
Cleveland.s defense wholly with the In
dependent Republicans who have es-
poused The Democratic cause We
need not saw that the defense has been
complete A committee of Independ-
emf Republicans have investigated the
charges and the result is entirely salts
factory. In addition to fl.ss, the New
York Erensz2g Pos, has printed an edi-
torial reply TO Governor Cleveiapdss
desamers winch viii undoubtedly have
the effect of silencing those who have
been engaged ia an attempt 10 drag
the GOOD maine OF an honest man In the
mire. The ISLANDERS circulated by the