Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-16

Blame on the Stump.
Mr.. BLAINE going TO Ohio to stump the
Statei We don't credit that report. IL
has grown out Of the fact that he is OK.
pecicd TO be present at the Exposition, to
which he and Mr.. CLEVELAND have both,
we believe, been invited. Not for one
moment 10 we heed the report that the
man who refused TO vote either for or
against prohibition because, so he said, 1t
was "locai ISSUE" will dare to face the
Prchibiuonists OF Ohio, who carried forty
seven out Of the eighty EIGHT counties OF
tia. State last year, and who, so they
charge, were wrongfully counted out OF
their victory.
Let us imagine that Mr.. BLAINE has
mounted the stump In Cincinnati, and is
delivering telling speech. Just as he has
made one OF his best points "Prohibi-
ton crank asks him whether he is in
favor Of the Maine liquor law. What would
be BLAISE's answerf II he replied In the
Affirmative. his "cake would all be dough-"
90 far as Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin were
concerned. On the other hand, II be re-
piled In the negative he would lose the
votes Of thousands Of Prohibitionlsts IN the
same States.
There IL another contingency. Mr..
BLAINE night say he bad not reached a
conclusion on the subject. But his "mag-
netismr would go for nothing so soon as
he should appear before voters who had
definitely made up their minds on the
prohibition issue, aGd told them that he
bad no opinion on a question which had
been agitated In his own State for thirty
years or more.
Therefore, we do not credit the story
that BLAINE is 10 be called upon to put his
shoulders to the wheel OF the Republican
chariot in Ohio, to push II out OF the
slough in which 1t has found ITSELF Other
means Usust be found. Other means will
lie employed. In a word, money will be
Irofosely spent by the Republicans in order
TO prevent the people from getting ga look
at the books" These books have for
twenty-odd years been in the hands Of the
most INSCRIPTIONS party which this coun-
Try has ever produced. When in 1875 the
voters ordered change Of administration
snd the opening and examination OF those
books, ZACH. CHANDLER, JOHN SHERMAN,
WILLIAM f. CHANDLER, and various
other Republican party-managers entered
into conspiracy TO defeat the will Of the
people, and in spite Of all that the Demo-
Gratis could do, counted in the man who
had been rejected at the ballot-box. JOHN
SHERMAN himself was once Secretary Of the
Treasury for years. OF all the men 10
the United States he ought to be
the last 10 try TO conceal the Trea-
sury books from the eyes OF the people.
Ofllce-holders will be assessed heavily in
the effort OF the Republican conspirators to
carry Ohio Ia October and thus pave the
way to national triumph in November.
Office seekers will be called upon to con-
tribute literally to insure the success of the
party from which they expect 10 derive
their titles to fat places. Rich monopolists
viii be threatened with disasters as a con-
sequence OF their refusal or failure TO help
to swell the Republican campaign fund. In
brief, the world viii be "turned upside
down" In the endeavor Of the party Of
sectional hate TO retain its hold upon the
Offices OF the Federal Government.
Suppose, however, tat we misunder-
stand MIR. BLAINE. being unacquainted
with the motives which are powerful
enough to impel him TO undertake to ward
OF Republican defeat in Ohio in October,
and be should take the stump in that be-
half. What tbenf We answer that we
should regard his appearance in that capa-
city ms confession Of anticipated defeat.
They are "dosperate diseases" that re-
quire "despente remedies; aud surely
II would be desperate measure indeed for
Mr.. BLAINE TO appear before the people as
an advocate Of his own election. Horace
GREELEY may be said TO have done the like
IN 1872. But II he set the example Of
speaking for himself, the overwhelming
defeat which followed points out what
would be the result in Mr.. BLAINE's case
should lie initiate that bad example.