Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-10-17
The October Drawn Battle.

The October elections present a fairly
drawn battle in results, with the prestige
of the greater victory with the least effort
on the side of the Democrats.
With incomplete returns from ONO,
enough are at hand TO warrant the Repub-
LEANS in claiming the State by over lo,Oo0
majority and the scattering returns from
West Virginia Indicate from 1000 to
1000 Democratic majority-mnch the
largest majority ever given against the
combined Republican and Grccnback vote.
After the most desperate and exhaustive
efforts ever made by any party in any
State; with Blaine leading the battle in
person for fortnight; with Federal OIL
cials swarming in every county and i'm
portant centre of the State; with hundreds
of thousands of dollars lavished to bride
the venal, quicken the sluggish and de-
bauch the ballot; with the largest vote
ever cast i'm the State ut any election, and
with majority OF over 30, 900 on the vote
pollct, Ohio has been saved to Blaine by
little more than half the majority u solid
Republican vote would have given him.
This is Il Republican victory that strongly
forc-shadows Republican defeat in No
vember.
On the other hand, West Virginia is re-
ported rs Democratic by Il majority large
~ in excess OF any majority ever cast
against the combined Republican-Green-
back vote, and that the result has been
achieved without eXlIausting the resources
of the party throughout the nation. In
decd, it MAS accomplished not only with
ont lavish expenditure, but in the face Of
one wing of the Blaine dcbauchery that
covered Ohio. West Virginia was the
as Ohio was the picket line of the Repub-
lican West and Northwest, and West Nir-
ginia has increased her Democratic ma jor-
ity with moderate effort, while Ohio has
reduced her Republican majority after the
most exhaustive and costly contest of our
political history.
The Presidential battle is now remanIed
back To New York, and Cleveland starts
on the home-strctch vastly in the lead and
with odds largely in his favor. With Ohio
saved by only the most violent party ef-
forts, Indiana is not doubtful State. Her
vote will DC given to Cleveland; and llli-
noiS, Michigan and Wisconsin will tremble
in the balance. New Jersey may be count
cd as safe for Cleveland; New York and
Connecticut will be desperately disputed,
with Blaine OH the outside track, and New
Hampshire and even Massachusetts will
demand desperate Republican effort to
hold them to Blaine.
The vote Of New York will now decide
the great Presidential battle of 1854 us it
settled the desperate struggle of 1880;
and it is evident that the present current
of sentiment in that State must be mate
rally changed. to give Blaine reasona-
bic hope of defeating Cleveland. 1t is pos
>ible that local complications may give
New York to Blaine rs it was possible for
like complications to give Ohio to the
Democrats and West Virginia to the Re-
publicaus; but the October States prove
that national issues are paramount to local
complications, and New York is not likely
to be al exception. The present outlook
promises Il majority of from 10000 to
$4,000 for Cleveland in New York, and
the aspect of the contest must be essen
TALLY changed, if Grover Cleveland shall
not be elected President in November
Philadelphia Times.