National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-30

The national contest is much further
advanced than it was on the last day of
September four years ago. Up to nearly
the LIST of September. 1880 tho republican
party floundered about like poor swim
mer in deep water, getting weaker and
sinking lower with every struggle. Its I
leaders were divided aud at loss forJan
issue upon which the party could. ufite
and press forward. Tho tia5 had set in
strongly against the republicans and the
fact was .ppte-- t6 tho world. The pros
--pcct was gloomy. Deioat seemed inev-
table.
Suddenly everything else was dropped
and the tariff was made the issue. Pro-
lection was the themo upon which every
editor wrote and every orator spoke.
Tho lines were formed and grand
charge was made. Democratic breast
works in Indiana and Ohio were stormed,
the dishesrtoned defenders wero over
whelmed, and the victory was won. A
stand was made in New York, but the
game was up. Tho democrats had made
their fight and lost Their defeat in
October was hopeless. Betting odds on
tho presidential election were 800 to $50
on Hancock on the 1st of October. Two
weeks later the odds were reversed.
Indiana has been taken from the list of
October states, but tho west is noverthe-
loss the battle ground, as it was in 1880.
Ohio is torn up from Lake Erie to the
Ohio river. The energies of both parties
arc concentrated upon Ohio, and the at
tention of the nation is directed toward
that state. Protection is again the over
shadowing issue. The democrats tried in
vain to ignore and dodge tho question,
but they have been forced to meet the
issue face to face. They are losing ground
steadily, and from all appearances they
are on the run. Their chances look
desperate. They have not given up the
contest, but in anticipation of defeat they
have commenced talking dispiritedly in
the vain hope of disoounting the result
Two weeks ago they were boasting loudly
of their ability to carry Ohio. The Ger
mans had gone back on the republicans
and the liquor element was Sc
like flint against the party o
good government. When they analyzeC
the canvasses the democratic leaders wer,
chagrined to discover that they hat
been counting among their new recruit
the same Germans who had come int
their camp previously and that the liquO
interest had been solidly democratic from
time immemorial. The better class o
Germans remain Arm in the republi
can faith and anticipated republican dc
sertions have failed to materialize.
On the other hand, thousands of work
ingmen who had heretofore voted tn
democratic ticket abandoned tho party q
froe trade instincts and low wages an
enlisted in the republican army. Man
thousands of Irish-Americans. upo
whose support the democratic party ha
always relied, have sickened Of demo
cratic hypocrisy and turned republican
They have enrolled TO stay, and the
oarnostness is unquostionable. Republ
cans throughout the state arc Rrouse
and keenly alive TO the importance
carving the election in October. Unle
appearances are woefully deceptive, Oh
will roll up one of her old-time majorIt
AS an earnest of what she can do and wi
do in November. Democrats have N
quit working. and an enormous CORFU
ton fund has been concentrated for Vi
at the polls. What effect this briber!
money will havo on the result remail
TO be seen, but the prediction is mac
that It will not roach.
Tho republicans may not carry We
Virginia, but they will cut down tho o
position majority considerably. III
manufacturing interests are largely
sympathy with the republican part
We do not share tho hope entertained
come quarters that the republicans a
strong enough to win in Wost Virgin
this year. Tho leaven is working, ho'
ever, and time is bringing about gre
change in the political sentiment of t.
people.
In three weeks the theater Of operatio
will be New York, Now Jersey, India
mainly. If Ohio gives rousing repu
lican majority there will be every roas
for believing that every northern sta
will 20 republican in November. t
democrats no longer attempt to belit
tbs revolt of tho Irish Americans in NJ
Jersey and New York, and in these t