Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-17
The Turning Point.

that Is one explanation; but oil Democrats
will not agree that 1t Is the only one. Mr..
CONVERSE. for instance. a member OF the
present House Of Representatives, but who
did not offer ms candidate for reelection,
makes the following explanation:
"If Congress had restored the wool tariff
last winter the Democratic party would
have swept the State by upwards Of four
thousand. but the Free Traders would not
Iisten 10 this. Thew now see the result.
The introduction OF Government employees.
pension and post-ofiice agents, has dwaried
the will OF the people. The result in Ohio
will have no effect on the presidential issue.
The Democrats are well organized aud de-
tesmined, and the campaign from now on
will be pushed with the utmost vigor. |
have no doubt OF Mr.. Cleyeland's cleo
tion."
We know nothing as to the first reason
given by Mr.. CONVERSE for the Democratic
defeat In Ohio last Tuesday; but every
body, whether living within or without the
State Of Ohio, will concede that the second
reason assigned for that defeat is OF itself a
sufficient explanation. There are often
several causes contributing TO produce
such defeats, any one Of which was sufficient
10 effect the end. The one TO which we wish
to direct attention this morning ia the second
one named by Mr.. CONVERSE. Federal
officials carried the Ohio elections last Tues
day as q means Of perpetuating their own
hold upon the offices Of the Government.
The hand Of the Federal Government was
laid upon the State. The bayonet decided
the result there. Not that the bayonet was
actually IN sight; but because every voter
knew that the bulldog pistols and hickory
sticks Of the. Federal deputy marshals repre-
scented nothing less than the army OF the
United States. The bsyonet was there in full
force though masked.
Look ut the vote OF Cincinnati. What
was the Republican majority there? 1t
was less than three thousand. Ii was a
msjority OF about two for every deputy
marshal standing, pistol in hand or pocket,
by the side Of the ballot-box. Deduct the
votes OF these purchased minons, and the
votes Influenced by them. and it is clear
case that the majority was on the Demo-
cratic side. Think. too, OF the numerous
Federal officials in Cincinnati-the letter.
carriers. the mail-agcnts, the internal-reve-
nue. spies and iniormers, the pension pay
ers, &C., &c.
How can the people ever free themselves
from the power Of party thus unscrupu-
lous In iis methods pa party that pays
mercenaries with money taken from the
peoples pockets for defying the peoples
wills
Take the whole State Of Ohio. and what
do the figures Of the results show! II
there were 100000 votes east land tb, is,
we take II, low estimate,) and the Repub-
lican majority is less than fifteen thousand,
~ 1t undoubtedly is. change OF ono rote in
a hundred ,couid change the result. Isn't
1t, therefore, as plain as day that the Re-
publican victory in Ohio on Tuesday last
was victory over the people themselves,
and was won by officials who are paid out
OF the peoples pockets to perform official
duties, but who prostituted their offices to
the basest partisan purposes! II there
we,e 100000 votes east, and the Republican
majority was 10000, the votes were divided
ns follows:
For Republican candidates. ............ $4,000
For Democratic candidates. ............. 370.u0O
Republican majority .........".....". 10000
But take 5,00i votes from the Republican
side and add them TO the Democratic side.
aud the Democrats would be in the ina
jorlty.
Were 5000 votes cast by or controlled
by Federal officials! Or, to state the inter-
rogatory differently, was one vote in hun
bred east by or controlled by Federal
ofiicialsi We don't think there can be
any two opinions on this point. Everybody
must admit that Ohio was carried for the
Republicans on the l4th by Federal officials
Of one sort and another, and by the use OF
money collected from other persons and
from Federal officials OF one sort and an.
other that Is TO say, the election was car
ried by bribery, intimidation, and personal
solicitation; by deputy marshals and super.
visors, backed up by ofice-holders and
connections interested in Keeping them
in Office.
Rave you q doubt that Ohio was carried
for the Republicans In the manner pointed
cut! II the result was due to such causes,
what has become Of the form OF Govern
ment established by WASHINGTON, JEFFER-
SON, and MADISON. and their associates ?
What has become OF the free government
left 10 us by the fathers Of the repablic :
Where u the republic. What limits are
there to the powers Of the Federal Govern
ment as that government Is conceived OF
aud administered by the Republican party !
Has the contIol OF the Federal Government
passed from the hands OF the voters into
the hands Of the ofliee-holding class! from
the hands Of the people themselves into the
hands Of party, not TO say mere faction
These are living questions. They must
be decided BY the people OF the North. The
South has always been true to the fouuds.
tion principles Of the Government. She
will lend her aid TO the good work Of res
cuing the republic from the perils which
threaten lts existence. hut the southern
people are not able Of themselves to accom-
plish this important tssk. New York, and
New Jersey, and Connecticut, aud In.
diana, and Illinois, and Wisconsin,
m,ist assist. In the North the speakers
and the writers OF the Democratic party
must arouse the voters. For surely this Il
turning point In the history Of this re-
public. II the methods we have pointed
out prove successful this time. the wear
1883 will nnd the Republican party irwin
cibie. II will entrench itself behind tens
OF thousands Of Federal officials, and defy
the people TO drive II from power. 1t will
DO openly then what II does secretly
now. II would hardly be TOO much 10 say
that the coming election Of President will
II the event supposed be the last oae de-
serving 70 b called IN election which will
ever b. heid IN this country. For a. the
ersai<st AZ poets ssys, "lnersass Of appetite
1880 ~ vwhaf n fo66s m, - kwd The ala