Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-11-20
(For the Voice.)
THE OHIO ELECTION AND ITS
LESSON.


The result of the late election In Ohio was
eminently satisfactory to our friends there,
whose vote was for God, and Home, and Native
Land, because their numbers had increased
nearly three hundred per cent. since the No
vember vote In 1884, but II was not satisfactory
to me. There was never question submitted
to popular vote involving right and wrong
more clearly and distinctly than the issue In
that election. The issue upon the one side was
all wrong and bad, so bad that no other can be
imagined involving more mischief to the nation,
more degradation and brutalization to the peo-
pie, without even fractional compensating
good. There was, In fact no issue in the eec-
ton between the Democratic and Republican
parties except rs to the offices of honor, profit,
and trust, which the political bosses of both
parties covet, and to obtain which they were
not only willing but eager to sacrifice every con-
sideration of national prosperity and the well
fare and happiness of the people.
The liquor vote gravitates naturally to the
Democratic party. without 1t the party would
be beaten without It the Republican party
could not win. Consequently there was an
active and earnest competition between them
for an alliance with the saloons and with all
included In that interest. The Republican
bosses outbid the Democrats for that vote, and
won 1t to their support. The saloons extorted
from the Republican party satisfactory answers
to three questions 1t was In the bargain that
the answers should be direct and explicit The
questions were:
1. VIII you oppose Prohibition?
2. Will you oppose submission to the people
of a prohibitory constitutional amendments
3. Will you give legal support and protection
to the liquor traffic?
To all of them the answers were emphatic:
eyes, WE WILL"
Whereupon the Liquor League OF Cincinnati
at a meeting called for that purpose, voted
unanimously and heartily that the attitude of
the Republican party toward the liquor interest
was satisfactory, and that the party should be
supported with all its power This compact be-
tween the Liquor Leagues and the Republican
party was not made secretly, as II thing to be
ashamed of, but openly and publicly, as a thing
to be proud of and to rejoice in. The Republic
can papers and bosses treated it in that way. 1t
was n treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive
a treaty of mutual help and support between
the Republican party and the saloons, the form
er guaranteeing protection of law to the liquor
traffic and to everything depending upon it and
coming from it, in exchange for the votes of
the saloonists and OF all whom they could in
tiuence. This was compact between the Re-
publican bosses and the lowest, vilest basest
take about this, for no intelligent man will de-
ny that the liquor interest includes all and eve
rything that is low, and base, and vile among
our people-Sabbath-br breakers, blasphemcrs,
thieves, vagabonds tramps, robbers burglars,
gamblers, pimps, procurers, house-burners,
murderers-men who live by the violation of all
law, human and divine-men who trample un-
der foot the good of society and the rights OF the
people, rights of property and person. The
treaty of alliance speak of was between the
Republican bosses and these elements of our
society, and only with them.
was in Ohio at the time of this treaty and
had much talk about it with our friends. There
could be no ,lOuDt that considerable nQrt of
the vote OF the rcsidum speak of would be won
from the Democratic to the Republican party,
gigantic crime of crimes" would ALLEVIATE from
the party large number of Christian voters, so
that the gain would be more than offset by this
loss. l misjudged the Christian character OF
the churchmen of Ohio. This shocking, shame
full compact with the devil alienated few, If any
of them, so far as have heard, and the so called
best part of the people went to the poles side by
side with the worst and voted to abandon the
homes of the country TO be blasted by the liquor
traffic.
do not misstate or overstate in putting the
matter in this way. II there was ever com
pact made with the devil this was one. 1t was
bargain to sell out the highest interests of the
nation and the dearest interests of the people to
be ravaged and destroyed by agent of evil 50
great that it far outweighs in its malign in.
combined 1t ought not to have been successful
| in Christian country like ours it ought tC
| have blasted the party seeking to win a pitiiul
| advantage by a betrayal so shocking and base OF
| every public and private duty. waited to see
| what would come of it, I found the political
bosses had made n truer estimate of Christian
profession than had. Their bargain was based
| upon the belief that this was sham, while
supposed it to be real. saw no religious paper
| that disapproved ii in any way-I saw som,
which commended it to the support of thei
| readers,
But l do not believe that the support of til,
Church to such II compact will be permanent
They may go on for u while in that way, n
| they did in upholding slavery, but by and b!
| the truth will dawn upon them, or some othe
tt.s11
| association with so foul Il partnership.
was not satisfied with the result in Ohio.