Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-06-12
OHIO REPUBLICANS DIssEcTEO
And Not Much Left of them Afterward-
Defeat Very Probable.
Sp,eial 10 Ia ReciSter.

And Not Much Left of them Afterward-
Defeat Very Probable.
Special 10 IAs Register.
SPRINGFIELD, o., June 1.-THE Republ-
cans express great deal Of confidence In
their ability to elect the ticket placed in
nomination to-day, as well as Republican
Legislature, which is to choose successor
to John Sherman. They base their hopes
Of success not so much upon the positive
strength of the candidates put in nomina-
ton, or any vital issues in the campaign, as
upon the assumed differences in the Demo
cratic ranks. Their faith in the saving
grace of Democratic dissfecuon is probably
not so strong as it was three months ago,
but it is nevertheless their principle stock
in trsde-the capital upon which they are
banking.
1t is assumed, on the part of the Republi-
can leaders, that the election of Mr.. Payne
to the Senate produced an irreconcilsble
division in the party.
They Seem to Forget
the fact that last year while that question
was fresh in the minds Of the Democrats,
with Col. Dudley at the head of the Repub.
hcan State Committee, with vast fund OF
ready money and all the resources Of the
| National Committee at his command, and
with Mr.. Blaine himself stumping the State
during the last two weeks of the campaign,
the Democrats only lost the State by
1000.
1t is true that early in 1884, there was
much bitter feeling in the ranks OF the
| Democratic party over the defeat of Mr.
| Pendleton. This bitter feeling was directed
| not so much at Senator Payne, but at the
methods resorted to by those of his ad-
herents, who acted under the leadership OF
/ John r. Mclean, who made personal
warfare against Mr.. Pendleton and knew no
4 scruples as to the weapons he used.
Cause of Defeat Last October.
/ By the l4th of October all these griev.
i ances were so tar forgotten that the Demo
/ Gratis would have carried the State, but for
the inexcusably weak local organization in
/ Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton aud Toledo,
| the places where Mr. Pendleton suffered
most at the hands of his personal enemy.
| In the rest Of the State the party substan'
TALLY held its own or made gains. What
ever, is the difference in the Democratic
party that may have survived last falls
election has now disappeared. And yet to-
days convention relied more upon Demo,
cratic dissensions for success than 1t did
upon the candidates or the issues presented
TO the people.
The second peg upon which the Republi'
cans hang their hopes is the recent Legisla'
ture. They claim that it destroyed the
confidence of the people in the Democratic
party. But this allegation is vague and
| general, 50 much so, in fact that it fails to
challenge public attention.
Played Out Charges.
The oft repeated charges of corruption in
connection with the Senstorship played out
year ago, and that was the only charge
seriously made against the Legislature even
by the most uncompromising Republican
papers. On the contrary the Republican
press have generally admitted that the work
| of the Legislature, as q whole, was credits'
bic. Then they seek to neutralize their
own endorsement by saying that the per-
sonnel of the General Assembly was dis
| creditable.
In addition to these assumed advantage
in favor Of the Republican party is the
prestige OF victory last fall, and the fact
| that the State has ranked as Republican for
q third Of q century-the Democrats only
having control during three gubernstorisl
terms and having the Legislature six times
during the period.
How the Republican party will regard
to-dsy's nominations and the platform Of
issues presented canLo; be coDjectured at
| this time. Platitudes and eyasions do not
count tor much in sny party, and they are
nearly always, if not universally, draw
back to the party of the minority. To-day s
proceedings
10 recognize the fact that the Republican is
the minority party, and are glibe with the
cid time unredeemed promises of reform,
and gittering with the negations and eva
sions that formerly postponed the storm OF
| public discomfort.
There is plenty of bad blood Immediately
beneath the surface and the bitter war be-
tween the friends Of Foraker and Beatty is
not over. The party is in the throes OF q
great upheaysl with q reorganization as the
ultimate outcome. There was fierce
struggle to reorgsnize the party to.
day for the Presidential contest
of 1883, but the contending
elements were too evenly matched for either
to achieve positive success. The result has
been a compromise on meaningless mega
lives, with a vast deal of carplng at and
furious, pointless and vague denunciation
of the Democracy. No intelligent man,
after reading the platform, will serioasly
claim that any party can be held together
upon such issues, or, more properly speak
ing. such lack OF issues. There is, there
fore, no fusing of the elements so recently
struggling for mastery and reorganization
and The contest will still go on
Under the Surface
liable at any moment to break out and de-
feat the ticket. 1t may hold together dur
ing the campaign and win one more victory
in q Republican State, but such men as
Gov. Foster, Gen Grosvenor, Mr.. Halstesd,
Mr.. Richard Smith, Mr.. Cowles OF the
Cleveland Leader, Gen. Robinson and
others, do not take very hopeful view OF
the future either immediate or remote, and
they feel that if the Democratic convention
carries out the apparent intentions OF spon-
tsniously calling ex-senator Thurman 70
the head of Its ticket the chances for Re-
publican success will be anything but cheer
IDg. W. a. l.
snnE eoRY SHIRT SHOUTING.