Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-06-17
THE NORTHWEST
RepublIcan Papers Please Copy.

- -
Republican Papers Please Copy.
One of the last acts Of the Ohio Legis-
Iature before adjournment was the pas.
sage Of bill to gerrymander the State
according to the redistricting plan oi
1882. -.H --,.-.-.
This remarkable exhibition OF fhOgish-
ness was done contrary to the advice oi
many leading Republicans, John Sher-
man himself being of that number.
The act itself Is one of a most damna-
BILE outrages ever perpetrated on a peo-
ple and Is sure to prove boomerang
that will slaughter its supporters.
II every voter in the State Of Ohio
knew all the facts concerning this "res-
toration,n as the Republican papers are
pleased to call 1t, by which the "infa-
nous Democratic gerrymander" was
done away with, the Republican party
would not elect a Congressman In the
States. Let us look the measure over.
Ohio is classed among the doubtful
State-usually slightly Republican but
sometimes Democratic, and Is always
carried by close vote, one way or the
ether. The State Is recognized as close
fighting ground. The pluralities at the
October elections for the last ten years
have been as follows: 1875, r. 5,784;
1877. d. 22,620; 1873, r. 3,164; 1879, r.
I7,l29; 1880, r. 1905; 1881, r. "a, 800;
1882, d. 1915; 1883, ID. IL, ,529; 1884,
r. 11,3l8; 1885, r. 1888.
The State was redistricted by the Re
publicans in 1882 according to q plan
which was expected to give them II
Congressman and the Democrats 4. But
the people arose in rebellion against
such Injustice and when the votes were
counted in the Fall the Democrats, not
withstanding the gerrymander, had car
ried the State by a plurality Of 10,115
and elected 15 out of the q Congress
menl
The following year Hoadly was elect
ed, and early in 1884 the Democrats took
measures to correct the unjust scheme
of 1872 and redistricted the State. The
entire power was in their hands, from
the Governor down, but mark the con-
trast, they redistricted the State in pro-
portion to the votes cast, giving the
Democrats IL Congressman and the Re-
publicans 10. Mark the fact that the
Democrats claimed the extra Congress
man for the reason that they had plu-
rality of IL, ,529 in the State. This scheme
Of redistricting was the fairest one ever
made in the history of Ohio. 1t was
based upon principles Of exact justice to
both parties No unfair advantage was
taken by the party in power and the act
was approved by allhonest, fair-minedd
men.
M T., .-.o- H. II:n 70 ,,oo,,c H.. r,.- ~ =
gerrymander Of 1884," which our Re-
publican friends rave about and which
they destroyed to restore the former
scheme of 1882. &
When the bill was first passed in 1882
the plan gave the Republicans II and
the Democrats 4 congressman, but mat
ters have slightly changed and the Re-
publicans now claim l5 Congressman,
allow the Democrats 5 and say one dis
trict is doubtful. Suppose the latter
goes Democratic, the apportionment Is
still Is to 6 against the Democrats.
According to the figures of the State
Journal, the leading Republican author
ity in Central Ohio, at the last election
there were 358, ,281 Republican votes cast
and 342, $50 Democrats votes. Leaving
other political parties out of considera-
tiOn (for they elect no Congressmen)
7OO,Sll votes elect q Congressman, an
average of 90, ,371 votes each. Thus, on
a basis of strict equality, the Republi-
cans, having majority of 1871 votes
in, the State are entitled to II Congress
men and the Democrats to 10 by the
of votes cast. By the Republi-
can plan of Is to 6, their 1858, ,281 votes
elect Is Congressman, or one for every
q, 1886 votes cast; butthe 342, $50 Demo-
cratic votes will elect but 6 Congress
men at most, or one for every 81, ,088
votes cast.
Now this is a beautiful Republican
SCENE of Acknowledgement by which
they make one Republican vote more
than counterbalance two Democratic
votes. AS an example of outright polit-
lcal dishonesty it is the most healthy
specimen in existence; but o blush of
shame must mantle the cheeks of every
honest Republican whenever he con-
templates this gigantic outrage, the at
Tempt Of his party to steal its way into
power by most damnable means.
There is not an iOta of honesty; fair
ness, justice or right, in the measure.
The Republican party gerrymandered
the State not because it was entitled to
more Cougressmen but because it must
have theni-Or die.
The act was wrong in 1882; it is
ust as wrong in 1886. The people four
years ago placed the stamp of their con-
lemnation on it and Right prevaled--as
talways will.
The people rule. No power on ear th
IAN rob them of this right; no political
,arty that fails to recognise this fact can |
i've.
It isan easy matter to cry out "restor-
.tion" and to denounce the infamous
Democratic gerrymander of '82;" but,
'entlemen of the Republican press, If
'ou believe In political honesty and fair
less, if you believe in liberty and equal
ty, if you believe in ia fair vote and q
air count" you do not believe in this
ctiOu of your party. We do not inten-
lonally misrepresent and will gladly
nake any corrections of errors you may
nggest.
Stand up and face these facts and fig
res. Print them in your columns
hat your readers may know what your
arty has done. Refute them, if you
%; defend them, if you dare.-Akron
inaes.
ufIerers from Kidney and Liver
~ 1