National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-20
TIE OHIO DEMOCRACY.
The Coal OIL Ring Carefully Analysed
by an Expert.


boston Advertiser
The spectacleprcsented by the Democratic
party Of Ohio is a scandal to decency and q
shame TO the national honor. Two inllu
cnccs have contributed powerfully to It's
present degradation, the coal oil combine
tion ana the Cincinnati ERgtifcr. For
long series Of years, ever since the younger
Mclean began TO be active in Its manage
ment, the Enquirer has been given over TO
pandering to the lower tastes and viler pas
sions Of the reading public. Its advertising
columns have been sewer OF immortality,
and In its news and editorial columns 1t
has steadily exempliied a belief that Demo-
Gratis and criminals have common sympa-
thics and common interests. IL has been
"smartn in all vugarity and INSCRIPTIONS
in oil ambitions. Its pre-eminence in reck-
less wickedncss has given II prosperity
like that OF the gaudiest whisky shop or
the most luxurious brothel In q commu-
nifty, and II has used its abundant means
to nurture the corruption on which 1t
thrivcs.
With riches there came TO its young pro-
prietor an ambition for political power
The ERguircr office became the headquar-
ters Of conspiracy TO rule the city and the
state, and to secure u share OF national
| spoils for the glory and profit Of those con
cerned. Thieves, pimps, gamblers, bull
| lies, and rumsellers were the instruments
by which its ends were TO be compassed.
| Probably there is no city in America, un-
less IL be New Orleans, where all the ele-
ments that make for degradation are so
efficiently organized against the elements
that make for honor as they are In Cincinnati,
and the Enquirer is the recognized organ Of
the desperate gang, This gang have held
the city by the throat while they plundered
| pfi hn nj 1,n.
| local courts have stood In awe OF them,
and when, two or three years ago, an angry
and desperate mob, In wrath at the con-
slant failure Of justice on account Of the
corruption and cowardice OF It's agents,
burned the court house in their fury and
made q week Of terror, It was a spasm OF
blind revenge upon conditions for which
the Cincinnati Enquirer, more than any
other single agency, was responsible.
In Cleveland, at the other end OF the
state, is or was, the headquarters OF an
enormously wealthy business corporation,
some of the members of which are also
avancious of political power. Without con-
spicuous talent for open and candid leader
ship, they rely upon the arts OF intrigue and
the power Of money to secure their aims.
By their plotting, the unknown, weak, and
seryiceable Bookwalter was nominated for
governor in 1881, and but for President Gar
fields death, which gave an impulse OF
solemn energy to the Republicans OF Ohio,
their money might have accomplished his
election. This plotting and ambitious
clique early recognized how useful daring
and unscrupulous manipulation OF the lowest
order Of politicians, like the young proprie-
tor OF the Enquirer, could be to them In the
job they had undertaken Of undermining
the old leaders, and an intimate alliance for
mutual advantage was established.
The first great achievement Of this alll-
II ~ IIg.,I
instead of Durbin Ward, for governor, q
nomination achieved, as was freely asserted
by Democrats at the time, by lavish use OF
money in purchasing the votes Of delegates
! The next great achievement was the defeat
Of Mr.. Pendleton and the election Of Mr..
Payne as United States senator Mr.. Pen.
dleton was hated by Mclean because he
would not fawn upon him, and Mr.. Payne
was the father OF the treasurer OF the stan
dard OIL Company, the son being the master
spirit Of the Cleveland clique. BY this deal
therefore, both parties to the conspiracy
obtained a victory. The means by which the
election Of Payne was accomplished, al
though never doubted, are only now being
circumstantially revealed. An Ohio Demo
nine members of that legislature, alleging
that they received certain specified sums o.
money for their support OF Payne, and In
timating that he has only begun telling wha
he knows.
The next purpose of the corruptionists
and their most audacioHs one, was to sc
cure the present legislature and elect Johr
R. Mclean himself United States senator II
place of John Sherman. 1t became apparen
in the course Of the campaign that there wa
| little chance OF success in an honest el0c
, tiOn, whereupon there was concocted In tn
cities Of Cincinnati and Columbus scheme
OF election frauds equal in wlckedness Il
the worst Of Tweed's crimes in New York, o
: those Of the gamblers and cutthroats Of New
Orleans. From some precincts larger Dem
ocratic majoritles were returned than TIL
whole number of votes registered, ant
; the Official returns bore on their face tn
, plain evidence of fraudulent alterations
The partisan courts, which appear to hay
little respect, and yet TO have as much a
they deserve, professed themselves power
less to compel an amendment OF the re
turns In accordance with evident truth, an
the whole fraudulently elected delegatio
, from Hamilton county received and aC
cepted certificates Of election, and too
their seats us II they were honest men whe
] the legislature assembled. BY an uneS
1 pected good fortune enough Republican
were elected from the country districts t
one branch to enable II promptly to unseG
the imposters, and the election of John i
4 Mclean was thus prevented. If McLea
Y had been chosen it would have been muc
J. !, as II Michael NJ. Cunniff should be chose
y to succeed George Il. lIoar, except that Nj
Leans opportunities have made him NOR
distinguished, II not more scrupulou
boss than Cunniff, and he has thus fl
/. avoided barroom brawls.
h 1t is to be hoped that Ohio has come t
q the turning point in political degradation
=, The Junior Payne has removed to Ne
= York, and Mclean has failed under ci
A cumstances that will be apt TO weaken h
q influence. Before this session Of the legl
Q lature ends incontestable proof Of the moi
Q strous profigacy Of the late ruling force
u in the Democratic party will be spread O
X the record, so that all may know IL. AnC
i although, as was the case in Maine, tt
q facts may be denied or defended by part
i sans who care more forparty than for rlgh
G the Republicans, as In Maine, will discOv'
9 their majorties Strengthening year by yet
- by the accession Of young voters who d.
i, sire 10 escape the shame of criminal he
y itage.