Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-16
oHIo,s sALUTARY LESSON.

Among the lessons taught by the recent
elections, the instruction of the single and
exceptional Democratic defeat in the State
of Ohio should not be forgotten. The
lesson is important, because under reversed
conditions it points to the same conclusion
as the other results, namely, that the party
which makes a reckless and dishonest use
of its power invites the reproof of the
people.
complets control of the State Government
and placed their State in the doubtful list.
Had they used their power discreetly and
honestly they might have maintained that
position; but the fact that they reproduced
in an aggravated form the worst features of
reckless and dishonest partisanship is
enough to explain their defeat in an elec-
ton which was elsewhere remarkable for
an overwhelming Democratic victory.
That they themselves prepared their own
reverse will be apparent from a brief sum-
mary of the leading features of Democratic
control.
Having gained the power to elect Dem
Democrats did was to select for that posi-
ton representative of the worst abuses of
corporate and stock watering manipulation,
man whose sole qualification for Senate
rial honors was the backing of an immense
fortune. Thus they at once took the bur-
den upon them which has been often charged
upon their opponents of subservience to
money in politics, and proved that they were
as bad as the worst OF their antagonists.
Their next act was to perpetrate an undis-
guised Congressional gerrymander of the
State. They rightly charged the Repub-
licans with unfairness in maintaining an ap-
portionment that gave them representa-
tion in Congress far in excess of the proper
ton of the popular vote, and then made
haste to advertise the fact that they were as
wanronly unfair and dishonest by gerry
mander which transferred the discrepancy
to the other side and exaggerated it. Tney
gained some Congressman by this act, but
the proof that they lost popular support by
it appears in the fact that they gained less
than they expected.
Finally they permitted corrupt Demo-
cratic ring to maintain its rule in Cincin-
natl through the perpetuation of vicious
| legislation which took the control of that
city's government out of the hands
of the city. When the Governor
rightly attempted to rectify this wrong a
portion of the Democrats hung back on the
plea that the exposure would injure the
party. Here we have the typical partisan
stupidity which fails to see that the inJ ury
is wrought by the corruption itself, and that
the party which most promptly Furnishes its
own evildoers will gain the most popular
support.
In short the Ohio Democrats, or those
who controlled its legislation, marked them.
selves as reckless, unfair, and subservient
to corporate influence. By so doing the
party fairly earned the defeat which was
administered it, while all around it the
Democrats of other States were winning ar
unexampled victory. The lesson is a saiu
tary one, that it pays a party in power to b.
fair, conservative and to look only to the
public interest, while the regulation politi
cal devices for protracting party power arr
sure to earn defeat.