New-York tribune., 1891-09-30
THE OHIO CAMPAIGN.
A CONTEST OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.

year in Ohio is justly regarded by competent op-
servers hereas IL is, no doubt, generally through
out the country-as by far the most noteworthy
and important in the recent political history OF
the State. The issues on which il is prosecuted
are broadly National in character. The rival
candidates for the Governcrship are both men OF
National reputation and influence whose records
have been made beyond the narrow limit OF State
politics, and who easily invest their present con-
test for the highest office within the State with
all the seriousness and significance of struggle
between two great party policies Finally the
fight for the Governorship of Ohio and the con-
troll of its next Legislature involves the contlnu-
anee or overthrow Of Republican supremacy III
the Ohio Electoral College-a supremacy uhdis-
puted for thirty years-as we'll as In ONO
representation in Congress, which has suherea
many sudden and perpleXing variations III CUM
plexion, but which has been in the main strohgly
Republican for almost generation. WIN lie
Legislature again Democratic, Ohio would DE lor
the first time in many years without Repuolcah
member in the United States Senate, and the partl-
san gerrymander of last fall, by which the mum
her of Republicans in the National House oil hep-
resentatives was reduced from sixteen to six, woud
also be indefinitely continued With the Legislature
and Governor both Democratic, the Michigan plan
of choosing Presidential electors by congress us
tricts would undoubtedly be adopted, ana nlpeeh,
perhaps sixteen, OF OhiO's twenty-three elec'orai
votes would thus he secured in advance lor lhc
next Democratic candidate for President. both
political parties therefore, are struggling lor larger
stakes than have ever been at venture In previous
Go7ernorship campaigns. DeleaJ III NoNci"''
would be TO either most disastrous ana uemOi
alizing reverse To the Republicans 1t wouiu
mean their complete loss of power III the oH''c
for several years at least, and the retirement Vi
the party's two most conspicuous representatives
In National life More than that. 1t would thoW
serious discredit in this State and Deyohu lOS
limits on the two National policies when lheS7
two leaders so especially and effectively repie
sent To the Democratic party defeat wouiu
mean the loosening of its present grasp OH 'uo
politics of the State, the repeal OF the outrageous
gerrymander of 1890, and the SAFE reVula VI
the State to its natural place IN the hepuoiio''n
column in 1892 The defeat of Governor camp |
bell too would emphasize the repudlauon pS on'
sober sense of Ohio of the two policies oil Tree |
trade and the free coinage of silver, when 10
oetber constitute this years Democratic declaration
of principles
With a contest of so much gravity before them |
the two nominating conventions met cary anu
each did apparently, what IL thoughJ nosI ilAeiS
TO insure success at the polls 1he cholce VI
Major Mckinley by the Republicans was natural
one lie had been forced out Of the House Vi
REPRESENTATIVES last fall by the lndeienslole re-
arrangement of his district. and bis gallahU anu
almost successful fight to overcome an adverse
majority of about 5000 had won him synipatlN
and admiration all over the State "hen the
news of his defeat became known, there was
universal expression of the desire to have HIM ac
cent the next nomination for the Governorshlp |
pesdes. The Mckinley bill was sure to be lead |
ING issue in the campaign of 1891, and 1t was
lain that no one could represent that issue better
before the people than the author OF the Dill
himself No other candidate in fact, appeared ana
the nomination was made by acclaInatlon III ls
commonplace, perhaps, to say thaV no petter
choice could have been made. MAJOR MCKINNEY
has in the highest degree the quahues essenu8l
10 a candidate in campaign In Whlch genuine
political issues are involved. AS pubic speaker
his force skill and eloquence, long study ana eA
nerienee have given him complete command OF
the topics which he discusses, and he possesses
q pecular attractiveness of manner, which on the
stump goes far 10 supplement the effect OF his
serious and practical logic. His endurance Is
eoual 10 his power as a platform speaker and even
through a long campaign he can average from
twelve To fifteen speeches weekly. OF unblemlshed
character and high political and personal reputation
he has given the present canvass the preHdth ana
dignity and importance which make 1t renlarKaole'
His candidacy, in fact, has all the elements Vi
success possible in any Republican nominee, ana
;f be docs not win defeat this fall would probably
have been inevitable under any circumstances.
The Democratic Convention was not so for
tunate in it's action as was the Repupncan'
Governor Campbell was its natural choice, but
his nomination was bitterly opposed by the delega-
tion from Hamilton County, where a strong per-
sonal hostility had taken root against him because
of his fight against the local Demo-
cratic BOARD of Works. The free-conage
nlanl in the platform was also attacked
Inv a determined minority In the convention, ana
the Governor himself since the appearance oil
tho resolution has been inclined TO construe It's
text in an apologetic and ambiguous manner
The injection of the silver question into The can
vass has proven unwelcome 10 the Democratic
managers and they will try to reduce free coinage
IN a minor issue. But the Endorsement OF free
silver at Cleveland will undoubtedly continue
10 make trouble for the Democratic candlda'e'
and he will be put on the defensive by IL when-
ever he appears on the stump Nevertheless, Wluh
all these deductions Governor Campbell remains
the most formidable candidate who could have
been named by the Democrats He is active
and in the main, popular within his party, and
ia nrobablt it's only leader who has the address
10 meet Major Mckinley in debate and maintain
his own side with some degree OF credit lie mas
also the remembrance Of his brilliant victory TWO
years ago to inspire him and encourage his sup
porters His main hope now seems TO lie III
diversion Of Republican votes TO third or fourth
party candidates. and his campaign will be directed
chiefly toward accomplishing that end. On the
stamp he will preach the doctrine OF political
pessimism, aided directly by such other Demo-
cratic apostles of that creed Representative
Mills of Texas, and indirectly by an obscure
swarm of orators of the present day Kansas school
On the success or failure of this calamity cam
paign," as il has been called, depends the final
outcome of the contest now brisl1ly in progress
The people of Ohio have always at past political
crises been deaf to demagogism of the Kansas
school 1t is scarcely likely that they will listen
now to the wild sophistry launched at them in