The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-07-23
The Ohio Campaign.

me ONO Campaign.
The campaign in Ohio. which viii re
suit in the election Of d Governor Of that
great State, may be said to have been
fairly opened in the nomination of Gov.
Campbell, for reelection by the Demo
cratic convention, which assembled jn>
Columbus on the 18th. Major Mckin-
ley had been previously nominated by
the Republican conventions Each par
ty declared its policy, as it relates to
national questions ia uneqniYocal terms.
thus marking the lines clearly and dis
tinctly between the two organizations.
The Republicans announced their ad
herence to the protective policy and a
sound money system: The Democrats
planted themselves squarely upon a free
trade plank, and for free coinage of sill
yer, and on these lines they go before
the people of that important State
The paramount issues thus brought
to the front make the contest in that
State national in its character and in
fiuence. Whichever party succeeds, it
will have a positive and far-reaching
effect in determining the alignment OF
the successful party i'll the Presidential
contest of 1892. and may have a control
ling relation to the candidate for the
Presidency. The success of Campbell,
on the platform on which he is placed
would eliminate Cleveland as a Presiden
tial possibility. He holds to diametri-
cally opposite views to those enumerated
by the Ohio Democratic platform. On
the tariff formulation, Cleveland is more
in harmony with the Ohio Democratic
idea than Campbell, taking the latter's
congressional record as the ssuage -
As to both of these questions the Repub>
licans hold to more conservative, prac-
teal and beneficent opinions. They be-
lieve in bi-metailic currency-gold and
silver on an equal basis,-but do not
favor free coinage, as that would neces>
sarily mean a deprecated currency,
which would affect the farmer and wage
Garner more seriously than any other
class and on. this question the Democ
racy is divided, SO much SO in Ohio that
the silver clause of the platform was
adopted by bare ma jority. The Ger
man vote will be east almost solidls
against it. which will be enough to de
feat Campbell. The outside business
influence will be exerted against it, and
that means that the money centers-al
ways ready to contribute to q State cleo
ton, whenever national interests are
perspicuously invoived-will render nt
aid to Campbell, whatever may be hi.
individual views. The same difficulty
would be encountered in that State
where the German element, holding
much OF the wealth of Ohio has always
been against any marked change in thu
present financial system of the govern
ment.
In the event OF Campbelrs election
however, it would put him forwars
prominently for the Presidency, ane
render it almost certain that he would
be nominated, il spite of Cleveland
strength in his party.
The election of Mckinley would Civ
him greater national prominence thai
he now has, yet it does not follow tina
it would have the same effect upon til
result of the National Republican con
venfion of 1892 as the election of Camp
bell will. President Harrison EVIDENT.
expects to be renominated. His admin
isJration is in accord with the idea
projected in the platform OF the Oh 10 Re
publieans, so far as it relates to nationa
questions There has been, of late,
growing sentiment in that direction
Not to nominate him for reelection
mig h reasonably be construed t.
imply want of confidence in him an,
the record he has made as President
Many things. of minor import. would b
overlooked, in the presence OF the great
er questions of currency and revenue
and safe party policy
The most prominent character i'll tn
Republican mind of the country, is
name will be prominently mentioned, il
the convention of 1892, in connection witt
the Republican nomination or not, cal
not be now stated. fit should, it woul,
be likely to be the only one, for hi
nomination would be made PRACTICAL.
by reclamation. Next to him Womb
come President Harrison, and then Maj
Mckinley, as the victor in the approach
ing OHIO election. 1t will not be i'm
probable for him to enter the Nationa
Convention with a controlling influence
If SO, it would be a matter of policy tina
would govern in his coming before th'
Convention.
In whichever way it is viewed, the
election in Ohio this fall will have na
tional significance, and the influence EN-
anating from it will have marked, j
not a controlling effect, in the nomina-
tions that will be made by each ant
both of the parties. In this view it,
progress will be watched with more thar
ordinary interest, and the result looked
for with earnest anxiety.