The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1895-09-12
The Battle Begun.

sary comparisons between the con
tending causes and candidates. And
the differences between them is re-
markably clear cut and distinct.
On the one side the titular candi-
date is but the foil for man who sits
in the background and shapes and
controls the machinery of his party,
so that all things that comes to his
mill shall be grist meet tor profit
able grinding.
The candidate on the other side is
not only man of striking indiyidu'
ality, absolutely free from clique and
clan and boss, one Of the people and
representative of the people, and one
whose personality and power will both
be responsive to the just grievances
of the people who will call him again
to the Governorship.
If Asa S. Bushnell could possibly
be dissociated from George B. Cox,
the Cincinnati boss, who now aspires
to seize the whole State, as he has
seized its metropolitan city, his claims
to the confidence and partiality of the
people would be much higher than
they are now.
But all his political fortunes are
linked with George B. Cox and with
him he must either succeed or fail.
There is no getting away from this
proposition. Cox was the general
who manipulated the GAINESVILLE con,
vention, and the election of the Re.
publican State ticket and Republi'
can Legislature will enthrone Cox in
the State House, and clothe him with
the same dictatorial powers which he
exercises in the City Hall at Gin.
cinnati.
On the other hand, James E. Camp
bell uplifts the banner of Democracy
the ensign of the people who want
no bosses and, if elected he will be
the Governor of the people; he will
be no mans man; he will be no pliant
instrument to be manipulated by a
boss whose only instinct is inord:nate
greed in absorbing the spoils of Office
the iucumbents of which he claims the
absolute prerogatlve of naming with
out consulting the voters and tax
payers.
Simplified, it is the battle of the peo
pie against Coxism, and the opposing
principles are SO diametrically oppos
ed to each other that there ought t,
be no doubt in the mind of any MAJ
as to the final determination of tn,
issue.
The people, and not the bosses, art
interested in the administrator o
public affairs and the shaping of pub
lie legislation and unless they do in
terest themselves, and that speedily
the affairs of the State must pass int'
an infinitely worse condition than nov
characterizes them.
In the present conjecture Of affair
no Democrat can afford to be a lag
gard, or straggle from the ranks, fo
it is upon that organization that th'
people OF all parties must depend, fo
relief from the evils that now exis
and greater ones that threaten. Tt
that organization, If its forces unite(
and harmonious, will come the hun
dreds and thousands of Republican
voters who hail the present opportun
ity to stamp out the bossism that ha
seized their party machinery and con
verted it to the very worst of selfisl
ends.
Moreover, this is but the prelimin
ary skirmiSh Of the great battle o
1896, and no Democratic soldier, bt
he of the field and line or OF the ranl
and file, to earn the title Of .eithe
deserter or laggard. Not only tn
highest fealty to party, but the lofti
est duty to party, demands that h
enter actively into the contest, an(
fight unfalteringly till victory comes
with the end.
The issues involved in this contes
are issues on which all Democrats cal
agree and on which they do agree
Whatever questions suggested divis
ions in the past, have been sent owe
to the National Convention for con
sideration and action, and we may al
safely confide in the collective wisdom
of the Democracy of the forty-fou
States when the meet in council.
The work ~ before the voters o
Ohio, and especially before the Demo
Gratis, is to place the State and loca
affairs of Ohio in safe hands. Th
Democracy present a man tried ant
E trusted and true, free from all tain
and suspicion of Coxism, and aroun'
him the party should rally, and thei
votes, with those of intelligent, indie
pendent Republicans, will destroy the
boss and put an end to boss methods
The Central Committee has select
ed an excellent executive commltte,