Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-29


State. Its changes from one party to the
other have been sudden and frequently
startling. Back in war times Governor
Brough defeated Vallandigham by more
than 100, 600, and only few years later
the Democrats of the State were kept
in joyous suspense for two days in the
belief that Allen G. Thurman, the
"Old Roman" had been elected Gov
ernor by small plurality. But he was
defeated by Hayes, although the Demo-
Gratis carried the Legislature and sent
Thurman to the United States Senate.
/ In 1876, Ohio voted for Hayes for Presi-
dent and one year later elected Richard
Bishop, the Cincinnati grocer, to the
Office of Governor. Since then Ohio
hos elected as Senators John Sherman,
the Republican leader, and Payne and
Brice, Democrats. The latter's term
is now drawing to close, and the nc
cession depends upon the result of the
pending campaign. In 1889, James L.
Campbell was elected Governor by over
10000 plurality, and two years later
Mckinley defeated him by a plurality
of over 2l,000. In 1892, the vote for
President was 80 close that one Demo-
cratic elector was chosen, and % Repub-
lican electors were successful by less
than 1900 votes Then came the dis
listers OF 1898 and 1894, when the Demo
Gratis were fairly overwhelmed, the latter
year by 1877, 600. Such is the State of
Ohio from a political standpoint.
Wednesday Democrats of Ohio met
in State convention at Springfield and
nominated Ex-Governor Campbell by
reclamation, despite his repeated dec
larations that he would not accept The
Republicans held their convention last
May, and and nominated General Asa
Bushnell for Governor, after a prelimi-
nary canvass that was marked by hot
struggle and complete victory of the
ferocious Foraker over the followers Of
John Sherman.
Ex-Governor Campbell accepted the
Democratic nomination for Governor.
and will now go into campaign to
win, despite the natural odds against
/ the Democracy, arising from the result
of the last two campaigns. The most
conspicuous feature of the convention
held Wednesday was the result of the
contest over the money plank of the
platform. Led by Allen W. Thurman,
son of the cold Roman" the silver
advocates made an open fight for a
declaration in favor of the free coinage
of the cheap metal. Almost up to the
eve of the convention they insisted
that they had carried the day, but the
advocates Of sound money, under the
lead Of Senator Brice, were inyincihle,
and by large majority voted down
the demands of the free coinage advo-
Gates, adopting plank reaflirming
the financial declaration of the Ma
tional Democratic platform of 1892.
1T is not as complete declaration in
favor Of sound money as the friends Of
an honest currency would desire, but
it is encouraging as direct rcpudia-
tion Of tho free silver coinage theories,
by the Democrats of State where the
friends of the white metal supposed
themselves to be firmly entrenched.
The Democratic declaration, at least,
is less Of a straddle than that made by
the Republican convention held at
Cleveland last May
The campaign in Ohio promises to be
very interesting one, and it is not al
all sure that the Democrats will moi
win. And if they arc victorious, il
will be because they had the courage
to stand up determincdly against com,
hitting their party organization to the
folly Of FREQ silver coinage.
The Washington correspondent Of the
Baltimore Sun calls attention tc
the fact that while it is perfectly tru,
that the manufacturing interests o
the country will suffer no harm in thu
end from the development Of foreign
commerce, there is hitherto alliec
interest that will sustain heavy dam
age, and that is the Republican party.
If it ceases to have the active supper
Of the great protected" industries
because they are no longer in need o
protection, it will be in pitablo pligh
indeed. From what source, then, vii
it draw the sinews Of ware And tn
mere removal of the tariff as an issu
will leave it almost equally forlorn
What great idea will it then hav,
to fight for? With Democratic adj
ministration unequivocally pledged t.
sound money, cIvil-service reform AM
economy in the finances and il
Federal administration, with the Fore
bill and race question dead beyond res
direction, and a foreign policy whic
has won us the respect of the world
it must grope about aimlessly ia
something to give it reason for exis
tence beyond the ''mere scramble ia
office, from which President Cleve
lands tariff letter lifted the Democrati
party eight years ago. The dawnin
light Of reason among the manu-
facturers is full of hope for the busi
ness interests Of the country the mer
chants and mechanics not less than tn
farners--hut it is likely to prove fats
to the party of humbug and prctenco
which has traded SO long upon sectiont
credulity and the imaginary benefits I
American capital and labor Of polio
which has brought both to the yerg
of ruin.
The war between the Addicks al
anti-Addicks factions of the Republics
party has broken out again, and son
of the Republican naners ~ tho S+at