New-York tribune., 1895-11-01
THE CAMPAIGN IN OHIO.
MR.. CAMPBELLs FIGHT THE BEST THE
DEMOCRATS COULD MAKE

THE EX-GOVERNOR SHIFTS THE ISSUES FROM
NATIONAL To STATE observation-disclosures
DEF. NATION OF HIS oPPoNENTs-FoRE-
CASTING THE RESULT ON TUESDAY.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuNEl
Columbus. Ohio. Oct 31.-One OF the surprises
of the campaign now drawing to close in
Ohio has been the apparent recovery of the
Democratic organization from the staggering
blows dealt to II In the elections of 1923 ana
1894. The extent and Importance of this re-
cuperation be measured only by the mag
nitude of the disasters of those two years.
Thirty years ago 1t was thought that the fort
unes Of the Ohio Democracy had touched their
lowest ebb, when in the full sweep OF reVoit
against the seditious programme OF Nalan-
digham and his followers Democratic candi-
date for Governor was defeated by some 'oooo
10000 votes. yet, singulary enough, IL was
left for the second administration Of Cleveland
signalling, as II did, the long deferred return
Of the Democracy to power in all branches or
the Federal Government. to sink the party
here. by the weight Of It's political blunders' 10
greater depths Of popular discredit than even
the odium OF Vaandghams leadership or the
taint of "Copperh cad" sympathy with the Ike
bellion. To Mr.. Clevelands election In 1877 the
Ohio Democracy had contributed one electoral
vote. the first cast here In generation Tor
Democratic Presidential candidate and the full
electoral ticket had been beaten only by the
narrowest of margins, an adverse plurality OF
1.072. Yet In 1893. under the pressure OF the
demorallzing Influences in Legislation. already
at work at Washingtor the Dri1ocrs tic candl-
date for Governor defeated by Jver soVoo
votes while In 1894, In the s aeral crush pre-
cipitated by Democratic folly and incompe-
tency the bonds Of the local organization were
practically dissolved and the phenomenal plu-
rality Of l37.0sT was rolled UP against the head
Of the Democratic ticket. whose vote fell from
4O4 900 In 1892 10 27S 900 in 1894 Probably ZOoV'
Democrats voted outright for Republican norni-
nees 10000 deserted TO the Populist organiza-
ton and nearly $4,000 refused to go to the
polls at all
SHIFTING THE ISSUES
To repair these extra ordinary breaches In the
party ranks and 10 recove', If possible the
ground lost by two years OF legislative impe-
cility at Washington, was the task set the Demo-
cratic managers at the opening Of the present
canvass. Happily for them the process OF party
dsin> grafton had been partially checked by the
death Of the LIIId Congress and the compulsory
termination Of the disastrous experiments IN
Democratic statesmanship which rad prougnl
the industries OF the country to standstlh ana
the National Government itself to the verge OF
bankruptcy. Trusting TO time TO heal the uis-
affections caused by blunders in National legis-
latlon the Democratic leaders here have from
the beginning Of the canvass cleverly sought 10
shift the Issues 10 be fought from the danger
Gus ground OF National politics to the more In
v.ting and novel field OF state and municipal
administration. tacity admitting the vulnerable
ity Of the party's record at Washington by COM
pletely ignoring II.
The Democratic managers have made their
fight for the Governorship and the control OF the
General Assembly the single issue or iocdi
and legislative msgovernment. The Legislature
Of 1894 which was strongly Republican, has been
assa.ed on the stump venal and eXtraVagahl
and the keynote of the whole Democratic cam
paign has been vague and general charge OF cor
r,,pt!on aimed at the Republican management II
state and municipal affairs. No device. certain
H. could have been better calculated to rally and
reform the broken and scattered Democratic
forces than the prosecution Of this Lew and
plausible campaign OF defamation, for In party
purely negative in It's character and purpose as
the Democratic no means Of stimulating party
zeal and enthusiasm is more effective than
nents.
SUCCESS OF THE CAMPAIGN OF ABUSE.
That through this timely diversion o. public In
terest from National TO local views. - well as
through the lavish employment OF evar possible
ncitement to party activity, Mr. Brice ana MT
Campbell have succeeded in recognizing the
Democratic forces and restoring discipline and
enthusiasm to a marked degree cannot be
,i,,, - Nor craf rio Cfr y
and spirit this fall is plain and unmlstakable No
campaign In Ohio for years has been fought with
more interest and earnestness or with a greater
expenditure of money and effort than the one now
drawing TO an end. The evident progress made
by the Denocra tic managers III their task OF solid
flying the shattered party organization the vigor
and dash with which Mr. Campbell has entered
into his peculiar campaign Of personal innuend9
and defamation the almost feverlsh activity Of
Mr.. Brices army Of paid retainers throughout the
State-all these things have affected the popular
IMAGINATION and spread abroad the idea that Mr..
Campbelrs candidacy for the Governorship is not
AT all the forlorn hope which 1t at first fancied
10 &c.
But. though the dexterty OF the Democratic
candidates in shifting the ground on which u
make theiT fight and the audacity and Industry
with which they have prosecuted II have repaired
In a great measure the Democratic losses of 1898
and 1894 there is yet substantial justification
for the claims so confidently put forth at the
Democratic headquarters that Mr. Campbell Will
repeat next Tuesday his unexpected victory Of
1889 On the contrary although political cond-
tions do not warrant the Republican managers in
expecting an extraordinary political triumph like
that OF last year or tue year before there IL every
reason TO think that General Bushnell will win
his fight next week BY a safe plurality. certainly
exceeding 20 900
OHIO A REPUBLICAN, STATE.
Ohio to begin with is naturally Republican
State and its vote Isl less huctuatlng. perhaps
from year to year than any other State OF the
first rank In the Tn on. Democratic victories.
lha "a re