The times., 1899-07-10
MONDAY. JULY 10. 1899.
The Coming Battle in ohio.

The announcement by the Hon. John r.
Mclean Of his willingness to lead the i'm
pending fight in person for the Democratic
hosts of Ohio should stiffen the courage
and strengthen the hope of Democrats
everywhere. 1t means that the Presidents
State is going to be the storm centre OF
politics this year, for we take it that Mr.
McLean's intimate knowledge Of the man
agement of his party in Ohio, coupled with
his keen power for discerning the drift Of
Democratic sentiment in his State. has
convinced him not alone that the guber-
Material nomination is ready for his ac-
ceptance. but that the party leadership is
potential Of more substantial results than
mere honor ard distinction. The nomina-
tI0n OF Mr. Mclean viii represent a great
deal more 20 TIE party in Ohio than bare
reward OF meritorious and faithful service
OF many years in the Democratic harness.
II will assure the party Intelligent and de-
termined leadership and a compact organ
izatlon os resourceful and skilled lieuten-
ants Mr.. Mclean has never been a can
dldate fer olice in Ohio. He has been con-
tent to give abunGantly of his thought, his
energy. and his money to the paTty's cause
without seeking personal gain. The
only fern in which his resolute loyalty to
Democratic interests has been publicly
recognized was the complimentary vote his
State delegation gave him for Vice Presi-
dent at the last national convention. That
fact indisputably attests his great personal
strength in the Buckeye Democracy and
suggests q potent influence the manifesto
tions CT which are not confined to party
limits. 1t viii. therefore. be interesting at
least 10 his large personal following 10
thus spply the most practical test to the
potency Of his popularity.
Mr. Mclean is not conspicuous among
that class Of public characters who chase
shadows. He applies to politics the same
hard sense and practical methods that
have brought him such pronounced success
in business and journalism. He has never
been known TO bring on battle in politics
until ne knows well the enemy's strength
and position. He has never rushed wildly
into 4 Eght, though in courage or ardor he
has never been lacking. We are therefore
convinced that Mr.. Mclean knows well his
ground in Ohio this year. he has esti-
mated at their approximate value the con-
ditions in the Republican party. That large
element of Republicans who have been
browbeaten and badgered and humiIiated
by the Hanna machine have nothing 10
hope for from the success of the Nash
ticket which was shaped with particular
disregard Of the interests Of Messrs. For
aker Bushnell. Kurtz, and their friends.
Even John Sherman. the perty's national
mentor. and particularly TO German Amer
leans the incarnation of Republicanism,
cannot feel that live personal interest in
the ticket which for forty years has been
powerful factor in Ohio politics. since the
chief fugelman Of Hanna. Mr.. Grosveuor,
has exultantly proclaimed that Sherman
would have struck bottom in Ohio politics
years ago but for Senator Hanna's re-
sourceful leadership" Added to these
factors Of irreconcilable Internal strife in
the Buckeye Republican camp, Mr.. Mclean
viii have other advantages which reach
wider and deeper than factionaiism. Ever
since the financial question has been an
issue Mr.. Mclean has been one OF the mcst
robust and persistent exponents OF bimet-
allism in the country. Through his widely
circulated newspaper he has. in defeat and
in victory alike, advocated the cause Of
double-standard money, and in party coun-
ellis he has stubbornly fought for 1t. 1t is
& significant fact that every important
victory ever won by the Ohio Democracy
has been won on a straight-out free coin
age platform. There is no evidence that
free coinage is not as strong in Ohio today
as it was when Allen and Thurman and
Pendleton and Campbell achieved brilliant
triumphs in its name. The Republican
party is now openly and irretrievably COM
mitted to the single gold standard. Judge
Nash cannot go among the voters in a fog
OF yirtuous pretence on the coinage ques-
tion, because the platform on which he
was nominated enthusiastically endorses
all Of the acts OF the Mckinley Admins
tration. When all OF the conditions in
Ohio are carefully weighed and the situa-
tion is closely surveyed, the conclusion is
inevitable that the balance OF advantage is
on the Democratic side. The Hanna forces
and the Administration are going to make
desperate fight for Nash. Already Mr.
Mckinley has been asked 10 so arrange his
official labors and engagements as TO be
able 10 visit the State and make speeches
for Nash. But Mclean can fight desper-
ately. too. and IL he is nominated upon
platform which ennneiates no new and un-