New-York tribune., 1905-11-10
HERRICk ON HIS DEFEAT.
Sans Ohio Toted for Reform That
Has Not Needed.

columbus, ONO. NOV S-tIONeiHol -
r5errick tonight gave out statement regard
inc his defeat for reelection. In it he declared
.rot the Democratic victory was not due to any
,issovernment by Or shortcomings of the party
IN mower but that the people had been lead by
the cry of reform which is sweeping the country
N vote for reform when none was needed The
statement follows:
The people Of Ohio by a substantial plurality
nave defeated me for Governor. l bow to their
viII and trust that their welfare may be the
onIy aim of the administration
This overthrow of the Republican party IN
ohto was not caused by business depression or
industrial adversely anywhere in the state OF
nation: il was not caused by any mismanage-
nent or corruption in the condition OF the STATE
government; it was not caused by any oiscoh
tent on the part OF the people with the record
of achievements of the Republican party IN tle
administration Of the State affairs during tne
last fourteen years. II shown conclusiVely
IN the campaign that the business affairs OF me
state had been well managed; that all the
states debts had been paid: that there is a
sT,lendid surplus in the treasury; that the State
institutions have been honestly. efficiently ana
economically administered, and that nowhere IN
any Office or department Of the state govern
Iaent has there been any breath OF scanda4 or
Of official misconduct.
In the legislative department of the govern
rnent the record of the Republican party mas
been equally clean, just as pra1seworthy. II
has given the people wise and progressive laws.
especially in the matter OF moral aaVanceillens t
and temperance reform. and in the way OF
more Just and equitable system OF taxauot
the party has deserved public confidence ana
approval
But despite all these things the people of Ohio
have been swept away from the moorings OF
truth by wave of prejudice ans suspicion IN
doubtedly there is healthy spirit Of moral re-
form and widespread insistence upon courage
and honesty In public officers manifested all over
the land. The spirit has shown itself in the cleo
ton Of Jerome in New-York. the triumph OF
Weaver in Philadelphia, and. earlier, in the
breaking down of party lines In Massacnusetts. @
Minnesota and Missouri. This fact and these
events made 1t easy TO excite the suspicion, in
fame the conscience and misead the impulse OF
the people Of Ohio
The real Issues of the campaign were forgot
ten and the passion that was appealed to
throughout the State was to strike down some
thing, destroy something, ayenge some fancied
wrong some fancied danger. 1 wish
were the only sufferer from this misguided i'm
pulse OF my fellow citizens, for then could be
content, not only in the consciousness OF having
deserved better treatment at their hands. but Of
having been the means Of pointing out q serious
lesson of the times
The greatest danger now confronting the
American people is the readiness in response to
some sudden whim pretext to desert party
principles and follow some individual who
claims, some times with sincerity, often with
hypocrisy. represent a cause that is higher
GeCry party government and party responsible
fly and establish individual leadership In its
stead. may advance some personal ambitions,
but can accomplish no good to society. II offers
the most fruitful field for the demagogue and
the fconocast' and while some good men may
be swept Into power upon a popular wave that
overrides principles. the strain upon our institu
tons and upon the fundamental truths which
lie at the bottom Of our government viii leave
the structure weaker rather than stronger. The
individual who in seeking advancement is
willing TO allure the people from the principles
and policies OF government to the aduiation OF a
popular idol is enemy of his country. The
newspaper which in order to swell the receipts
Of the counting is willing to pander 10
sensationa1isn TO deceive the people and play
upon the credulity Of the unthinking is an
enemy of mankind.
Here In Ohio In this campaign and elsewhere
in other political contests, We have had too
many instances of that spirit which is ready to
defame and destroy in order TO profit by the
noise. The Democratic party is the immediate
beneficiary in this State. What I said repeated
ly in the campaign is borne out already by the
attitude of that party since the election. It's
leaders everywhere proclaiming my defeat
as Democratic victory The attempt TO give
# national significance is already apparent, for
attention is called TO the fact that the Bran
mock bill and the Pool bill and the baseless
charge Of "bossisnn" lost sight of in the
general impulse to strike down the Republican
party.
The returns bear out this claim and this pur-
pose the part Of the Democratic leaders.
They show that both extremists the temper
snce question. the saloonist and the anti-saloon-
ist, whom ! had displeased because I declined
10 be controlled by either voted against me at
the polls They show the advocates of race
track gambling contributed very little to the
result. and they show that in those conrauni-
ties, like Cleveland and Cincinnati. where
bossfsm was the chief issue the whole party
went down TO defeat.
But the success of Democracy in Ohio is short
lived. as ii is infreQuent- The principles of Re
pubIlca1hsln are eterral, because they stand for
truth justice and progress They will rise
again in this State al the next election and
they will have the support Of many thousands
Of voters who will return to that party which
they Will find they had no good reason 10 de-
sert. Republicans In Ohio may occasionally go
down 20 defeat but they never seek either TO
secure or retain power by pretending to be what
they are not, or by the advocacy OF false or dan
gerous theories
They may lose campaign now and then by
misrepresentation on the part OF their oppo-
' nsnts' but they will never win one by personal
abuse or hypocrisy. The one keen regret 1
ieei over the result arises from the disapboint-
n,ent felt by the thousands of Republicans of
onIo whose support Of the ticket and the whole
ticket was the earnestness of their steadfast
loyalty to party principles They have my
heartfelt thanks and deepest gratitude for their
splendid devotion. I have no other regrets.
oLScnarge my duties Governor of Ohio
with an eye and purpose devoted solely to the
best interests of all the people Ny conscience
Is clear. What ! did with respect to the Bran
and morality and intended to strengthen that
measure temperance law would do
The same thing over again The unconstitu-
tional measures ] vetoed / would veto again.
The extravagant appropriations that dechned
to approve would again decline TO approve
II the people OF Ohio defeated me because they
disapproved OF my action with respect 10 those
measures they acted wisely for IL had beeI
given a second term would have been actuated
by the same motives and would have pursued
the SAM course whenever the occasion arose
From these same people, in whose ultimate judg-
ment and sense of justice i have the profoundesl
faith I hespeak for my successor that support
and confidence which should always encourage
the public servant, and L trust mat lor every
exercise OF an honest purpose 10 serve the gen.
eraI welfare he may receive that approval &c
which en- upright conscience is entitled