Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1873 — The Campaign in Ohio. [ARTICLE]

The Campaign in Ohio.

The peculiar chatracter of the contest in this State —the op»en, frank and honest course of the Republicans, and the efforts of the Democrats to plant themselves upon the issues which agitated the people years ago—is exciting general interest in the t?hio campaign throughout the whole country. So tar as the Democratic party is concerned, the contest on their part is not si.mply for the control of the affairs of the Stafc- That is but a secondary consideration? with them. What they are really wording for is to keep their party alive and to make it once more a formidable rival for supremacy in the General Government. With them it is a question of life - or death. They certainly have no expectation that situ cess will crown their efforts, so far as the ejection * n Ohio is concerned, but they hop C-to inject a little vitality into the Nationji Democratic party. Some of the old fOb' s ’i® i' ave so often declared their purpose to “live and. die Democrats,” that they want, i.° carry out their pledge; and how’ could thCYdie in the Democratic party if no such pa/ty exists? They propose to keep it alive just to redeem their pledges thatthey would die in the ranks of that party. The struggle, as far as the Democrats are concerned, therefore, is of a National character, and creates no little interest all over the country. Public journals in other States arc freely canvassing the situation in Ohio, and expressing opinions as to the result of the contest. The New York Times makes the following reference to the subject: It will be seen from our special dispatches that the Republicans—o£„Ulua-have. ope lied the. campaign m their State under encouraging circumstances. The meeting at Athens, on Saturday, was. in attendance and in the spirit manifested, u gratifying proof that the masses of the party 1 arefully convinced of the importance of the contest upon which they are entering, and are determined to use all honorable means to secure success. The Democrats’ boast that the Republican party in the State is paralyzed by internal dissensions, and the loss of popular confidence, is disproved at the outset of this struggle by a gathering larger and more enthusiastic than is usual iu a purely State canvass, iu entering this contest the Democrats played their last cards in the nomination of William Allen and a specious appeal to the farmeft ;"biif"if is already apparent that they have lost. There has been no enthusiasm awakened iu the Democratic ranks by the exhumation of this political fosei. 1 ; there has been no disintegration of the Republican party because of the Farmers’ movement. It is a mark of the vigor and good sense of the Republicans that they are carrying on an aggressive contest. Mr. Allen is a gentleman of high personal character, but his political record during the war is exceedingly vulnerable, and it is being properly used with great: effect. Ou the other hand the position of Governor Noyes is wholly unassailable. In the personal aspect of the contest, therefore, the advantage is entirely with the Republicans. Our friends are equally happy in the record they have made in the administration of State affairs. Ohio has given Democracy but little chance during the last twenty years to try its hand at government, and the State has consequently prospered and become great. In purely local issues the party is strong as ever, and Governor Noyes has proved-that it can face the national questions which have become prominent since last year without losing any of its strength. That is a fair presentation of the situation. Tiie Republicans of Ohio go into the fight in the best possible condition. They havemo internal dissensions and no corruption to W’eaken them. In State affairs, they have the strongest possible endorsement from the Democrats themselves, and in national politics the party never stood fairer before the people. It has purified itself and thereby given evidence that it is worthy the confidence of the people. It has turned its face sternly against every form of corruption, and repudiated every dishonest officeholder, thereby establishing its honesty and devotion to the best interests of the people. With such a record, in a contest with a party which has been, in the language of our neighbor of the Democrat, “ for the past two or three years masquerading in all kinds of,fantastic costumes,” there can be no doubt as to the result.— Toledo Blade.