Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-09-28
From the Boston Atlas.
THE MAINE ELECTlON-CA CAUSES
OF OUR DEFEAT-THE LESSON
WHICH 1T TEACHES.

The Maine brigade of the Wing army i
totally routed, and well nigh cut to pieces
not however through any fault of its own
Our friends in that State have struggled
manlu'ly. They have thrown some forty
thousand votes, all which they ever expect
ed or promised to throw. The number.
mustered by the loco focos have exceeded
all calculation, and have turned the scale
against us.
The enquiry is every where made, how
has this happeued' What has caused thi:
disastrous result' The cause is obvious
and the consequence has been inevitable
The Tory party, for some ten or twelve
long years, by cul pabe negligence anc
folly on the part Of its opponents, has beer
suffered 10 assume and to use, the name
and title of the Democratic party. The
Tories have been allowed to hold them.
selves out as the exclusive and peculiar
friends OF the people, and of popular rights
and this idea, Industriously ncu!ca,ed for
SO long time, 1t is not easy suddenly tc
eradicate. Those may sheer who choose
at appeals to popular sympathies, and tc
the popular Imagination, but it is only BY
means like these, that masses of men
wherher great or small, are ever brought
to act together; and in our opinion the
feelings and sympathles, or if YOU will
the passions and prejudlces of the many
are quite as respectable, and quite as wor-
thy OF being cOurted and humored as the
'eelngs and sympathies, the passions and
preJudlces ofthe few. AT all events, our
government is purely popular govern
ment; and in the long run those will al.
ways have the ascendancy in it, who take
the most pains to secure the favor and good
will, and to gain the ear, OF The people.
Those who would have votes must descend
into the forum and take the voters by the
hand; and if the virtuous, the patriotic,
the well informed neglect, by proper
attentions, to gain the popular car, and
the ear OF the people is to be gained
by the very same kindness, aud compliance.
as the ear of an individual, they NAV be
very certain that it will be surrendered up.
for somebody will always have ito
corrupt, unprlncpled, and sef.seekng dem
agogues.
We do not design in the above remarks
to cast any reflection upon the conduct or
management of the Wings of Maine
They seem, with perhaps some individual
exceptions, to have understood perfectly
the soundness of the above dI:trne, and to
nave acted accordingly. But it was not
possible in single year, to counterfeit at.
lachmenis, or to dspel illusions which
had been dozen years growing, and The
entire power of which was d'.geutly bro'l
to bear on the late election
The above is true and candid exposi,
ton OF the real and substantial cause OF our
defeat IN Maine. Other causes will doubt.
less be alledged, and no doubt had Ger,
tain influence, but the real and substantial
Cause remains as above stated.
80 much for the cause of our defeat. and
now for It's effects. We are by no means
willing to lose the state of Maine, but we
do not at all apprehend any serious disaster
from the loss, Indeed, ifthe lesson winch
1t affords rs be properly improved, the ad,
van'aSes we may gain from it. will have
been cheaply purchased by the loss OF ten
electoral votes. AS 10 the effect Of the