The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-09-12
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An Effect wi.hou n Cause.

4.1 nm AzAhCCt Mt a. N'stuscs 81 AZ
j The Argus declares that Mondays election
was Zone of the most remarkable in tho history
of the State" and so in some respects it was.
After some preliminary flourishes, our neigh
bour proceeds to describe the political situation
as follows: ssessgf4@E
The leaders of the Radical party made sire
nuous efforts to bring out its full strength
Their organization was perfect, and the contri-
buttons Uf the army of Officeholders supplied
ample means. They put their most influential
speakers on the stump, and their numerous
party organs flooded the State with appeals to
the prejndices passions and party pride of
their dieipcs. No effort was spared ON their
part; no stone was left lInturned.4 But it was
in vain. The Democracy, with scarcely the
sembiance OF an organization, without funds,
without speeches or concert of action, came
out in their strength, and made a relative gain
upon them OF fifteen thousand votes, elected
the officers IN several counties and largely in
creased their representation in the legislature.
If all this were true, it would certainly be
the most extraordinary social phenomenon ever
witnessed. The simple fact is, however, that
while the Democratic vote has been increased
since last year by about 1000, the Republican
vote has fallen off about 10000 TO anybody
who is in the habit of considering the move
merts of large masses of men, this simple state
mont win afford the most positive proof that
the Democratic party has been actively at
work and that the Republican organization
has been DOING, if not sound asleep. Out of
hundred men, perhaps seventy may be
counted on in this State, as sure to 30 to the
polls at the annual election and vote for the
candidates whom they prefer. The thirty who
will remain away are influenced by a variety
of p1ofivaS Cntna Of a.o abs., I,oI IN,
other matters and have no strong political con-
victions. Some of them are dissatisfied with
particular acts of the party with which they
sympathize on all important matters. Others
are sick, or at a distance from the polls and
find it impossible or inconvenient to vote. The
reasons are various, but ono word includes
them all Aindifference. Thirty per cent of the
voters IN this State take no great interest in
the result of any elcction and in a closely
contested State the election turns wholly upon
the relative success Of the two parties in over
coming the inertia of these three tenths, more
or less, of the whole number of voters
To say that the party which bns Increased
-fU7 voGe IN This State has done nothing to bring
about that result, and that the party Which
had 1000 men al home xybsa-A--------ty uIu hot
ua4--.-v r'enocratIc ticket has done its ut
most,is an affront to reason an common sense.
1t is as if one should say that the bed of the
Presumpseot had been found to be perfectly
level, and that the water flows into Casco Bay
instead of flowing backward into Lake Sebago,
by pure accident. fssi sai buG ,n'g aasFafe q
AS matter of fact, it is we'll enough known
that the Republican party in this State has
made no effort worthy of the name. There has
been but very little speaking none at all here
in Portland. There has been no canvass. No.
body bae,o Monday morning what to expect..-
The Democracy made no open fight, but it has
been well enough understood that they were
furtively doing their utmost. They had but
little public speaking; but their p L. L. lodg-
es-were simply political meetings They is
sued no campaign documents. such as Republi-
can committees are ia the habit of distributino
speeches by our ablest statesmen on matters
OF public interest: but they circulated private
~ documents which they were ashamed OPEN
ly to avow-fraudulent msstatements of the
quesnons before the people and slanderous at
tacks upon Republican candidates. s't NHs
BY such efforts the Democratic vote has
been increased by about 1000, leaving them
still 1900 in the rear of a party which has
done comparatively nothing If they call this
victory, what would they consider a defeat?
We will show them that next year. When in
1862 the Republican majority was reduced to
1000, the Democracy had some reason to be en-
couraged. A minority of 1000 is by no means
helpless. In fact they did take courage, and
the next summer showed the cloven foot at
hingtield and elsewhere. But in September
1858, they went down again under a majority |
of $4,000, though they had added u 600 to their
voee OF The proceeding year. They have never
peeh since and are not now SO strong as they |
were IN 1863. Our present majority of 1900
is at low water mark. '...a - Il f-'l |