The Portland daily press., 1868-03-10

1t is hard fight. Every inch of ground is
gradually pressing the enemy backward all
along the line. AT the first trial in the seVenth
ward our candidate for councilman LED MS
Democratic competitor by only oVotes, Dnt
next time we beat them by 16 and carried the
election. In the first ward the case was even
worse At the first meeting the straight Re
publican vote for Knowlton was % behind the
Democratic vote, and at the second trial sun
behind. AT the third meeting the flank nfe
ceased, and we elected our candidate by ma
jority of 10. At each successive eiec'ioh We
have gained directly in numbers anu iholrec1-
" in the decrease of the scattering vote.
Under these encouraging circumstances we
approach the new trial for mayor. The Dem
ocrats have polled 2277 votes for Putnam; in
1881 they cast 22Sl votes for Howard. We have
given Mcclellan 2436 votes; in 1861 we elected
Thomas by vote of 243l. The relative strength
of the two parties therefore appears to be about
the same as at the beginning of the rebellion.
1t was to be expected that three years after the
close of the war two great parties would be
found, by whatever names called, more nearly
balanced than the Union and Copperhead par
ties had been. Men who count too securely
upon the past strength Of the Republican par
ty are in danger of being disappointed. We
shall carry the elections this year. We must
carry them. But it will be in the face of a
most vigorous and determined opposition.
The issues are most momentous; the future
history of the country is to be shaped by the
decision; but we have not now the thunder OF
octuo1 xUar IN anforoa tba 1accnu Tho advan-
tage which we gain from these preliminary
skirmishes is mainly the knowledge derived
from them of the strength and positions of the
enemy. When our voters see that Demo
cratic victory is among the possibilities, and
means the resurrection of aristocracy at the
South, the reputation, direct or indirect, OF
the national debt, and the payment of South
ern claims for emancipated slaves, we shall
hear from them at the polls.
We shall hear from them in Portland next
Monday. Jacob Mcclellan will be mayor OF
Portland next year in any event. There are
ru 'lors that if the election should go to the
Council another candidate would be selected,
but they are without foundation. The Repuh-
lican members of the City Council were chos-
en- not to crafty their individual preferences
cans of Portland. They were nominated and
elected on the same ticket with Mcclellan.
His nomination has received the endorsement
of the party. No Republican candidate for
mayor has ever received so large a vote as was
cast for Mcclellan on the I'd of March. To
suppose that under such circumstances our
re representatives. in the Council will take
any other candidate is to suppose them capa-
bic of disregard of their implied obligations
which nobody has right to expect. Mr.. Nc
Lellan then will be our next Mayor. With
this certainty of defeat, our opponents renew
the contest. With this certainly of vic.ory we
meet them. They have not gained point
since the first trial. They will not gain
point now. Mcclellan will not only be our
next mayor, but he will be elected by hand
some popular majority.