The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-21

The State elections are so scattered through
the year that the American politician has
hardly a month of any season when his atten-
tion is not absorbed in the progress of some
campaign. The State and Presidential cleo
tions of last fall were exhausting enough to
impair the vitality of an ordinary people, and
leave them no energy for an imme late re-
sumption of the work. From June till Novem-
Der there was fever of political excitement
that invaded every village, shadOwed the WIZ
country With flags, made stump speeches '"e
daily bread of millions, made pohuoai 'eA'
books sell at premium, and cause" 'no he"s'
papers to go into italic and sl'aii capi'ai COIL
yulsjops. But few weeks have passed and
we find that in New Hampshire and Connect
cut they are getting up steam again, as brskly
and aggressively as if a political campaign
were novelty of which the people had lust
heard, and which they were eager to try for
themselves.
In the former State Onslow Stearns of Con-
cord, local railroad king and good man. has
already been nominated by the Republicans
for Governor. Yesterday, the Democrats held
their State Convention and joined issue with
their always victorious foes, as usual. The
election occurs on the 9th of March, but not
half the interest will be excited by it that at
tended the campaign of last spring. The Re-
publican majority at the November election
was almost seven thousand; that of Hartman
over Sinclair last spring was 1928 These ma
jorities are large enough. especially after such
desperate struggle as that in the spring, to in
dictate permanent Republican ascendency in
tha 10 tntn ha 1ad
nearly certain that New Hampshire will not
be contested by the enemy, and that not only
Stearns, but Ella, Stevens aud Benton, the Re-
publican Congressman who have all been re-
nominated, will be triumphantly elected. The
only unfavorable omen is the election az Ports
mouth of Frank Jones as Mayor since the
Presidential campaign. But this mishap has
been explained, both by the great personal
popularity of the candidate and by the mach
nations of secret Democratic organization
that exists in that city.
In Connecticut the State whose election
comes next in order, on the 9th of April, the
case is somewhat different. Last spring Eng
lisb, Democrat, was elected Governor over
Marshall Jewell, Republican, by l. 765 majority.
In November Grant carried the State by the
uduusoue majority Vi o,Ufl buJ connecticut,
or at least the Democratic part of it, being
merely an outlying province of New York, is
not considered reliable. The railroad commu-
nication with Tammany Hall is too easy, es-
pecially when there is no election to keep the
sixth ward "repeaters at home, to make the
Republican warfare hopeful one. The DEM
ocrats open the ball by holding State Con-
uention on Wednesday of next week, and the
Republicans follow the week after The Dem
ocrats will either renominate Governor Eng
fish or snatch Senator Dixon from the pit of
political oblivion toward which he is now pass
ing. The Republicans, it is supposed, will
again rally under the banner of Jewell At
least they may hope to gain Congressman or
two In the 40th Congress they have only
Starkweather of the third district, the other
three being Democrats, one Of whom, Hubbard
of the Hartford district, had only 517 majority
In 1867 The Connecticut politicians are al
ready beginning to skirmish, and the fight will
soon wax warm and the blows become heavy
and frequent.