The Portland daily press., 1870-09-19
FHF PR ESS.
Monday Morning, September 10, 1870.


- 1ktVIcWs
One week ago today the Republicans of
this district elected Hon. JOHN LYNCH to
represent them in the 43d Congress OF the
United States The campaign thus brought
to a successful close was initiated by stormy
and tumultuous convention, which to one
having no confidence in the virtue and integ-
rity of the party, toreboded canvass of great
bitterness, to be followed by disastrous and
overwhelming defeat. 1t was also predicted
that the nomination of Mr.. Lynch would in
yolve the sacrifice of the Republican candi-
dates for Senators and County officers in
York, and render all efforts to elect them ut
terly useless and Intellectual. To SO great an
extent did this melancholy misapprehension
obtain, that prominent and influential Re-
publican in York County advised one of the
candidates for Senator to withhold the pay
ment the customary assessment, upon the
ground that the ticket was sure to be defeat
ed, and money spent in the incidental expen-
ses OF campaign, would be money thrown
away. We mention this as one of many in
stances to show the aDimus of a few men
who were evidently determined TO make 1t
appear that the action Of the district conven-
ton was a violent outrage upon vested
rights" and altogether unwise and indlscreet'
But the election rttnrns if they show any
thing show that so far from berg an unpop-
ular and an unfit nomination, it was abso-
luiely the strongest that could have been
made, and ratified by larger majority than
would have attended any other. Moreover
many of the most sagacious and well inform
ed Republicans in York county have volun-
teered to express the opinion based upon the
result and past experience, that Mr.. Lynch's
candidacy ayerted the very result which his
opponents predicted would be almost newt
able, and was the means of swelling the Re-
publican majority for the county ticket, if in
deed it did not save it from efeat. The his
tory of Republicanism in York county demon
strates that nothing is so fatal 10 it as apathy
and this holds true even in campaigns where
no enthusiasm is manifested by the opposi-
ton. An active and noisy campa IN invaria-
bly, tells in favor of the Repdblicans-a quiet
campaign enures to the benefit of the Dem
ocracy. The nomination of Mr.. Lynch filed
few of his most inevitable opponents with
the insane desire to punish him, by getting
out as many Republicans as possible who
could vote fer all the candidates except him.
His friends on the other hand exerted them
selves to get every possible vote for the entire
ticket. The county ticket therefore got the
entire benefit of The rivalry between his few
determined foes and his many active and in
fluential friends.
The result in'such towns as Cornish, New
field, Shapleigh, marlborough, Eliot, Ken
nebunkport, Alfred, Acton and other towns
where there were no parties especially inter
ested to stir up strife, shows that the great
mass of the party had an abiding faith in his
ability and were anxious to avail themselves
of his experience while the, result in Kittery
and Wells shows that those communities
where the nomination brought the greatest
in the interests of peace, if only the leaders
would show themselves worthy of leadership,
by pointing out the pathway of duty.
There are other incidents connected with
the election which in view of the popularity
of the preceding campaign, are quite interest
ing. Among these may be noticed the al
most unexpected personal popularity and
strength which Mr.. Lynch developed in the
county of Cumberland, as appears by returns
already published.
1t is also worthy of note that his majority
in the district will compare better with the
majority Of two years ago, than will the ma
jorty of any of the other four Representa-
tives with the majorities obtained at the last
Congressional ERECTION. -.fhe statement was
trumpeted from one end of the country to the
other, that the first district was in doubt, if
mot in danger, but the fifth district, of which
no fears were entertained, turns up with five
hundred less majority for Mr. Hale than is
given iu this district for Mr.. Lynch.
In this county Mr.. Perham has almost
thousand more votes than Gov. Chamberlain
received last year, while Mr.. Lynch leads Mr.
Perham about two hundred.
In conclusion it will not be out of place to
say that the Republicans of this district will
be fortunate indeed if, in ten years to come
they place in nomination gentlemen whose
character and reputation prove more attrac-
tive to the people, or who exhibit in the con-
duct of a campaign more consummate tact
and ability, than has been shown by Mr..
Lynch in the four successive contests in
which he has led the Republican hosts to vic
tory.