The Republican journal., 1872-09-12
How is it? Why is it p? And What Then ?

During his very able speech in this city,
MIR. Tilton referred to philosopher who
always analysed the difficult problem of
lite by disposing OF their component parts
under the above heads, and, considering
them separately, was able to obtain the
best results from every subject presented
Perhaps it will be as well to dissect the
election of last Monday, in the above
manner, and seek to discover the lesson.
ii any. that it affords. So, with what
composure and patience we can command,
and making ourself for the occasion as
much as possible cross between Socrates
and Job, we proceed,
HOW Is.IT?
The returns indicate that Mr.. kimball
falls fourteen thousand behind Gov. Per-
ham. That is about how 1t is. This horse
is short one, and very quickly curried
WHY Is IT?
Here we plunge into sea of troubles.
The opposition to the National admins
tration started on the Maine campaign
with very tlattering prospects The fol
lowing of the Liberal movement, so ex-
tensive in the middle and western states.
was from the start much smaller in Maine
but 1t had III its ranks many prominen,
and efficient men, familiar withscampaien
ing, who thoroughly believed in the move
ment, and gave it their best efforts But
1t was lamentable to see the apparent ease
with which men OF lesser note who had
declared for Greeley We're coaxed, bought
or driven back to their old party And in
tins city even men OF prominence who
had talked and acted with the Liberals III
TO the day of election. We're found to be
under some mysterious influence or com
pulson which carried their votes TO the
side that they had so recently denounced
1t was a spectacle to make beholders lose
their faith in human integrity; but tina
we think is frequently the case with those
who engage actively in party politics
The result compels us to say that the gair
from Liberalism, although something, wa.
not so large as there was reason to ex
pect.
The Democrats. believing thorough,
in their cause, and proud of the higi
character of their gubernatorial candidate
were anxious to give him generous sup
port. But discipline was lacking TIL,
truth should be told, Tor it will be whole
some in the future, that we have neve1
approached the compact, thoroughly drill
ed and efficient organization of our OPP
ponents. Thousands of Democrats were
not brought to the polls We need at tn,
| head of our organization man of execu
tive ability, industry, courage and having
the necessary time. His work should moi
be delayed until ten days before election
and then be done hurriedly and inefficient
ly. Money is well enough, but we d,
not need it so much as we need an under
derstanding with each other, concert O
action and determination.
Having thus spoken of the Liberals ant
the Democracy, we come to the tactics o
our opponents. The republican party OF
Maine is compact, vigorous, we'll drill
ed body OF partizans. 1t includes ever,
postmaster, revenue officer. and almo s
all the State, county and city officials o
every kind. They are under pay for thei
party services, which go hand and hant
with the means whereby they live 4
man will fight for his bread and butter, i
there is any fight in him. At the head O
this army is James G. Blaine, man @
brains, resources, pluck and wonderful
capacity for labor. In it he rules as abso
lutely as the Gar rules his subjects. Con
trolling this array on one hand he com
mands with the other the unbounded re-
sources of his party in the country al
large. He assesses the home officials, anC
they pay. He asks for funds at Wash
ington, and they come at his call. He
draws upon the wealthy men of his party
and his drafts are honored. And in ad
dition to the rest he is said to have ex
pended a very large amount from his pri
vate fortune in the campaign just closed
All these influences, brought to bear up
on the low and daily decreasing standard
of the public mind in respect to party
morals and public duties, produce, in con
junction with other causes named, the re-
suit which we record to day. Money has
flowed like flood, and men have beer
bought at the polls as cattle are bought a
the shambles. When the conditions un
der which we 60 into party contests car
be changed the result will be different
and not till then. Lastly we come to the
final branch of our subject
| WHAT THEN?
This query involves an examination OF
the foregoing considerations in part, and
a comparison of figures. From the return