Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-03-16

flag of General Grant and upon the platform
of his administration, and the result is the en-
dorsemeut of the President and his policy for
another term. Considering the close division
of the State between the two great parties,
/ the disturbing temperance and labor reform
factions, and particularly the assistance gwen
To the democrats by Messrs. Sumner, Trum-
bull, Schurz and other anti Grant republican
Senators in their speeches on the abuses and
corruptions of the administration, and by
some half dozen boiling or disaffected jour-
nails East and West, democratic success in
New Hampshire would not have been sur
prising. Down to the actual returns OF the
elections the issue was doubtful, not SO much
because the democrats held the advantages OF
the State government, nor because the labor
and temperance reformers were to be dread
ed, but because the republican followers OF
Gratz Brown, Trumbull, Schurz and Greeley
were the unknown element in the contest.
The general result, however, shows that
Gratz Brown has no republican followers in
New Hampshire that Grant holds his own
there against all the outside and inside oppos-
ition forces, and that the democratic party
has gained no recruits from the republican
camp.
The Philadelphia Press speaks the opin-
ion of Pennsylvania in an article from
which we take the following:
As we candidly stated yesterday and be-
fore, the Administration of President Grant
was on trial in New Hampshire. The whole
country was agreed that the result in that
State would decide the question of his renom-
ination and reelection. All the charges
against him were brought into the canvass,
allegations Of corruption made in the Senate
were repeated on the stump, and every un-
favorable Republican criticism was brought
into play. The people of the State were
every day reminded Of the fact that Repub-
lican victory would be an approval of Grants
Administration and declaration in favor Of
his denomination. They accepted the issue,
and have settled it,
The Boston Advertiser regards the cleo
ton of Mr.. Straw with satisfaction. 1t
also considers the result an administration
triumph, and speaks plainly of the oppo-
sition of republican senators. 1t says:
/ At the very moment when the republicans
of New Hampshire were using every means
in their power to keep the State from lapsing
permanently into democratic misrule, they
, were overwhelmed with the speeches of re-
, publican Senators, which are thrown in their
faces from Hillsborough to the Canadian line.
, tive workers in the towns regarded the intru-
sion with mingled sorrow and indignation,
but did not relax their effort; as the canvass
advanced they more and more identified their
cause with that of the administration, and
scorned to seek any advantage by begging
absolution for its faults. The verdict of New
Hampshire is for the administration and
against those who oppose it, and every New
England State will give like verdict when
their time comes.
The Journal is decidedly enthusiastic
over the returns. Its comments will not
cheer Mr.. Sumner in his sickly condition.
To him the papers of Massachusetts at
this time must be rather doleful reading.
The foremost fact it reveals is the complete
unity of the republican party. The disaffec.
ton, about which 50 much noise has been
made at Washington, is like Pope's concep-
ton of fame-something that "plays round
the head, but comes not near the heart" The
republican masses know nothing about it.
They may differ individually, as they always
did, but when the trumpet sounds, they fall
into line and march shoulder to shoulder.
Even the question of renominating President
Grant would have been left where it belongs,
} if busy bodies had not forced it upon the at
tenton of the party, and actually compelled
the inference in its favor to be drawn from
this victory at the polls. This demonstration
then, Of the unanimity of the republican
masses, evidencing such earnestness. alacrity
and nerve, is the grand fact of the New
Hampshire triumph. 1t will at once be
taken-as there is every reason why it should
be-as representative of the general temper
of the party throughout the Union, and it is
sufficient to say that, as much as any one
thing could do, it settles in advance the re-
J suit of the Presidential campaign.
These extracts are sufficient to show the
impression made by the New Hampshire
election. Everywhere the result is hailed
as an index to the nomination of Grant
and his election in November. No COM
bination can be made that will defeat him.
The signs are that he will sweep the
country with grander and more complete
majority than in 1868.