Daily Kennebec journal., 1873-11-08
THE NEW YORK ELECTION.

The Albany Journal takes the defeat ofthe
republican ticket very philosophically. AL
though it hoped in the early part of the cam
paign for success, its later impressions were
such that its disappointment is trifling. 1t
says; AT the time the State Convention was
held Republican success was universally ex-
pected. Our opponents anticipated it as much
as we. We state what every intelligent OBJ
server knows when we say it was everywhere
taken for granted. There were no signs of
any change in public sentment-no reasons
visible for any reversal of the judgment which
had been pronounced the past two years. Out
of this general expectation sprang an over
confidence which lulled Republicans into re-
pose and carelessness. They made the same
mistake in New York that was made in Ohio,
and it has cost them much the same result
here as there. 1t is no revelation. There is
no change in public opinion. The Democrats
make no gains upon themselves. Their vote
falls of as ours does, but not so much, and
the difference makes their success. So far as
the result is concerned, that is all there is Of
it.
What OF the causes? The first and chief
We have already indicated-the lack Of ade-
quate effort, growing out Of feeling enter
tanned up TO short time before the election.
that the State was safe any way. Through
this confidence, organization was relaxed a nd
the usual means of success neglected. The
canvass was tame and lisliess. Independen,
of this there was want of interest on the
part of the people. General Apathy was in.
deed in command. The masses were no
reused or impressed with the idea that tht
election possessed any SPECIAL coase quence
There was natural reaction from the grea
,xf IL, d. H.. 81 II
financial depression undoubtedly had preju
dicial effect. Witianthinking men the part,
in power gets the blame of any disturbance il
the business or industrial world, whethe
deserving it or not. The panic has struck il
many quarters-in others il has excited ap
prehensions and forebodings. If it did no
induce men TO vote against the Republic&i
ticket it made not few Indifferent to poitica
results. In the cities there was another Gauss
operating in the same direction. The Ger
mans went very largely against US on accoun
of the temperance question and its assumed
bearings, while the friends Of temperance il
the interior as largely staid at home. Those
who felt sggrieved struck blow and those
who had urged legislation gave little help. In
word, it was the old story Of the "oif y ear, .
with its apathy intensified ny the panic and
these other influences.
so much for the causes--what Of the con.
sequencesf The past is settled--what of the
future! Do Republicans repine and falter:
Not bit Of it, We are as full of courage and
resolution as ever. We are ready to renew
the battle on the first occasion, ard we promise
our foes as lively fight as they can desire
While we shall affect nothiog that we do moi
feel, there are some aspects of the contest
ghich we can view with undisguised salts.
faction. IL seatters the mist and fog of new.
party talk, and settles it that the Democratic
party 10 to be our opponent in the future as i
has been in the past. That is precisely wha
we desire. We want To know what we ar,
fighting. We want to strike in the light an,
not 10 the dark to face no sbadowy concern
but the old, known, eharacterless organiza