Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-09-13
NAME REPUBLICANS.

the Maine election great evidences of the
weakness and disintegration of the repub-
lican party. They regard the defeat of a
regularly nominated candidate for repre-
sentative, here and there, as sure token
that the party is demoralized and fast dy-
ing. They do not examine the general
result or consider that there never was an
election without more or less irregularities,
but they discover departure from the es-
tablished modes of party discipline, and
from this they jump to the conclusion that
the whole party is going to the dogs,
where they would like to have it 60.
The election just passed has afforded
these croaking prophets of evil very little
upon which to feed themselves Taken
in all its aspects it presents conclusive
evidence to blast their hopes and prove
the strength of the republican party. There
have been reform tickets" peoples
tickets" independents, and "nomina-
tons from the floor" but they have avail
ed nothing except to pick off a few repre-
sentatives. We had the Credit Mobilier
scandal to deal with, the salary grab ques-
ton, the disaffection inevitably following
the beginning of Presidential term. and
all the threats of Cesarism and a third term
for Grant, but the republican column
stands as strong as ever against all efforts
TO weaken it,
The vote for the gubernatorial candi
dates is the best test of the strength OF par
ties. Local questions in many cases control
the vote Tor representatives aN senators.
Taking the vote for Governor then as Civ
ing the best evidence of party strength.
we find that never since 1868 has the re-
publican majority been more significant of
present and future strength than now.
The majority for Mr.. Dingley over all OPP
position is about 10000. This is larger
than our majority Of 1869, or 1870, nearly
equal to that Of 1871. and as large in com.
parison with the total vote cast, reckoning
the ratio the same, as the majority of 1872
This majority we have carried with scarce
ly an effort. Not a speech was made in
the campaign. not circular distributed
nor even the shadow of an organization
kept up. We not only faced Credit Mo-
bilier and the back-pay question, but we
took the bull by the horns, making very
plain speech to republicans as well as
democrats on these matters. In the year
1869, following the Presidential election,
Chamberlain's majority was but 1915; in
1873 Dingley's is 10000. Thus stands the
comparison as to majorities in the off year
of both terms of Grants administration
This year the independent republican can
didate, Williams, may receive 2000 votes,
in 1869 the independent candidate received
more than twice as many. So then com
parison of the gubernatorial votes in sew
eral years affords no grounds for croaking
about tine prospects of the republican par
ty, but quite the reverse. Our majority
stands higher than in 1869, and the indie
pendent movement had far more strength
then than now
But the would-be disorganizers point to
republican losses in the legislature as
proof that the party is going TO destruc-
SiVh. AAOoS lOocCs diC no more IMAM
in the off-year. In every case they may
be traced directly to local and not politi-
cal causes. They are not the effect of dis
satisfaction with the republican party. In
Rockland it is question about water for
the city; in PASSPORT new railroad; in
Somerset a shire-town dispute; and so in
all it is local and not properly politi-
cal matters which have given few more
democrats seats in the legislature. The
vote for Dingley in all such places is well
sustained. In Somerset where the opposi-
ton carry the county and senatorial ticket,
Dingley has some 400 majority. In Rock
land and PASSPORT he has the usual MAORI
V. Everywhere his vote comes up to
what was anticipated by his most ardent
friends or the most jealous of his party,
MAKING manifest not only the popularity
OF our candidate but the enduring conf
dence OF the people in the republican
party.
Ihe paltry number of votes which Will
liams received for Governor shows that
there is no disposition among republicans
to try new experiments In the county of
Washington. where the democratic organ
threw away its own candidate, and RAISING
the name of Williams invited the republi-
cans to join the independent movement.
the beggarly number of votes which he re.
ceiyed shows how sadly the democrats in
the scheme erred in their judgment as to
the feelings and opinions of republicans
and how loyal and true the republicans
are to their own organization.
II there is in the election returns when
intelligently and candidly considered any.
thing to justify predictions of coming dis
ruption of the republican party we are un-
able to see it. Surely 10, 800 majority is
not a very bad omen, especially when OBJ
tanned without any effort and certainly a