The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-03-04
New Hampshire and Connecticut.

The result of the elections soon to be held
in New Hampshire and Connecticut will be
awaited with unusual interest. These states
are rated doubtful" the majority, as victory
has crowned the one side or the other,
having for many years been very small. They
are the first states 10 vote since the great
overturn of November and their action will
help to solution of the interesting problem
whether the Democratic ascendency is likely
to be ephemeral and transient, as Republi-
cans are inclined to believe, or permanent
and substantial, as the Democrats fondly
hope. The vote of these states, too, will be
the first expression since the Presidents mes
sage on Louisiana affairs and will afford some
indication as to the tendency of the public
mind on the great and menacing Southern
Question.
From New Hampshire our advices are very
encouraging and point to the success OF the
Republican state ticket. Indeed it Is reported
though such reports must always be taken
with many grains of salt-that the Democrats
have practically abandoned the contest for
their state ticket and are concentrating their
efforts upon the legislative and congressional
candidates, particularly in the first district
where Frank Jones is said to be literally dis
pensing the earnings of his great brewery in
the purchase of seat 10 Congress. The
election of last spring resulted In a sweeping
Democratic success and the victors made such
utterly shameless misuse of their power in
the way of changing officials, gerrymandering
legislative districts and even revolutionizing
the whole judicial system Of the state for par
tisan purposes, as to arouse disgust and alarm
among decent members Of their own party and
the keenest resentment and activity among
their opponents. So that the contest of this
year turns largely upon local questions and
will be but partially affected by general aud
national issues.
In Connecticut the case is somewhat sim
liar. The Democrats captured the state last
spring and have made a record of gross and
glaring partisanship which ought to ensure
their defeat this year. They began by electing
to the U. s. Senate William W. Eaton, one Of
the most notorious copperheads In the coun.
try, who called the union soldiers that were
fighting for the very existence Of the nation.
EARNED bands of despotism" and uttered
many of the most outrageous sentiments that
disgraced the war time. They wed with the
New Hampshire legislature in gerrymanderine
the legislative districts, notably in New Haven
and Norwich, in the appointment of parti.
san judges and other exhibitions of severe
party rule, while matters touching agricultural
and labor interests and other matters of rea
reform and improvement were either wholly
neglected, or, at the last hour of the session
suffered to go over to another year. Will
this record, ampliied and discussed, the Re
publicans can put their adversaries on tn
defensive and assault them with great effect
We trust that our friends In both thes
states will spare no pains to secure success
They are fighting not only the battle for goo'
government in their own states, but the open
ing skrmish of the great national struggl
which is so near upon US and which promises
to be the greatest of our history In the inten
sity of the conflict and the Importance of it
result. New Hampshire and Connecticut will
be greatly quoted for the next six months fol
good or for evil. 1t is large stake to pla!
for and Is worth the EXTREMIST effort. w
ought to win in both cases and the prospec
is certainly very fattering.