The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-08-19
The Reason OF the Change,


The Reason OF the Change.
A marked change has taken place in the
political sentiments of the voters of Maine.
The universal prevalence of this change
surprises many Democrats. 1t has mani
tested itself no less in the smallest school
district and plantation than in the city and
large town. 1t is greater than the fears
OF Republican politicians and the expecta-
tons of Democrats. Its magnitude can
not be known until the polls are closed
and the ballots counted on the thirteenth
of September.
We recently conversed with the can
vasser Of a small town which casts less
than $50 votes. 1t has hitherto been over
whelnlingly Republican, giving Perham
in 1872 nearly 10 majority At the COM
ing election it will give ROBERTS about
80 majority. We asked the canvasser the
cause Of this marked change His reply
was that the voters of the town were
largely laboring men and small farmers :;
that the times were pressing upon them
with great severity, and that the common
answer among them, when asked how
they should vote in the coming election,
was that they vote for ROBERTS; that they
were going for a CHANGE; that times
could not possibly be any worse, and they
hoped that a change would make them
better
The reason, then, of the apparent reyo-
luton in the political sentiment OF the
voters Of Maine, is found in this: The
times have been hard ever since the panic
nearly two years ago. From month to
month since the great failures of Sep
TENDER, 1873, hopes have been enter
perlty would begin. Nearly twenty three
months have passed, and business, in
stead Of improving, has been steadily
growing poorer and poorer, until bust
ness men begin to despair and hardly
dare to look the future in the face.
Men of moderate means, and men who
are dependent upon daily employment for
their support, ask the business man, the
manufacturer, the general employer, and
the capitalist, when there is to be i'm
provement in the times, and they can
give no answer. They hold out no hopes
for the future. The very Darkness of
their countenances plainly declares that
there Is no reasonable prospect of i'm
provement in business until u cha7tqe in
the 0'}nlltst1'Ution ot the G0rtrnmeM has
beea ettefedt
1t is this idea, this universally prevail
ing sentiment, that has got possession of
the masses OF the people. They know
that there must be reuS0n-a cttatSc for
this Widespread apathy and prostration
OF all business, and they have located
that reason that cause - in the right
place. They locate it at Washington and
in our State capitals They rightfully
attribute the cause to bad, extravagant,
and corrupt government.
This sentiment which is at this time so
unmistakable and 50 all-pervadng in our
State, makes us most hopeful in regard
to the result OF the election three weeks
from next Monday The people are think
ing, talking, working and striking for a
CHANGE; and when they have determined
upon a change, they will effect it, it mat
tiers not how large may be the majorilies
that stand in their way. 1t was thus that
they last fall overturned majority of 80
900 in New York, of 1000 in Illinois, and
20, 600 in Massachusetts.
1t remains, then, for every Democrat to
prepare to do his whole duty in the cleo
ton next month He should take cour-
age from what TRANSFERRED in the West and
Northwest last fall and in Connecticut
and New Hampshire this spring. The re-
cent election in Kentucky is proof that the
great revolution is taking no step back
ward, but is advancing aud gathering vol
ume and strength as it rolls along. Ban
gor Commercial