The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-06
(Cor. New York Times, No. 81
The Contest ia New York.
Taking Place i'm Public Sentimental
Brilliant Outlook for the Republican,.

That great change has taken place in the
current of public sentiment on tho Presi-
dental question in the country districts within
the last four or five days, is apparent to tie
most casual observer. All admit it, for it is so
palpable that none can deny it, The Repub-
licans show it ia the increased buoyancy of
their spirits, and the Democrats, unable to con-
ceal it even from themselves, no longer indulge
in the brag and buster that everywhere marked
their canvass of last week aud the week be
fore. While few days ago they were ready,
or professed to be ready, to bet odds on carry
ing this State for Tilden, they now, for the
most part, studously avoid that method of de-
Gliding an election, and can rarely be induced
to stake even dollars on the result. And they
have the best of reasons for this abatement of
their confidence. They behold the best men of
their party dropping out of the ranks by scores
every day. There have beel more conversions
from the Tiden and Hendricks to the Hayes
and Wheeler party in tie last five days than
during the whole previous period of the CAM
paign. In Washington, Essex, FultOD, 81 am :
lton, Warren and Saratoga counties, it threat
ems to become a stampede. Almost every hour
brings reports of new accessions to The Re-
pu0Ilcan party, or rather oil QeSertlOnS from
the Tiden aud Hendricks Rebel War Claims
party-for most of the men who are coming
| over claim to be as staCnch Democrats as they
ever were. A prominent Republican in Sar
| atoga county told me yesterday that within
| two hours nefore L met him three lifelong
Democrats, substantial farmers and men oil
| character, had called on him 10 say that they
bad made up their minds to vote for Hayes
aud Wheeler, and proffering their services iu
aid of the cause in any way he might sug-
gest. The changes that are now taking place
are not simply refusals to vote for Til
den, bot open declarations in favor OF
Hayes. Personal dislike of Tidep, although
class of Democrats has nothing to do with it
would make DO difference. 1t is the tendencies
of the party he represents, the influences th al
| are back OF him, ard the men who constitute
| the bulk of his followers, that cause the alarm
| Recent events, and particularly the i'll judged
| correspondence between Tiden and Hewitt
| about the rebel war claims, with the stereotyped
| disclaimers that so quickly followed from thu
| South, have probably done more to produce the
| change in public sentiment than anything else
| The cunning device concocted by Tilden anG
Hewitt TO allay suspicion only excited it, In
| stead of concealing the cloven foot it only ex
| posed it. The detection among the pr0minen
men OF the party is rapidly demOrali zirg thu
rank and file. Even the Irishmen are getting
disguised with candidate whom they have
heard their leaders denouuce as fraud" fol
| the last two years. and were it not for the
| "barr'ls' that are expected to roll in for It'll
den and reform on election day, they too
would Join in the stampede.