The New York herald., 1876-08-15
Tho Maine Elcction-Mr. Blaine on
the stump.

1ho Maine Electfon-hr. hI"AnO o
the stump.
The republican State canvass in Maine
was opened last evening by public meet
ing in Portland of which the chief fea-
ture was a speech by Mr.. Blaine. The re-
publican party will congratulate Senator
Blaine on the recovery OF his health and his
ability to take an active part in the cam
paign. He has strong personal as well as
political motives for exerting himself to the
utmost and securing brilliant success for
his party in the approaching State election.
He naturally desires to prove that the con-
fidence of his immediate fellow citizens in
his character has not been impaired by re-
cent events and accusations. He owes his
transient elevation to the Senate to an exec
utive appointment, and depends on the
Legislature about to be chosen for per-
manent position in that body. If the re-
publican majority in Maine should be large
in the September election Mr. Blaine will go
to Indiana and Ohio and speak in those
States, clothed with prestige of victory
which will enhance his influence.
authentic indication of the drift of popular
sentiment siuce the Presidential nomina-
tions Elections in the Southern States
throw no light on the canvass, because it has
long been a foregone conclusion that the
Southern electoral votes will be almost
unanimously given to the democratic candi-
dates. The Presidential election will be
decided by Northern votes, and the result III
Maine will show whether the republican
party is likely to hold its own and make
gains. Last September Governor Connor
was elected in Maine by n majority of only
3,7S2 The republican party must do great
deal better this year, or the Maine election
will not help it in the October States. But
O sweeping victory in Maine would probably
be followed .by success in Indiana, and If
the democrats should lose both Indiana and
Ohio they would have but slender chance
of carrying New York. The republicans are
reasonably sure Of Ohio in any event,
and brilliant triumph in Maine would
go far toward giving them Indiana, where
the majority of Governor Hendricks was
only 1887 in 1872. TO be sure the demo-
Gratis had q plurality of II, 252 in 1874, but it
was only plurality and not majority.
There was an Independent ticket in 1874
which received 16, 233 votes, so that the demo-
cratic party had an absolute majority of only
1,019. although il was the year of the great
''tidal wave" The tidal wave has since re-
ceded, and great victory in Maine, with
Mr.. Blaine on the stump In Indiana
afterward, would probably turn the
scale in favor of the republicans
in SO evenly balanced State. That
Maine will bo carried by the republi-
cans in September is beyond doubt,
and they may fairly expect to increase their
majority of last year, which was less than
one-third Of the average republican majority
in Maine for the last twenty years. In so
full vote as will be called out next month
they will CONT on advantages by the appear
ance at the polls of the stay-at-home vote Of
last year. If this expectation should be dis
appointed democratic victory in Indiana
will nullify the effect Of republican sue
cess in Ohio and enable Mr.. Tilden to carry
New York and insure his election.