New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-29
THE MAINE ELECTION.
TACTICS OF THE DEMOCRATS.

| IRON A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBUSE.l
| BANGOR Me-. Aug 25.-The Democrats Of Maine
| are on "still hunt" in this campaign. To tho
| casual observer they seem to have abandoned the
contest in this State and to be making very little
| effort even to bring out their full vote in Sep
| TENDER. Nowhere have they thus far madc
any great public demonstrations; none OF
| the distinguished Democratic orators from other
| States have yet made their appearance here;
the Democratic candidates for Congressional honors,
even, are not generally canvassing their districts,
and if Gov. Tilden's barrel of money about which
heard so much in Washington, has arrived, it has
nowhere been placed public exhibition. 1t is true
that Democratic campaign clubs have been organ
lied IN many of the important towns that the old
campaign flags under which the Democracy of Maine
have often marched to disastrous defeat have
been brought from their hiding places once more.
and now float on the breeze bearing the names Of
Iden and Hendricks, but they have generally been
raised without much ceremony. and the campaign
clubs are doing their work quietly, without such ae-
cessOres as music and uniforms and torchlight pro-
cessions.
But the Republicans of Maine will be sOrey dis
appointed election day if they expect to roll up
big majority in this State the 11th of September
without making an unusual effort. The Democrats
have not in reality abandoned the field in Maine,
though they would be very glad to have their Oppo
nents think 80. Their apathy is only assumed. Gov.
Tldens barrel of money is here, though its arrival
has not been proclaimed from the housetops and its
contents will be "pnt where they will do the most
good" Great public meetings useful in their way;
they arouse the enthusiasm OF the people and IN
struct them in the issues Of the contest but they do
not bring home absent voters, and they rarely con-
vert political opponents. Torchlight professions,
oil oil linn ia of M u5ic
and transparenci,e, entertain both those who par
ticpate and those who witness, but torches and
flags and transparencies do not count Tor votes In
the ballot-bOX.
No one understands these truths better than Gov.
Tilden and the fact that the Democrats of this
State have adopted new tactics ought to be warn
ing TO the Republicans that the campaign
against them is being managed III accordance
with the advice of the most accomplished politician
IN this country and that if they DO not W sh to DO
surprised with greatly reduced majority, they must
meet their opponents on their own ground. liz tho
Democrats perfect organization which reaches
every doubtful or absent voter, the Republicans
must meet 1t with organization equally effective
1t was the quiet, persistent work or many months
that gave Gov. Tilden the nomination at st. Louis
His agents did not sound trumpet before them when
they went into a State to capture convention or
made converts in the very camps Of their enemies.
The same policy has been adopted here, aud while it
Is not az all probable that the Democrats carry the
State OF come within thousands of doing so THAT is
not the prize they are working for, they may re-
duce the Republican majority sufficiently TO show
turn IN the tide of popular opinion which would 10
disastrous in the States which come after.
What have said about the tactics of the Demo
Gratis of this State is not matter of inference Tho
work of organization began several weeks ago, and
has already been extended 10 majority If not to all
of the counties Of the State. In many places the
first canvass has already been completed, and the
lists of absent and doubtful voters made up. Nor
is this ALL in some cases the money to pay the
expenses Of Democrats who are Wiling TO come
home and vote has already been fs-vaIied to them,
the number TO be brought back to me small town
at an expense of $40 each being rs, and to another
II. If this policy is carried out in all the counties
and towns in the State it will involve the expendi-
ture of very large sum of money.
But while the Democrats are spending very little
money upon meetings and political demonstrations,
they are using other means 20 acquaiut the people
with the issues of the campaign. Attractive little
pamphlets and tracts in which the subjects
of taxation and public expenditure are skill
fully treated. with extracts from Gov. Tilden's
speeches. messages, and letters, are widely
circulated Some of the Democratic speeches
delivered ia Congress just before the close Of tho
last session are ranked part Of The Congressional
Record all over the State. In Places where Col.
Ingcrsol speaks startling extracts from his attack
on Christianity and the Bible are distributed to
the audiences and he has IJen obliged to
open his speeches with an appeal for
free thought and free expression of it
whether the subject be politics or religion.
r tba Inv I huSi
more PROSTATE than in the leading towns of this
State Financial disaster breeds discomfort and
discomfort is a bad omen for the party in power.
One of the shrcwdest Republican politicians in this
State admitted TO me only day or two ago
that the depressed state of business would
have made the success of his party in the country
more than doubtful this Fall, had it not been for
the campaign material furnished by the Democratic
House of Representatives. and the resurrection Of
the bloody shirt believe he is entirely right
so far as the remark might be applied
TO this State. When business is good,
prices are advancing and the demand
fur every product outstrps the supply, people care
little for extravaganza in Government expenditures,
and economy is almost thing deSpised. But when
farmers manufacturers, and merchants on bal
ancng trir accounts, find that they are running
behindhaha when laborers wages reduced,
and the m.. It value of all kinds of property
is daily deprecatng, u few dollars moro or less paid
in taxes become a matter of the gravest Importance.
Gov Tlden aud his friends are trying to turn this
state of affairs to tneir advantage They prom
ise a general smasl ny of the Rings that have sur
rounded and got possession of Gen. Grants
Administration, and they point To Gov. Til
den's splendid services against the Tammany and
Canal rings as evidenCe of his will and ability.
They promise honesty am economy in public ex-
penditures and a reduction ~ taxes, and quote