Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-06
From the Boston Journal.
The Election in Maine.

Next Monday the State election In Maine takes
place, and we hazard nothing in predicting that
the republicans will achieve their twenty first con-
secutive victory in the Dlrigo State. The indca-
tons at present that Gov. Conner will be re ell
ected by the average "off year" majority.
! So far as State issues are concerned the Repub-
licans after being in power for almost generation,
enter the campaign without anything to fear from
impartial criticism. The party has iven the State
an illustrious line of Governors-all able men, and
all leaving the Executive chair maintaining the
respect and confidence of the people. Hamlin,
Morrill,, Washburne, Coburn, Cony, Chamber
lain, Perham, Dingley, and Conner are names
that the people of any State might well be proud
of. The various departments OF the State Govern
ment without single exception, have continu-
ously been filled by men of ability and fidelity
All of the State charitable reformatory, correct
ional and educational institutions have been con.
Quoted with intelligence and economy. Once or
twice 1t has pleased the democratic leaders to
sail the management of some of these institutions,
but the most searching Investigations have not on
ly resulted in the vindication Of the officials
charged, but have showed that the institutions
were admirably managed.
The legislation of the State for twenty years is
not only free from those evidences of jobbery
which have characterized that of several States,
but bears ample evidence of continual care. pru-
dence and intelligence. The judiciary of the State
is composed of men eminent for character and L.
gal learning. The credit of the State of Maine is
second to in the Union. Its bonds at pres
| ent bear so high premium that the State can
| scarcely afford to purchase them for its sinking
| fund. The State debt, which is the result of the
late war; is gradually melting away, while the rate
of State taxation is sliding down the scale of
mills every year.
A few of the results of the republican policy in
Maine during the two decades may be cited. For
the advancement of public schools two Normal
schools have been established, and also a free
high school system, by which the State contributes
half OF the money expended to support high
schools in the towns of the State, the total amount
to any school not to exceed $500. A tax of one
mill each dollar of the valuation of the State is
| assessed annually for the support of common
schools. Tue tax savings banks is devoted to
the public schools. All of this leg slstion puts the
burden of the public school system upon the prop
erty Of the State, and is Of great advantage to the
feeble towns. u nder republican management the
State Reform School has become msdel insttu-
ton, and the State contributes largely to the
support oil n school of similar character for girls.
| system of workshops has been connected with
the JAls OF TINS otAte, Oy Whlcn the inmates are
| saved from the evils of idleness and the State
Prison relieved of many of those who guilty of
| minor offences. During these years the facilities
for taking care of the insane, and the education of
| the deaf and dumb and blind have been vastly
| improved and the expense largely assumed by the
| State. The State Constitution has been amended
to provide for the enactme of laws against
special legislation, and under it general laws for
the Incorporation of railroad and other corpora
| tons, as well as the management of the interior
l wa Of he bpen dn.
| ing away with the danger and expenditure Incl
| dent to special legislation.
| Since the close Of the war, in addition to mil
lions paid out for bountes the State has assumed
a large part of the debts contracted by towns for
| the same purpose. THIS policy a just one,
| sincei 1t was based on tue principle of placing
| the burden upon the property of the State. Yet
| with the large debt of the war, the assumed obi
cations Of the municipalities the school mill tax,
| the expenses of free high schools and charitable
| institutions which would otherwise have fal en-
upon the towns directly, the rate Of taxation has
! been declining from year to year.
| Under this policy the people of Maine have
| prospered in every respect. The municipal debts
| which, at the close OF the war were enormous,
have been largely paid Municipal taxation in
| many towns Is approximating the per centage
which prevailed before the war. Many of the
larger towns have increased their debts to build
railroads but these are but exceptions. The gem
eral outlook is most favorable. Few communities
are in so favorable condition.
Neither have the men who have dictated the
Republican policy in Maine been satisfied with
| securing an economical management Of State
| affairs considered that their work com
pleted when they had caused liberal and intelli.
| gent leg slation TO be enacted respecting educa-
/ ton and charitable institutions. From the first
Republican leaders have held that ii is the duty
of the State to care for the moral as well as the
| intellectual and industrial welfare of the people.
They have held that it is the duty of the State to
protect the people from those that result in
1 N riff rim nd m IN
| uousy have they maintained this principle in
public declaration and legislation that their SEN
| tment at the end OF twenty years has become the
deep conviction of large majority OF the voters
of the State irrespective of party and of still
greater part of the people OF the State. As the
result OF this policy of the Republican party in
| this respect, the people of Maine unquestion-
| ably the most temperate and moral TO be found in
| any country.
This we hold is largely due to the influence and
policy pursued by the Republican party We do
not believe that the intelligent voters of Maine
have any idea of changing admin isration
| which for twenty years has been so prudent, just
| and patriotic. They will not surrender proved
good for one which the Democratic leaders so
confidently promise but have failed to bring about
where they have had opportunity.
For third time the Republicans present to the
| voters of Maine the name of Gen. Selden Conner
for Governor. For nearly two years he has dis
| charged the duties of the Executive office. son
| of Maine who snatched renown for his State on
the battlefield amoat at the price of martyrdom,
high-minded cultured and patriotic citizen, an
enthusiast respecting the mission of his native
State, and public official who, by his digniied
bearing and conscientious parpose, has won thu
confidence and regard of the best people of the
State--surely, the intelligent voters of Maine
will see to it that he has majority becoming his
merits and the State which leads.
In the name and record of their candidate, the
| Democrats make confession of either the odous-
ness of their principles or the unpopularty of their
| leaders. They nominate man VINO has for near
| ly twenty years been a Republican. Has The
| record ofthe Democratic patty been such in Maine
that exponent nj Democratic principles will
| not command the votes of intelligent men outside
of that organizstiIni Is it possible that Demo-
crat leaders have become unpopular, while So
called Democratic principles have gained ground
| Or have the Democratic leaders become so an
xous to win success that they willingly inscrbe
upon their banner name which is confession
| of their own unworthinessl