Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-11-05
naiIp Nennebee suurnal.
Augusta, wedn IS lay Morning, Nov, g. 7e'


VIZ Vuo tAe ~ u 4N
Elections were held yesterday in eleven
States. as follows; New York. Connecti-
cut. Massachusetts. Minnesota. Maryland,
Mississippi, Nebraska. New Jersey, Penn
sylvania, Virginia. Wisconsin. The re-
turns received last night show the success
of the republicans in all the Northern
States. rendering it certain that the North
will go solid in 1880 for the republican
candidate for President. The elections
this year were contests preliminary to the
great contest of next year. The real issue
in all the campaigns, beginning with that
in California, was the issue that will be
presented in the struggle for national SUI
premacy in 1880 The result is glorious.
A Solid North now contronts the Solid
South. The challenge of the ex-Conied-
crates to join battle on the issues supposed
to have been settled by the war, has been
accepted. From Atlantic to Pacific, and
as far South rs Mason and DiXon's line,
victory perches upon the republican ban
ner wherever elections have been held
this year. If the democracy are not
pleased with the spectacle they have no
body to complain of but themselves. If
sectional lines are again drawn, they are
responsible for it. II the eyes of the
North have been opened to the ambitious
purposes and unholy designs of the South,
it is due to nothing so much as to the ex
ira session of Congress, which was intend
ed by the x-Coniederates to secure a
democratic victory in 1880, but which
Providence over-ruled to subserve a bet
ter purpose.
The principal State in the elections yester-
day was New York. Arepublican Govern
or is elected by plurality ofabout 49, 900.
The victory is of great Importance. 1t
makes an end of Samuel j. Tilden as a
candidate for the Presidency. 1t signifies
to him that his dreams and schemes con-
corning the Presidency will never be real
lied. His own State has declared against
him in the defeat of Robinson. The de-
feat of the democracy in New York signi-
fies the defeat of the democracy in the ma
tional contest New York was the pivot
on which victory in 1880 turned. Her
weight thrown for the democracy might
have elected democratic President, but
cast toward the republican side it insures
a republican President.
The result in Massachusetts is not what
it should and might have been under diff
ferent circumstances, but the victory is i'm
portant, nevertheless. Next year, when
national principles are permitted to have
their Legitimate weight in the political
contest, the sturdy republicanism of Mas
sachusetts will assert itself and roll up
the usual large republican majority in the
State. Yesterday she was not up to the
occasion, but there will be no apathy in
the next election. Long goes into the
Governors chair, and If we miss the ring
ing victory that might have been, we
know the heart of the common people of
the State is right and can be depended
upon.
In the other States the result is about
what was anticipated. The republicans
gain in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and
Minnesota. Mississippi and Maryland
are democratic as usual, but Virginia is
lsx-s1o1 s,,h hnr hnt,v thn
ters and the funders and the old parties
do not appear. 1t is worthy of special
notice that the greenbaek party seems to
have nearly disappeared in these cleo
tions. 1t is scarcely mentioned. 1t APP
pears to have undergone severe course
of shrinkage, Notwithstanding its desire
for imitation. For so lively baby it died
very young.
These elections close memorable Sc
ries of campaigns for an off year. Some
of them have been fought with extraord-
nary vigor and ability. Pre-eminent
among those who have distinguished
themselves in these contests is Senator
Blaine of Maine. Where the battle has
been fiereest and most desperate he has
been found. And whether in Maine.
Ohio, Iowa, New York or Massachusetts,
the popular demonstrations of respect and
admiration which have attended him have
been more remarkable. more enthusas-
tic and universal than ever attended the
progress of any political leader and
statesman of which this country has any
knowledge.
There cannot be the least doubt. -