New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-22
CAMPAIGN WORK IN MAINE.


AUGUSTA, Me-, Aug. 2O.-The result of the last
election in Maine was, as all know, in effect Re-
publican defeat, although anywhere out of New
| England it would have been pretty solid Repub-
! lcan victory. The Republican candidate for Gov
ernor had 56,559 votes the Greenback can
dIdate Al BY, and the Democrat % 2OS. Thus the
Republican had majority of 1922 over his
leading antagonist. In proportion to population
tins was equivalent to over 10000 majority in a
State like Ohio. But it was not clear majority
over both parties opposed to the Republicans, and
under the Maine rule there was no election Had
the same rule existed in Ohio the handsome Rcpub-
llcan victory won there last Fall would have been
turned into rather bad defeat for instead of hay-
ing majority of 5000 the Republicans would have
come out, by the addition of the Democratic and
Greenback vote, about 10000 short of electng
their ticket The choice of he Maine State officers
was thrown INTO the Legislature. For such a con-
tngency curiou>ly complicated plan is prescribed
by the Constitution. The House selects from the
four candidates having the highest number OF votes
two Names and certiics them up to the Senate, and
the Senate makes choice between the two. The
House last year was Republican, but in the Senate
the Democrats and Grccnbackers combined could
control The Republicans in the House sent up
their own and the Democratic candidate tor Gov
ernor prefcrrinG the Democrat to the Greenbacker
and the Senate. of course. elected the Democrat
Thus it happened that Garceon, who got the tewcst
votes at the election, became Governor. and the
Republicans, whose ticket was over $1,000 votes
ahead IN the poll, did not get single State officer.
The election, it will be remembered showed a
phenomenal increase Of the Grceuback vote For
years the Greeubackers had been peggng away in a
frutlcs, effort to build up formidable third party
with not much more result than had followed the
labOr- of their brethren in other Eastern States
but all at once their organization expanded like an
umbrella, covering up half the Democratic party
and large Republican contingent. The result was
wholly unexpected. aud startled politicians through
out the country, rehearse this fragment of last
years political history in order TO make plain the
character Of the present canvass which has no
parallel in my other State. Nowhere else has the
Grcenback party survived resumption so as 10 be
dangerous power Nowhere else has the Demo-
cratic party ceased the usual campaign efforts to
gam votes for its ticket and fallen IN at the
rear of the Greenblckers procession.
WIIFRE VOTES WERE LOST LAST YEAR.
When the Republicans found last FAN that they
were beaten for want OF clear majority over both
the opposing parties, they did thing that showed
the efficiency of their organization and the GOODNESS
and judgment of their leaders. They said I'VE
must see where our weak spots are, and we must
prepare at once for next years fight" So they
went to work and took accurate census of all the
voters IN the state, and ascertaiHcd bow every man
had voted. In the warmth and zeal Of a canvass IT
is not uncommon for State Committees to get
toerably full and accurate lists, showing the pOIt
cal status of voters; but l venture to say that
IN no State was this work ever before done
by any party alter an election. The Maine
Republicans did Ii with such thoroughness
that thcy got accurate results as United States
could give. They found that l. 900 of their
former voters had remained at home Il give the
round numbers; the Central Committee has the
exact figures down 10 a mani, and 1900 had de-
serted to the GreenOackers. Yet their total vote
was rather above the average Of other years when
there had been Presidential election. 1t was
considerably larger than in 1877, when they carried
the State by handsome majority. Neither was the
stay-at-home vote heavy for an ordinary year. The
trouble was that while 1000 republicans re-
manned away from the polls, the opposition vote
was all got out, and 1900 Republicans were
coaxed away from their Old allegiance by the active
propaganda of sott-moneY theories Ia full pos
session of the facts of the situation the Republic
cans determined to spare no effort this year to re-
gain the ascendancy which they had held con-
tinuously for twenty-thTee years prior 10 1873.
They began work a month carrier than usual, and
laid out canvass which for thoroughness has
never had an equal in Maine. With good deal of
experience in observing close State campaigns, |
have never seen anything to compare with it. ex-
cent in New-IIampshre, for intelligent, persistent
ndefatgaDle work both in organization and in
bringing the issues of the day before the people by
speeches aud documents. But New-Hampshire is a
little state, very easily handled while Maine is
territorialy almost as large Ohio aud very
sparscly settled ia twothirds Of its 1t takes
much moro work here than In the other New
England States to carry on an active canvass.
This wear the Republicans find themselves con-
fronted by an open and shameless coalition between
the Democrats and the Greenbaclers. There was
not even a pretence on the part of the leaders of
bose parties of pulling apart. In farmers phrase
+bov TONED teams uniting OncOunty and legislative
t,ckefs. and only keeping two State tickets in the
feld "A a trick. The Republicans found no Demo
oratsto fight. Except the county nominating conyen-
t;ons only one Democratic meeting has been held in
- on+ire State Every where the Greenbackers are
uushed to the front 10 take the hard knocks while
H. Dcmocrats skulk in the rear. In this state OF
things the Republicans saw that they must direct
t,eir chief efforts to combating the theories and
sf,tements of the Greenbackers lhey must win
hack large share OF their $4,000 deSerterS II they
world succeed. As To their stay-at-l0nes, they
couId trust them TO come out tLls year. Experience
iJ ciasr states like New-Hampshlre has shown that
where the Democrats win by the negligence O1
few Republicans, the most jealous men tue sue
coed M wear are the very men whose neglect caused
the defect They are eager TO atone Tor ther lault
ne w ~ therefore ON fbe part of the Republicans
an n' eSesedngy thorough discussion of National
finance, almost rndmentary in its Pature and ira
yersng the whole ground OF the pature OF
| noper money the history Of the greenDacks, the
reasons for exemptlng the bonds from taxation.
the effect OF resumption, the folly OF the nat
| n,onev theory-in a word. the whole range OF
| tn,;cs with which people in States further west
| have long been familiar, but which are
| comparatively fresh here. The method OF RepqnD-
can speakers is to admit the honesty and intelli-
pence of the Greenback converts, aud then convince
Them. If possible BIZ far, good-tempered argument
! ofth5ir mistake The Southern question Is brought
i'm 10 show them that there Is an issue lar more I'M