Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-11-12
from an occasional correspondent of the
Tribune.

From an occasional correspondent OF the
Tribune.
PORTLAND, Me-, Nov.'S. Directly after
the September election in Maine, resulting,
as it did in partial reverse to the republi-
cans, certain persons rushed into print in
papers outside of the State with their CEN
sorius reasons for the mishap. They at
tempted with envious criticism to locate and
distribute the blame on somebody and in
dulped in a general jeremiad over what they
termed republican mismanagement. These
criticisms were invariably from persons who
had either done nothing in the canvass or
presented themselves as hindrances or OBJ
structions. Active men in the party, intent
only on redeemng the State, were unwilling
at the time to make any reply and thus tritter
away in n needless controversy the energy
that should be given to recovering the State.
Now that the campaign is well over, and
Maine is once more soundly and strongly re-
publican on the largest vote ever thrown by
her people, it may be meet and proper to say
n word about the political history of the
State for these many years past.
Maine became n republican State by the
great triumph of Hannibal llamlin in the
Gubernatorial campaign of 1896. From that
time to the year lS7S-for twenty-five con-
secutive annual elections for Governor and in
six Presidential comprehensive un-
finchinglv and invariably republican. with a
single exception of n single term. She sent
during these twenty-five years an unbroken
delegation of republican representatives to
Congress.
How many of the strong States that Joined
in the election of Garfield failed or faltered
at different crises during this unbroken re-
publican supremacy in Maine. During that
time New York has had Seymour Governor
for one term, Hoffman for two terms, Tilden
for one term and Robinson for one term and
even now has democrat in the Senate
of the United States. Pennsylvania
has twice been captured by the democrat in
important State elections. and has had two
democrats in the United States Senate. Con-
necticut has been almost half the time demo-
cratic and only in the last Congress had two
democratic Senators. and now has one. Mas
sachusetts failed in 1874 and elected regu-
lar democratic Governor of the common
wealth. New Hampshire did the same.
Ohio has had William Allen and Richard
Bishop for Governors. and at this moment
two democratic Senators. Indiana has two
democratic Senators, and for the past eight
wears has had democratic Governors. Illi-
nois has "A democratic Senator. and Wiscon-
sin has had n democratic Governor These
are all now stalwart republican States, but
observe how serious have been their deflec-
tions and alterations during the TWENTY-FIVE
wears that Maine stood as steadily republican
as the needle points to the pole.
In 1878 the greenback craze ran over
Maine. The hard times following the panic
of 1873 struck Maine later than other States
but then struck very hard. In 1874, when
nearly all the republican States weakened
under the financial pressure. and the demo-
Gratis carried the National House, Maine
stood firm as a rock, and detected an unbroken
delegation of republicans. In 1877, the
campaign following Mr.. Hayes inauguration
was q depressing one to Maine republicans.
The party could not be united in support of
the Presidents policy. and there was a gen.
eral indisposition to create divisions by max
ing an open fight on the head of the admins
tration, Hence weakness, distrust, irresolu-
ton and dissatisfaction pervaded the republi-
can ranks. In the State campaign of 1877
there was not a single speech made on the re-
publican side The stalwarts who were
seyen-eighths of the party, did not wish open
" to assault the President, and the few who
supported the policy could not have secured
respectable audience even had they manifest
ed desire to take up the controversy. In the
State convention the Hayes and anti-Hayes
elements nearly came to Vptu ruptufe. NHiSu
was fortunately averted by the pacific policy
of Senator Blaine. At the critical moment
he poured oil on the troubled waters and
caused the convention to avoid any outbreak.
The result, however. was listless. point
less, spiritless campaign in which republi-
can majority was polled by the continuing
momentum that had come over from the pre-
ceding year, in which. under Senator Blaine's
lead. such a splendid campaign had been
made for Hayes and Wheeler.
The year 1878 came upon us then with the
tightening pressure of continuing hard times
with the loosened and loosening force of par
ty discipline. and very naturally found a
large fraction of the republican party ready
to take up with the pleasing and delusive fall
lacies of the greenback party. The election
of that year resulted most disastrously, the
fusion of democrats and greenbackers beat
ing the republicans by more than thirteen
thousand on the popular vote. In 1879 the
republicans made most vigorous campaign.
regained the Legislature in both branches,
and gave the candidate for. Governor an inn
mense plurality, but not an absolute majority
Of the vote--the deficiency being about one