The Portland daily press., 1880-08-30
IN. Y. Times.l
The September Elections.


Three State elections take place in the first
half of the month of September, those of Ar
kansas, Vermont, and Maine. In Arkansas,
where the counting is done ON the 9th of the
month, Democratic success is foregone con-
clusion. According to the census of 1870 the
number of male citizens 81 years of age and
upward was 102, S59, and there can have been
little increase in the last ten years. In 1872,
out of total vote of $4,000, the Republican
Presidential Electors received majority of
little more than 5000 The number of votes
cast bears fair proportion to the number of
citizens qualified to vote. Between that year
and 1876 the shot gun policy was put in vigor-
GUS operation, and the State was thereby "re-
deemed from Radical rule" the process result
ing at the State election of that year in the re-
markable vote of 10S,604, or over 6,0O0 more
than the whole number of voters in the State.
The Democrats raised their vote some $4,000
above that of 1872, while that of the Republi-
cans remained about the same. Where the
Democratic increase came from remains a
mystery, but considerable part of it disap-
peared at the Presidential election in Novem-
ber,- and while the Republican vote increased
over !, 800 the total dropped to 96,740 Still
the Democrats had a majority of nearly 10000.
The vigor and success with which they had
learned to run campaign so discouraged the
Republicans that in 1878 they made no opposi-
ton and the Democrats showed what they
could do by adding nearly 10000 more to their
vote. What they will do this year depends on
their disposition, for they are likely to have it
all their own way. The only matter that
seems to be exciting much interest is the repu.
diation amendment to the Constitution, to
which Senator Garland, to his credit, has
worked up considerable opposition. Mr.. Wea-
yer threatened vigorous crusade at one time,
but his Alabama experience seems to have
disheartened him. Arkansas is a State in
which the Democrats have determined to toll
crate no opposition, and there is not indepen-
dence and courage enough their own ranks to
produce a division or protest. The negroes
constitute only about one-fourth of the popula.
ton, and appear to be effectually cowed, and
it is made too hot for white Republicanism for
it to flourish.
There could hardly be a stronger contrast
between two communities in the same country
than is presented by Arkansas and Vermont
They are both largely AGRICULTURAL, with
small civic population, but in one ignorance,
brutality, and intolerance prevail, while the
other is distinguished for the intelligence,
ssnsEaI ed s.s tas9 aw-aDiding character
and suoss safa govea ra 1sis
tached "a f6esssr snoTssi,cfniss Dc The people are
differsAee. Of opinion. 1t is sonething more 70
than coincidence that more than two-tbirds
of its voters are Republicans, and that the
strength of the Democrats is drawn chiefly
from the lower class of the population of the
larger towns and the foreigners employed in
manufacturing places. The State in 1870 had
voting population of 74,S67, which has in
election OF 1872, out of a total vote of 50, 4OS,
the Republicans had q majority of over $4,000.
In 1876, with a total vote of 60, 1856, the Re-
publican majority was 1888. AT the last
State election, in 1878, the vote was 81, 1874, of
which 81 ,312 were cast for the Republican cam
didate, II ,247 for the Democratic, and 2,635 for
Greenbacker. That was the year of the cul-
mlndtion of discomfort This year the Repub-
ncans appear to be united and enthusiastic as
In the old time. The rag-money delusion,
winch had little effect on the solid sense of
", Vermont, seems to have disappeared entirely.
Inc people are strongly welded to national
ideas, and are awake to the fact that they are
threatened with section alism, and the Demo-
cratic Party seems to keep up its existence
chiefly in the hopes of share of national pat
throw little of it that way. There can hard
~ be said to be any State contest as such, and
the vote OF Sept will merely serve as pre-
liminary indication of the position of the peo-
pie in regard to national questions.
The chief interest of the September election
centres IN Maine on account of the peculiar ex-
periences which have beset her political course
Tor the last few years. Her voting will be
done ON Monday, the 18th. Her male popula-
tlon OF the voting age in 1870 was 1853 16O
Down to 1876 she was always counted on for
good Republican majority In that wear it
was over $1,000 at the State election and about
5000 on much lighter vote at the Presiden-
tial election. In 1878 the Greenback move
ment developed its tidal wave, and for some
mysterious reason, which has never been ade-
quately explained, it struck the Pine Tree
State with peculiar force. The total vote for
Governor was 126, 169, against 1865 in 1876,
when the Greenback vote amounted to moth.
ing While the total vote had thus fallen off
over 10000, that of the Republicans dropped
from .5,S67 to 1854, and that of the Demo-
Gratis from 6O,423 to 2S,21S, while the Green
back ticket drew 41,371. AS majority was
necessary to choice, the election went into
the Legislature, where the Republicans Joined
the Democrats against the Greenbackers, and
elected Garcelon, who had the smallest popu-
lar vote. Then came the year of Democratic
and Greenback FUSION which did not, how
ever apply to candidates for Governor. The
total vote rose to 1873 1886, the Republicans re-
covered to ,766, which was within one-third
oil per cent. of majority; the Greenback
VIC woht UP 10 III ,0JU, ana the Democratic fell
to II Cos. This year the fusion is complete,
the Democrats having yielded to Greenback
preferences very generally in the matter of
and the G1eenbackers having vir-
tually yielded their principles to help tine
Democrats in the national contest AT least
such was the substance of the bargain made by
the leaders and managers, but the indications
are that the Greenbackers are drawing back
from the fire in which the Democratic oh est
nuts are roasting. Some of them may be d.
verted by the Prohibition ruse of Josh. Nye,
though Mr.. Osgood refuses'to play in Joshuas
little game, but many will doubtless go back
to the Republican party or abstain from vot-
ing; 1t is evident that the Fusion of the
leaders does not fuse the ranks. and if the
Republicans do not have clear majority of at
least 10000 there is no virtue in signs. There
is every probability that the constitutional
amendment providing that a plurality NAV
elect will ba ratified, and if it is Maine
will be rid of one source of trouble with
out which the Garcelon gang would have had
no opportunity to exhibit its character to the
country.