Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-09-16
The Maine Whirlwind.


Since the Harrison whirlwind of 1910
startled the country by the election OF
Wing Governor i'll Maine, at the Sep
tember election, there has been no such
sudden political whirlwind in Presl-
dental year as that which Yesterday
swept the stalwart Republican Pine
Tree State from her political moorlngs.
1t is not repulse or defeat; it is the
utter overthrow of party that has ruled
Maine for full quarter OF
century, with the exception OF a
single year OF what was deemed the ac-
cidenta. triumph OF faction in an unim-
portan. struggle; and the revolution
was wrought against the ablest and no
blest and most skiliul OF all the Republi-
can National chieitains. The gallant
Plumed knight, whose name leaps
from the hearts of earnest Republicans
from the Eastern to the Western seas,
led the Maine battle in person, and but
for his magnetism and matchiess organl-
zation and sagacious employment Of all
the appliances of modern politics, the
Republican hag would have been struck
without so much as hopeful battle
/, was the revolution in Maine i'll 1910
that started the Harrison hurricane; it
was the more than $4,000 Republican
majority OF Maine in September, 1860,
that east the doubtful States Of Indiana
and Pennsylvania into the Lincoln scale
and revolutionized the national admin
istratiOn; il was the more than 1000
majority OF Maine in September, 1872,
that turned back the Greeley tide and
postponed sectional peace indefinitely;
1t was tue more than $4,000 majority Cf
Maine in September, 1876, that saved
New Hampshire, Ohio, Wisconsin, Cali
fornia, Oregon and Nevada to Hayes,
and made his formally declared election
possible by an Electoral Commission,
alter his defeat by quarter OF amillion
majority; and the loss Of the entire Re-
publican majority of Maine, hitherto
more than ten per cent OF the whole
vote polled, will cast every doubtful
State in the Hancock column, and make
States doubtful which have been practi-
cally conceded to Gadield. Whether
the indicated election OF Piaisted, Fu-
sionist, shall be maintained by the
complete returns, or whether Davis,
Republican, shall be elected by nomi'
nal majority, is not material in estlma-
ting the lesson OF Maine to those who
are TO give battle in Ohio, Indiana
aud West Virginia, in October, and
in Connecticut, New Hampshire, New
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado, Nevada,
California and Oregon in November. 1t
will be real and understood alike by all
In all those States, and now the ,rem.
bling scales OF the political balance in
Indiana will settle incontestably on the
Hancock side and the quivering scales
will hencciorth play their part IN Ohio.
Maine hurls an antI-Garfield Congress
ional delegation and probably an anti
Garfield Governor into the eddy OF bat
tie, and there are no Garfield reserves
now visible to resist this unlocked Tor
ami overwhelming assault. When
Blaine, the Henry Clay OF K publican
ism, is beaten in Maine, what must be
the fate OF Garfield in Ohio?
And this signal defeat OF the best Re
publican chieitain, III the hitherto I'M
pregnable Republican position of elaine,
has been accomplished by an aggre2a-
ton of disputing political elements with
nothing TO commend them or their
cause beyond opposition to degenerated
aud abused Republican power, 1t stood
with thousands of once earnest Repub-
licans in its ranks, who were needless of
the eloquent appeals of Blaine and
many other Of the abIest Republican
leaders. They presented the national
contest as paramount to every
thing in the State battle; but 1t
stood against party opportunities;
against the boundless resources and
promises OF power; against all the JeaI-
ous;es and disirust OF the fusing reyoIu-
tionists, and against even the crime that
stained is banners in the attempted
theft Of power but a twelve-month ago.
But it has triumphed, and il has bribery
to weigh against theft, pollution to of
set pollution, and the most reckless and
debauching efforts to maintain Repubh'
can power have been supplemented by
equally reckless and debauching efforts
to overthrow it, as lar as the unequal
resources could be commanded. 1t is
not victory that can be welcomed by |
any with unmixed pride, but it is de-
feat that adds disgrace to disaster; and
il is a Garfield Waterloo.