The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-10-22
A Word of Warning.

In the very natural exultation over the re-
suit of the October elections our friends
must not let themselves forget that this does
not make the election of Garfield certain.
They only make it highly probable, prorided
that the Republicans do what they should
to improve their blessings. Hercules will
not pull any mans cart out of The mud un-
less he puts his own shoulder to the wheel.
Providence acts on the affairs of men only
to assist human effort, not to dispense with
it. If Republicans everywhere do their du-
ty, Garfield will be elec ed if they don't, he
wont
Two things our Maine Republicans ought
to take well to heart and ponder thoughtful
ly: first, that Maine is doubtful State, and
second, that her electoral votes may deter
mine the result of the Presidential election.
The first proposition needs no argument.
The September election which showed the
two parties less than two hundred votes apart
with the Fusionists probably little ahead,
indicates that the very best we can say of
Maine is hat she is a doubtful State. AS to
the second proposltio careful study of
the figures which go to make up
the 1863 votes of the electoral college
will be instructive. To begin with there
are 13S votes from the solid South
which are likely to be for Hancock; to these
add 30 for New York and we have 173 which
is only II short of the 1S5 necessary for
choice. If Connecticut or New Jersey should
go the same way, Names votes would be
enough to make up the required number
nay, worse, if New York and New Jersey
should go so, the three votes which are on
both the Fusion and the straight Greenback
tickets would suffice to give the
majority. There is enough in this
simple statement of figures to star
tie the most apathetic Republican
from his easy dreams of victory wo, and
lead him to put out every effort possible in
the short time remaining before the decisive
second day of November
1t is OF pleasant to put things in this
way, but there is general complaint that
the Republicans are resting in ia cied Sc
curity while the Fusionists, like their great
patrcn saipt, never rest, but are busy going
up and down, sowi seeds of mischief to
the State and the Nation. We hope the re-
suit will not be so close as to make the sew
Ell votes of Maiue an important factor III the
great count, but we car not be sure of it and
the Only safe way is to have our votes on the
right side in case of accident. We expect
to carry New York, New Jersey and Con-
necticut and hope for one or two of the
Souther" States, but there is 10 place in the
Union, as things sta DOW, where vote is
more important tina 10 the State of Maine.
This is not word of discouragement but of
war ing. We point out the danger and we
also point out the remedy. It is in individ-
ual effort of Republicans who ought to be
willing to sacrifice something of time, atten-
ton and money to accomplish objects which
they know to be essential to the well-being
and prosperity of the Nation. Do not wait
for the action of committees, for public
meetings or for newspaper urgency. All
these things are good but they are only
small element in the great warfare. The
victory must be won by the general action
of the plain people interesting themselves in
public affairs and doi,g, each within his
OWL sphere, his level best.