The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-08-13
An Outside Look at the Maine
Campaign.

The Boston Adrertiser of Wednesday
treats of the situation in Maine. and after a
statement of the progress of the campaign,
and the good work done by Mcssrs. Reed,
Hale, Frye, Boutelle and others, gives the
following deserved tribute to Senator Blaine,
embodying also good brief summary of the
points on which the Republicans rely for
success:
Senator Blaine will doubtless be, as usual.
the guiding spirit of the campaign. BY his
speech at New York he gave assurance tha. he
attaches great importance to the vote of Maine.
and that he intends to leave nothing undone
that may properly be done to make the victory
as complete as possible. In his speech at Bath
on Monday evening he sketched in clear and
mastery manner the issues upon which he
thinks the Republicans should go into the con-
test. The present material prosperity he justly
cribes to the preservation of the Union and
the resumption of specie payments Both of
these achievements are the work of the Re-
publican party; and to defeat that party is to
pronounce against policy that has been bril-
liantly successful. The two parties divide up-
on the question of the tariff. The Democratic
policy would strike down the industries which
must be the hope of Maine. The declaration
OF that party in favor of free ships means the
extlnguishment OF another industry upon
WHiCu tHc people OI Nldlue are peculiarly de-
pendent. The great fraud of last winter pre-
sents an issue between right and wrong, be-
tween the rights of the people and the chican-
cry Of political adventurers. Thus the instinct
of patriotism and every material and moral
consideration that can enlist noble and hon
est mans sympathy appeal to him to vote for
the Republican candidates. The reception ac-
corded to the speech thus briefly Summarized
shows that its force and directness were ap-
preciated, and that it will have its proper eff
feet upon thinking men.
The Advertiser then proceeds to comment
on the attitude of the Fusionists in respect
to the attempted State steal, and we beg all
Fusionists who may see this to read thought
fully the following paragraph with which
the article closes:
How is Maine going? We entertain no
doubt whatever that Governor Davis will re-
ceive substantial majority. AS the canvass pro-
ceeds there will be better opportunities than
there now are of estimating the majority
But it is quite incredible that the coalition
that has been formed can be successful The
willingness Of Democrats and Greenbackers to
defend the attempted fraud Of last winter is
new revelation of New England character.
When men can be found who will soberly up
hold the justice of putting into position, and
keeping there, men who have been de-
feated before the people because returns which
are aumltIeuly Observation-Disclosures altered or
not does not matter-give them majority one
mustdespair of their holding right views on
any subject. But there are such men, and
large proportion of the opposition vote in
Maine this year will be cast for one ur more per-
sons who have endeavored to reverse the popu-
lar judgment on no better ground according to
their own showing than that the true state of
the vote was carelessly written by few town
officers. 1t is not easy to reason with men who
have no keener perception of right and wrong
than is implied in that position, and it is pre-
cisely because they will not reason, or admit
the improperly of any act whatsoever that
helps them to gain power. that the great mass
of Democratic and Greenback voters can be
kept in line for the coming battle. Fortunately
there are some Greenbackers who are ashamed
of the company they are in, if not of the prin-
ciples they have been holding, and they will
return to the Republican ranks. This is not a
matter of conjecture, but of fact The men
are known, and they openly declare their in
tention. 1t would be an insult to the people
OF Maine to suppose that any of them who
have not already committed themselves to the
wickedness of the Fusion, the folly of the
Greenbackers, or the scandalous lack of politi-
cal principles that characterizes the Democrats,
would join them this year. The gains must
necessarily be all in one direction, and the
magnitude of the Republican majority will be
dependent solely upon the effectiveness OF the
means taken to secure full vote.