Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-10-08
The Result in Maine.


supposed some days since to be en-
tirely clear. is now somewhat obscured
by the discovery that the official re-
turns as received from the town clerks
vary in some cases from the telegraphic
figures. The variation is such that
Governor Davis election cannot be
claimed with the same positiveness as
was possible few days ago. 1t is not
certain that the issue will be decided
before the official count in January. At
the same time, the Republicans of
Maine have still strong hopes of Davis
election, and they know definitely that
they have secured an overwhelming
majority in both houses of the Legisla-
ture, which will elect a United States
Senator, as well as State officers, and
that they have reelected all their
three Congressman. They have not
only gained victory, with strong as
surance that the State will choose Re
publican Electors in November, but they
have furnished bright omens for the
success of the Republican party in other
States.
The first thing to be considered is
that the vote is the largest ever polled
in Maine by $500. Whether the DEM
ocrats used their favorite tissue-ballots
or not, it is certain that the honest vote
Of the State was more thoroughly
aroused and more fully polled than ever
before. This was the fact in Yer-
mont, also, where the official returns
show total vote of 20, S86-about ten
per cent in excess of the largest
previous vote. Yet these two States
have gained but very little in popu-
lation. The surprising increase results
from the deep and intense popular in
terest in the coming Presidential cleo
ton. 1t proves that the loyal North is
aroused, and that all the reserves will
be found in line this year. Everybody
knows that the voters who often
neglect or decline to vote are mainly
Republicans, aud that full vote al
most always means Republican victory
| in a close State.
But the vote in Maine, like that in
Vermont, proves that the Republican
| party has not been losing, but has
| gained strength largely since the latest
! previous elections. In Vermont hav-
ing no serious opposition except from
| Democrats, the Republicans raised
! their majority over the Democrats from
| 90, 700 in 1876 to 26,621 in 1880. In
| Maine. having to meet an opposition
| from Greenbackers mainly, the Repub-
| licans have turned a minority of 1872, IN
comparison with the Fusion vote last
year, into an apparent plurality over
! the FUsionists of several hundred in
! 1880. The gain is not very large, but
no larger gain is needed to render Re-
publican success absolutely certain in
| New York, Connecticut and New Jer-
sey. -
For, third, the result proves that the
Greenback party is the vigorous, ag-
gressive and growing element of the
opposition. 1t represents honest con-
victiOns, however mistaken; makes a
sturdy and stubborn fight, and sticks to
its colors, whether hopeful Or hopeless,
with pertinacity which the Democratic
spoils-hunters cannot match. This fact
indicates the probable cause of the S,3l4
Greenback voters in Connecticut in
1873, of the 20, 286 Greenback voters in
New York last year, and OF the "a, ,63l
Greenback voters in New Jersey in
1873. The prospect that these forces
can be captured and used by the Dem,
ocrats has been immensely diminished
by the result in Maine.
At the latest elections in the disputec
Eastern States, where the Greenbacl
votes were as here quoted, the Repub
lcans carried Connecticut by plurality
of 2,492 over Mr.. Hubbard, a very
popular Democratic candidates; they
carried New York by an average plu
rality of about ;, 900 over the candidate
upon whom both wings of the Demo
cratic party we're fully united; AM
they lad plurality of 1886 for thei
Congressman in New Jersey, owe
the Democratic candidates, even whel
the entire vote for Mr.. Smtl
in the Second District, who was sup
ported both by Democrats and Green
hackers, is counted as a Democrat
vote. No gain is needed in either G
these States to insure Republican sue
cess; the party only needs to hold fas
its relative position at the latest eleC
tions. But small gain, such as wa
secured in Maine, would suffice to pu
the Republican ticket out of all DANCE
in either of these States. And the Rt
, publicans of New York, New Jerse
and Connecticut, who know that tn
people of those States have enjoyed
the full the advantage of commerce.
, and industrial prosperity, feel sure thf
they are going to make gains incon
parably larger than any secured in tn
Northern States (which have voted a
, ready.
But the Republicans will take war;
! ing that they cannot afford to negle'
any honest effort or reasonable sacr
a flee. Every man must do his best,
the country is to be saved from I'll
grasp of those who tried in vain to d
, stroy the Union.-M Y. Tribune.