Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-24
Foolish Fusion Boosting.


The Boosting Of the fusionists over the
result OF the election is groundless and
foolish. They have lost nearly II not quite
everything in the State. They claim a
plurality of ia for Plaisted. but they are
not absolutely certain that he has one vote
more than Davis. and they cannot tell un.
legislature next winter what the actual re
suit is. Outside of the question Of tbe
choice of governor, the republicans have
large majority in House and Senate. will
elect the Executive Council and all the
heads Of departments. also the United
States Senator which is to be chosen next
winter. OF the senators elected - are
republicans and 9 fusionsts. OF the rep
resentatives Sc are republicans and IS
fusionists. Two-thirds at least of the
county officers elected are republicans.
The republicans have carried every city
in the State and large majority of the
towns. They have carried three congress
dlStiiNtNs anu tuoueH tot SuItt~Slui
in electing their candidates in the other
two have made large gains in them on the
popular vote. In fact, the result of the
election is so decisively in favor of the re-
publicans, that it could scarcely be better
for them except in the matter of majority
If we look backward two years and
compare the result now with the result
then, we shall find in the comparison the
most ample cause for satisfaction ut this
time. Two years ago the opposition to
the republicans had 1861 majority IN the
vote for Governor. They carried the
Fourth and Fifth Congressional districts
BY large majorities, and had they united
in the other districts they would have
swept the State clean of republican con-
gressmcn. The republicans were then
actually in q minority in every congress
sional district. but the opposition were
divided in three districts. and in those the
republicans elected their men, Through
the same division the republicans had
small majority in the Senate. but the
fusionists had a majority in the House and
majority on joint ballot. so that the con-
troll of the government passed into their
hands. They carried nearly everything in
the State. and piled upon the republicans
majority of 1861 votes. This was our
first fight with greenbackism and the de-
mocracy combined and the result was as
we have stated-the republicans were
beaten.
Looking at the situation then and COM
pairing it with the situation now the
republicans have abundant reasons to be
gratified with their position. Granting
that the fusionists have a plurality of Ia
votes tor Plaisted. they have lost more
than $4,000 OF the majority they had two
years ago. have lost control of the State
government, and their power is so shaken
in the two congressional districts which
they hold that the next election will prob
ably see them beaten in those. A great
deal of the work of redeemng the State
was done last year. but we have held this
year what we then gained. and cut down
somewhat the majority remaining against
us after the contest of 1879.
The result is that all the gain in the
late election has been with the republic
cans, but because we did not accomplish
what we claimed and expected the demo-
Gratis hold out that they have won vic
tory. Never was claim more false or
stupid. We have not lost. but gained
they have lost all, except the very faint
hope that their candidate may have one
vote more than Davis and be elected bv
the amendment adopted by republican
votes.
The mistake of the republicans was in
being over-confident. This was caused
very largely by the belief that the State
Steal would be rebuked by the honest men
of all parties, belief which the result
did not sustain. II is evident now that
the State Steal did not de:ract from Plais-
ted's vote. although it did defeat Tabulator
Brown, and made Tabutator Fogg's de-
feat more decisive and complete than it
would otherwise have been. The mistake
Of the republicans upon this point.
together with the disbursement by the
democrats of large sums of money just
before and on the day of election. suffi-
GENTLY account for the result being below
what was claimed by republican papers
and generally by the party. But for the
high expectations raised by republican as
sertions before the election. which proved |
the republicans of Maine
would be rejoicing over the result, and it |
would be hailed in every State as SUBJ |
ssantial republican victory. which it is !;
when considered without reference to ante
elecfiOu talk.