New-York tribune., 1880-09-25
MINE IN 1873 And IN 1850.

Now that the early enthusiasm of our DEM
Ocratic friends over what they supposed was a
| victory for them in Maine has exhausted
| itself and they have settled down to take
such comfort as they may out OF the fact that
the Republicans at any rate did not make
the great gains they expected. it may be well
to consider just what significance an election
in Maine has. Two years ago Maine gave the
country just such surprise as that OF fort
night ago. In 1877 the Republicans had
polled over 50 per cent of the total vote and
elected their Governor by more than IL 900
majority. In September, 1873, like lightning
out of clear sky came the news on election
night that the Republican candidate for Gov
ernor was in minority on the total vote and
there had been no election by the people
Later it appeared that the Republican ticket
had poled only about 3 per cent of the whole
vote and was in minority OF over 2, 600 votes.
while the allied Greenbackcrs and Democrats
had majority of II on joint ballot In the
Legislature which gave them the State Off
GERS. Some people can remember with what
howls of triumph the Democrats all over the
country received this news, and how they prog
no>ticated from it sweeping successes for their
party in Ohio and Indiana in October and in
all the States voting in November. They were
much more jubilant and confident then than
they have been over their present escape.
Well, after all their talk about the tidal
wave beginning in Maine and sweeping the
country. increasing their majority in Congress
and annhilating the Republicans what hap
penedf Just this: In Ohio which in 1877 had
gone Democratic by over $1,000 plurality, the
Republicans carried the State by plurality
of 3,154; in Indiana, where at the previous
election they lacked about 5000 of a major
ity over all, they were in minority
on the full vote of over 25,OOO; in
all the Northern States there were great
Republican gains In November. Connection;
was redeemed with the gain of a Republican
United States Senator, and the Democratic
majority IN Congress, which, on the heels of
the Maine election, they claimed would be
largely increased, was considerably reduced,
and all along the line Republicans were re-
joicing over Their great and almost unexpected
successes. The eff ct of the Maine election
was very different from what the Democrats
had so confidently hoped and predicted.
THIS year. though the result in that State
has been a falling off in the Fusion majority
of over l., 900 votes since 1873, and slight
reduction Ill the majority OF tntlr combined
vote of last year, which was about 800, there
has been the same skylarlling and high
gOings on among our Democratic friends as in
1878. This year, rs two years ago, they are
predicting the most sweeping Democratic sue
cesscs III the other States on the strength
Of what they have done in Maine. Is
there any good reason or surd basis
for this cxuberancci Is not the effect of
their grand victory upon the country in 1879
"A Just criterion OF the probable effect OF this
election. which can hardly he called a victory.
but is more properly Il hairblcadth e~capci
If the effect of 1900 Fusion majority IN
Name IN 1878 was to increase Republican
and diminish Democratic maiorlues cvcry-
where III the North and West, and srnsibly
diminish the Democratic majority IN Congress,
does it seem probable that the loss Of that en-
tire majority and the election of a Fusion
Governor by a bare plurality will influence
any more powerfully the results ia other
Statesl If the Republicans were not stam-
pcdcd by their great defeat two years ago, is
it likely they will be by this almost drawn
battlc7 But then our Democratic friends