The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-09-16
After Maine, What2

The Republicans brilliantly carried
the first skirmish line in Vermont; on
the second line in Maine we have suf-
fered reverse. To-day it is q disap-
pointment; four weeks ago it would
have surprised nobody; four weeks
hence it may prove to have been a
timely tocsin of alarm.
At the outset it was recognized as a
very hard and doubtful battle. The
Republicans had been in minority
of the whole vote for two years. They
had faced and fought desperate and
prolonged struggle with an unprinci-
pied and INSCRIPTIONS coalition. After
the most herculean struggle they had
still fallen short of a majority. Under
these circumstances, they entered the
contest with the odds against them.
A month ago our own dispatches from
Maine foreshadowed fierce and un-
certain conflict. Since then, under
the heavy cannonading of Mr.. Blaine
and his lieutenauts, the Repub-
lican changes have to the gen.
eral eye seemed to be improving, but
this prospect has proved to be delusive.
There was one man who was not de-
ceived. Mr.. Blaine has not claimed
the State. He knew the desperate
character of the battle and the hazards
of the struggle. A combination which
did not hesitate at the infamous con-
spiracy and usurpation of last year
which flagrantly and audaciously at
tempted to steal the State in the teeth
of the popular will-would not scruple
at anything. But there was one con-
sideration more potent than all others.
Maine stands alone and does not share
the great business revival. Her chief
industry is ship-building, and ships
are not being built. Her chief pro-
duction is lumber, and her lumber is
not going into keels and ribs. While
all the rest of the North brightens
with the cleaning sunshine of pros
perity, Maine still suffers the blight of
depression. -Four years ago there was
a cry for change all along the line.
The other States have had their
change in q new awakening of busi-
hess and industry, but Maine is still
crying for hers. The difference is
palpable in the vote of last week and
the vote of this. Vermont is largely
a manufacturing State; she feels the
general boom and responds with a
splendid Republican majority. Maine
has an entirely different interest and
feels no such impulse.
There is not another Northern
State where the Greenbackers are so
strong, where they can find the same
depression to feed on, or where they
have any such combination with the
Democrats, For the past two years
Maine has stood in an entirely eXcep-
tional position. It is proved by the
contrast with Vermont this year and
by the contrast with New York last
year. Taking the result in Maine at
the worst, and it only continues the
attitude of year ago. What then?
When the Coaltionists carried Il
majority III Maine, the RepuD!lcaDS
carried New York against a united
Democracy. To repeat last year loses
Maine, but it carries New York and
saves the country.
With this reverse in Maine con-
fronting them Republicans will
renew the fight along the whole line
with redoubled energy. We know
and understand all that it involves,
but we mistake the temper of the
country if it does not rise to the high
demand. 1t means stubborn battle.
1t means hard work. 1t means that
the business men of the land must
wake up to the risks of Democratic
success, with all its uncertainties and
dangers. We believe that they will,
and that from now on the great |
patriotic host will make splendid |
fight. They have been awakened from |
their sense OF security to a sense OF |
peril. During the war the reverse on
Il skirmish line only made the gallant |
forces more alert and resolute for the |
great struggle. And this is the old |
tight over again.