National Republican., 1880-09-15
WHY MAINE pIsAPpoINTs Us.

There is logic in unexpected as well ms in
expected political changes. The cause of the
result Of the Maine election is hey ond imme-
diate political consideration, but it is clearly
apparent. Maine is a state once prosper ous,
but now impoverished. Her position is the
unfortunate one of exhausted natural re.
sources. Once her shipbuilding interests
were fruitful source of wealth, giving EN-
ploymont to thousands of lnborers. A large
proportion Of the ships built were owned in
the state. and thus she acquired an extensive
maritime interest, which gave employment to
hundreds and thousands as seamen aud officers.
A large proportion Of her intelligent youth
pursued the study of navigation, the strongest
alurement in the business of life being the
command of ship. But gradually the oak of
Maine disappeared. Her shipbuilders we're
obliged to go to Delaware Maryland and Vir.
ginia for ship timber, and finally the ship.
building aud ship.owning interests declin ed.
The introduction of steamers upon the ocean
aud the substitution Of iron for wood as a
shipbuilding material had much to do also in
bringing about this result
Maine took the name of "the pinc.tree
state" at the time of her admission into tho
u
vast numbering interest, have been almost en-
tirely cut off, and it appears to be a law of
nature that when the pine is removed by the
axe different growth appears. The spruce lum.
bering interest remained after tho pine-t
largely followed the pine-but that resource has
also been rapidly failing during the last twenty
years. The lumbcrman must now go farther
up stream, haul his logs farther and, besides,
is more subject to the losses incident to
failure of the freshets to carry off his product
after he has placed it in the stream ready for
tho years "log run" Besides all this it
is well-established fact that the soil
of the state, naturally thin, is becoming
gradually less and less prod uctive. Fertile.
ing with manures brought from alb road fails
to afford profitable culture. Almost the Gu.
tire state lies north of the corn belt; and the
only grains produced in any quantity arc
rye, oats and buckwheat. The condition of
the people during tho last twenty.f ve years
| has been that Of constantly increasing labor
for subsistence and of gradually decreasing re.
| suits of their toll. In the failure of natural
resources strenuous efforts have been made to
introduce the various manufacturing inter.
csts, but these labor under the di sadyantages
| incident 10 u rigorous climate and higher
cost Of transportation than prevails with
respect to competing industries situated
further south Under the pressure of these
adverse circumstances and the attractions of
more favored sections Of the co untry. the most
enterprising and daring sous OF Maine have left
! their homes to seek fortune elsewhere This
| depletion has perhaps added to the trials of
those who cling to tho soil. The people of
Maine seek change in their condition. The
pi nch of adversely places them in the attitude
of resorting to untried oxpedients. When the
| first law Of nature-self preservation asserts
! its authority through tho grim logic of "hard
times" the political party in power, whatever
may be the merits of its creed or of its practice
stands little chance before the demagogue of the
opposing party who mendaciously promises re-
liof from the trials of life. At such time
men are inclined to try experiments to resort
to ex pedients, to rush out at any door which
presents itself without stopping long to in-
qulre whether it will lead into bettcr or
worse condition. This IS the sole cause of tho
resort of the people Of Maine TO greenbackism,
a movement which has woll.nigh absorbed the
democratic party Of the state. With this
movement tho moral qualities Of the re-
publican party forbade any sort of
afiiiation, and with it the democratic
party, actuated by no higher motive
than the craving for power readily Joined it,
self This unholy alliance won victory on
Monday, which is shame to every mind
guided in its political procliyities by principle.
The alliance is of piece with the policy OF
masqucrading, which the democratic party has
pursued during the last twelve years, II has
succeeded under the peculiar circumstances
which exist in the state Of Maine, but it viii