Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-09-21
THE STATE ELECTION.

1t is a surprise alike to Republicans
and fusionists, that the vote in Maine
should have been so close, and that the
result should have so long remained un-
certain. Those best able to calculate on
results before election, gave the State to
the Republicans by several thousand ma
iority. Men familiar with political con-
tests came into Maine, locked over the
field and declared that Republican sue
cess was assured. And yet the morning at
ter election, it was conceded that Harris NJ.
Plais,ed had been elected Governor by
large plurality. This fusion claim and
Republican concession were based on the
returns which had been received and up
on an estimate of towns TO hear from as
compared with last years vote. The
returns received were from cities and large
towns, accessible BY rail and telegraph.
These places showed large fusion gains,
and the towns 10 be heard from were
largely fusion strong-holds-so all hope
was abandoned. But, as returns began
to come in from these back towns, the
Republicans began to take courage, for
they showed general gains for our party.
This Republican gain in the rural dis
tricts was as marked as the fusion gains
had been in larger places. For instance,
in eight western fusion towns OF OxtoTd
County, the Republicans gained about a
hundred votes. Owing TO this state OF
affairs, the result was in doubt for several
days. The latest advices, however, as
sure US tha, Daniel +. Davis has been
reelected by about 200 plurality. The
Republicans have made gain Of several
Senators, and have a large majority in
the House, and thus have complete con-
troll of the State government.
While the actual result is not so bad
as the first reports indicated, there Is bu,
little in it to encourage the friend Of re
publican institutions. The State OF
Maine had just been saved from revo-
lutionary government which Governor
Garcelon had attempted to establish on
An overturned ballot box. The question
Of denouncing this fraud was made the Is
sue II should have resulted in a pOsi =
tive and unmistakable defeat 20 the fusion
party. Instead of that, the cities laugh
ingly pronounce it smart trick while
the country seriously denounces it.
When things looked bluest, Senator
Blaine telegraphed that $4,000 sent
into the State, had captured 5000 votes,
and pointed 10 the result in cities to
prove his claim. We do not see as that
helps the case al all. There is not much
choice between a community which will
sell its vote, and one whose sense Of honor
is so dull that ii will no, indignantly de-
nounce fraud attempted against the bal
lot You cannot long maintain repub-
lie when either one of such classes holds
the balance of power. Now when the
Republicans are declared TO have a ma
jority Of votes, our opponents charge that
we are not declaring the true result.
This charge comes with mighty poor
grace frm party which last year tried
10 oyerturn a result declared just as this
result has been declared. Charges of
fraud and counter charges do prove one
thing-that the political atmosphere Is
not so pure as it should be. We need a
thorough awakening and conversion to
the path of political honesty.