The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-09-17

The latest returns from Maine show
that an effort il being made to count out
the Democrats and count in the Rspubli>
cans. The windy feurishes of Blaine.
charging fraud on che Democrats will have
no weight with anyone outside the parti-
sans of his party, and win only serve to
convince thinking people that dirty politi-
cal work has been and is still being done
in Maine, and that James G. Blaine is the
chief consprator who is managing the de.
tails. The returns at FIRST showed over
whelming Democratic gains, and in
Republican towns in many cases, and
Blaine admitted the loss OF the state. 1t
was conceded by $500 to 5000 maiority
to the Democrats, and then there was such
a shout of joy went up from the people all
over the country. that the Republican
managers becrme alarmed and at once
set about counting out" the Democrats
and counting inn the Republicans.
With ali the machinery IN their hands.
with On immense corruption fund with
q reckless determination to cheat the viii
under Blaine began their dirty work and
took possession OF the machinery and then
it was suddenly discovered that the returns
were SLOW to arrive. This had but one
meaning-that the vote was being tamper
ed with in the interest of the republican
party. The task has been q hard one
and Blaine finds it almost more than he
can accomplish and up to this writing
the Democrats have an even chance to
win ID spite of the great odds against
them.
Only week ago Blaine said Anything
less than 1000 Republican majority in
Maine weuld be defeat Others were
equally positive, some openly proclaiming
on the stump that Maine must give
siRepublican majority of 10000 at least.
The Republican organs claimed the state
up to the night before election By from
10000 to $1,000 majority and such papers
as the Chicago Tribune. Inter Ocean. Globe
Democrat and others ridicalated the idea
OF the Democrats being successful. and
predicted that 10000 TO $1,000 majority
would be the result. In 1876 the state
went Republican By 16,477, and for %
years it has always given q Republican
majority in presidential years, 80 that if
Blaine succeeds by a mere scratch" in
counting out the Democrats, the effect on
the people of other states cannot be
mistaken. Ii will be a crushing defeat
to the Republican party and will have
a double influence, for not only will the
people everywhere understand the situa-
ton, bat will also know that the grossest
fraud, have been lperpetrated by Blaine
and hisiRepublican cohorts. in the interest
OF the stal~art riDgsters grown desperate
at tue prospect of the inevitable defeat In |
store for. Garfield IN November.
The ARGUS does not concede Maine to |
the Republicans. yet. however, notwith-
standing the dsstsrate efforts of Blaine's |
ballot-box suffers to steal the state. but
has this to say that, even if Blaine sue.
seeds in manipulating the returns enough
% secure scratch" for his party, the
'esult is terrible defeat to the Republi-
party for there were few Democrats who
aver hoped for victory in that hot bed of
Observation-Disclosures. He laughs best who
aughs last. and in November the Demo-
racV will be able TO rejoice over national
'ictory and woe to anyone who attempts
It that time to subvert tho will Of the
'eople.