Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-17
JAMES A. GARFIELD,
OF OHIO.
FOR VICE PRESIDENT,
CHESTER A. ARTHUR,
OF NEW YORK,
CamDai1n Work.

Campaign Work.
The campaign of 1880 has begun and
is to be hot one. In a recent article
the Tribune gives a fair sketch Of the sit
uation and excellent advice upon the mat
ter. This is not. it says, to be an easy
fight. Republicans had better put away
that idea at once Whether democrats
split OF unite, whether they agree with
grccnbackers or disagree, whether they
put up good ticket or a weak one, the
fight is to be close and hard. The reason
is that there will be no expression Of pub
lie opinion in States casting within forty
seven electoral votes Of the number nee
essasy To elect. That clear majority Of
all lawful voters in those very States, If
free to express their will, would prefer
the republican ticket, we do not doubt.
But many dare not vote, and if they vote
their ballots will never be counted. 1t is
folly to take into consideration, ut any
stage of this campaign, the possibility Of
getting single electoral vote from the
South for republican candidates. as Of any
serious importance. All republicans may
rs we'll paste in their hats, for daily adj
monition throughout the campaign, this
practical rule: Count it as certain that
the'solid South will not give single
electoral vote to the loyal candidate, un-
less he is strong enough to 60 in without
one.
If any conceivable fraud. however au-
dacious, can raise question as to the
electoral vote Of any Northern State, dem
ocrats will resort to that fraud. This is
not said in bitterness it is the cold state
ment of fact. Democrats have been
taught to believe that they were cheated
in 1876 they will stick at nothing to avenge
what they claim, and many of them no
doubt honestly believe, was wrong.
The difficulty is that the democrats have
only three Governors in Northern States
in New. Jersey. Indiana. and Oregon
and, even with all Independents, do not
control either House of the Legislature in
any Northern State except Indiana and
Oregon. with the possible exception of the
lower House in California. The three
States in which there are democratic Gov
ernors have twenty-seven electoral votes.
There was pretence of greenback
Governor in Maine. with seven electoral
votes, but care will be taken against fraud
from that quarter. Even if false and
fraudulent certificates could be obtained
for democratic electors from every State
in which there is democratic Governor
or the pretencc Of one. there would still
remain Northern States having 1917 cleo
toral votes. or thirteen more than a ma
jority. But the republicans must carry
every one Of these States to avoid risk of
fraud. They ought to carry every North
crn State, Indiana and New Jersey in
cluded, as they have just carried Oregon
II will not do to waste time, to throw
away any opportunity, or to give the adj
versary the slightest chance OF success.
Organization ought to be made thorough
and efficient at once. in every State. coun-
ty and town. Lists of doubling voters
ought to be prepared as early as possible,
and steps taken to supply a sound repub-
lican paper to every such voter at once.
No other agency will prove so effective as
this. If the thing is done at once before
the minds Of men have been turned in the
wrong direction by partisan falsehood.
Halt the money expended in great meet
ings and brass bands. if spent in this
way. and spent carly, will yield more
votes than all other agencies ever en-
ployed in any political campaign Work
of this sort should be done not only in
doubtful but in the best republican States.
This is the time Of all others to create ma
jorities which will tell in the next Con-
gress. and for many years thereafter. 1t
is the time to fortify republican States and
Districts. so that they can by no possible
ity become doubtful for years to come.
It will not do to wait. either for direc-
tons or for means, until distant National
Committee can be reached. The republi-
can party won its grandest victories when
It had to rely upon the efforts of individ-
uals, each in its own locality, and the
earnest missionary work then done created
the stalwart and steady maiorities which
carried the loyal flag through the fires of
acivil war. Begin that missionary work
again! Begin it now, each man with his
neighbors, in his own school district or
block. Make 1t the business Of this year
10 confront solid and revolutionary South
with 9 solid, loyal, and impregnable
North.
Tho death-roll Of the terrible Sound
disaseer now numbers thirty-nine persons.
cf whom xix still remain to be identified.
NJ. Finley has been found guilty o,
s - anonymous note to Chairman