National Republican., 1880-09-11
THE BATTL n IN MAINE.
Tow the state Has Voted since 1850.


As all eyes are now turned to Maine, we
give carefully prepared table VI the vote of
tho state cast every year since the great re-
publican revolution OF 1856. Hannibal Hamin
was then democratic United States senator,
but some time after tho nomination of Fro-
mont lie rose In his place in the senate de-
clared his purpose to act with the republicans,
and resigned his positions on committees cou-
ferrcd upon him by til, democratic majority
of the body. lie was nominated as the repub-
lican candidate for governor, and he swept
the state by 1881 majority over the COM
bined vote of the democratic aud Bell. Everett
candidates As soon as he was inaugurated
governor tho new republican legislature re.
elected him to the senate, where he has re-
mainod, with the exception off term III the vice.
presidency and few years as custom. house
officer, until now. His present term is about
to expire, and the pending contest involves his
senatorial seat Since the IIamlin revolu ion
of 1856, Maine has uniformly cast q republi.
can majority over the combined opposition
until 1878, when the greenbacb vote swolled
to 4l,40l, aud with the democratic vote of
2IeI2 gave majority against the republicans
of 7,2i3, carried both branches of the legisla-
ture aud two of the five members of Con.
| bination had 492 majority over the republ-
cans, and that, with some 500 scattering
votes, swolled tho Majority against the repub-
| licans TO about 1000. Tho republicans, how
ever carried both branches Of the legislature
and the fusion parties ighUmiuously failed in
| an attempt to count them out after the most
| improved southern plan. Tho fraud was
finally overthrown by the prompt interposi.
tion Of the supreme court, and now the three
parties go to the people again on the eve Of q
presidential election.
| Maine yet ndhercs to the old-time puritan
idea of requiring q majority Of all the votes
east TO elect a state ticket. In 1878 Governor
Conner had 15l plurality over his highest
competitor but lie was beaten under tho ma
jority law by 7s43. In 1879 Governor Davis,
present republican governor, received 21l16
| plurality over his highest competitor, but lie
WAS defeated by about 900 majority, aud had
to be chosen by the Legislature. Amendments
| to the constitution of the state are now pend
| ing for adoption or rejection by the people,
accepting the commousense system of elect
ing by plurality aud postponiug the state cleo
tions to November; but this year the whole
brunt of the presidential battle in Maine must
be met In September, and the party that shall
be defeated then will come up fucbly TO be
knocked down in November. If the repub.
licans carry the state, the coalition will prac-
tically dissolve, and IL the improbable result
OF II republican defeat should come in Sep
tember, republicans would fpd IL dillc IL 10
rally for Garfield.
In order that the following table may be
inteligently understood, it musl be explained
that the third.party vote of tho last twenty.
four years has taken many shapes. That of 1856
was Filmore-Donclson; that of 1860 was Bell.
Everett; that of 1SGl-2 was an ndependent
democratic bolt, mainly ON the war issue; that
OF 1869 WAS prohibition; that Of 1873 aud
| 1876 was reform, and that Of 1s77-S-0 was
greonback. There we're some scattering votes
cast every year, which are not in the table,
but they did not materially vary the figures,
except In the vote OF 1s79 when they increased
the M jority against the republicans to about
1000. The following is the vote Of the state
with the majorities over all, cast by the re.
publicans from 1856 to 1875 and the combined
neutrality-suspicious. majonties of 1882.