The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-10-30
springfield Republican,
The Bankrupt Democratic Party.


Except in an over rwhelming majority for
Gen. Garfield, since such majority for Gen.
Hancock is now out Of the question, the coun
try has no sound guaranty against dispute
over the presidential election. No one can
mistake the partisan readiness on both sides TO
undertake such contest, II the result is
doubtful In Indiana the Democrats are col
lecting evidence to impeach the October cleo
tion, and correspondent at Indianapolis, In
official and confidential relations with the
Democratic managers at Indianapolis, o. s.
Stealey Of the Louisville Courier-Jounal, an
nounces that Gov. Williams will refuse certif-
Gates to Republican Congressman whose ma
lority is assailed by this OK parte testimony
With as much reason and by like methods
Gov. Williams might refuse the Republican
electors their certificates. In New York, the
Commercial Advertiser, whose editor Is in in
innate relations with the Republican machine,
has already warned its Republican friends to
bet only on the certificate Of the State return.
ing board, and not on the popular majority.
The revolutionary theory that the vice-presi-
dent can count the electoral vote over the
heads Of the representatives Of the people is
ce6Scotcu, AaeuCA tuau aot huCru, UJ tno NOW
York Times as q weapon against possible
Democratic aggression, and the title BY which
the present government of Maine exercises its
powers is questioned by Democrats deter
mined to invalidate thejvoteIof the State il 1t Is
carried by the Republicans, and anxious to So
cure plausible certificate for the fusion cleo
tors from some one Of the fusion pretenders to
the office of governor last winter.
The most dangerous Of all disputes, dis
puted succession, may arise over any Of these
issues unless the Republican majority raises
Gen. Garfield to the presidential chair by
title beyond cavtl; as there Is now every rea-
son to hope that Is will. II the Democrsts
with the solid South, New York and New
Jersey, have lS2 votes, the temptation TO grab
the three votes needed for . majority some
where will be as powerful as 1t proved to 10
with the leaders Of the Republican party In
1876; but the Democrats would enter such q
contest with the moral odds Of tho campaign
on the other side. The lies and the forgery
with which they have been dienching the
country in the closing days Of the canvass
have turned against them the better sense of
the land. The Democratic managers have
squandered IN advance the moral capital Of
the party. No one can believe them II the
charge of Republican fraud becomes necessary
10 the Democratic case, as it was In 1875, con-
vincing evidence will be needed TO outweigh
the memory OF forgery disowned and de-
nounced as soon as it was uttered, but in spite
of this persistently circulated by the Demo
cratic managers. In advance OF any contest,
the party is hopelessly discredited In all its re-
Iations with the country. The fusion steal in
Maine will cloud any title Hancock may have
to the vote Of the State, short of an unchsl-
lenged majority. The apprehensions Of busi-
ness men at the possible success Of the Demo
cratic party at the ballot boz win be increased
ten-fold II the dispute comes to be prolonged
after the election. Every moral and material
interest will be arrayed against the Democratic
party at the first sign Of . contest and, II this
assertion seems "hard" judgment TO pass on
party which to-day numbers full half Of the
vote OF the country, 1t can only be said that it
is the legitimate result of the management Of
the presidential campaign by its trusted agents.