New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-15
THE SKTRNISH LINE.

The election in the Id Con ressOna District
in Maine, to fill the vacancy caused by the res
ignation of Mr.. Frye. has resulted in "a remark
able Republican triumph Last year the Dis
trict gave ,476 Republican majority; now il
has given 5,l73 majority, which is 1900
votes more than the largest Republican major
ity ever given before in the District. Yet the
weather-w politicians were of opinion, only
last week. that the coalition of Democrats and
Greenbackers might carry the District, and
wculd at any rate make the contest close and
doubtful The Democrats Withdrew their can
didate, and their committee urged their voters
to vote for the Greenback candidate. But the
result does not answer their expectations.
They knew that there was no chance for II
Democrat. Now they know that there was M
chance for Fusion or Grcenback candidate
The Republican party instead of growing
weaker has marvellousiy increased in strength
This is only a skirmish, and yet it may midi
cate the result of Important battles The cleo
lions tn which most attention will he paid this
year are to DO held In Ohio and Virginia. In
Ohio the temper of the people as To the Admin
| stration of President Garfield may he shown
| in Virginia it will he determined whether the
South is to remain solid still iii opposition to
| such an Administration. If the vote in Maine
is any indication, the Republicans will prove
stronger than any opponent has expected
Ohio is a close State except in years of strong
National excitement. 1t has had little ten
dency to go wrong the year after vigorous
and successful struggle for the right and is
particularly apt to make a bad record when the
Republicans are indifferent OF disunited. The
political renegade who invested in a Demo
cratic nomination this year is not II strong man.
excepting rs Mr. Tidcn was strong-in money
aud secret effort. 1t peases him and his party
| to make "still hunt" Their theory is that
the Republicans will be apathetic and careless
if no open effort is made against them. If the
Republicans of Ohio go to sleep, and Mr.. Book
walters friends spend money with skill, it is
| supposed by the Democrats that they may win,
and there arc some very intelligent Republi-
| cans who have the same impression. Probably
they underestimate the strength of the present
| Administration. The Maine election indicates
| that the Republicans have been greatly
| strengthened by the events Ct the past half
| year, as, in fact, they should he. But neglect
| or carclcssness on the part of the Republicans
| of Ohio might easily send dsheartening news to
| the wounded President on the morning after the
election. If Ohio does not want the President
| to get well, it can do great deal TO push him
! down hill.
| The election in Virginia is not clean cut
| fight between parties. The Democrats have
| done and will do their utmost to divide the Re-
| publicans, especially by clamor about readjust-
mont of the State debt. Yet the contest il es-
sentally National in character. The question
| which will control nine votes out of ten is not
one of State finances, but it is whether the
reactionary, vote-stealng, school destroying
Democracy shall prevail. 1t is hard to consider
the position of the Virginia Republicans can
didly without feelinga great deal of sympathy
| for them. Alone they can do nothing. The
Bourbons rob them every time, and it is sheer
| folly for them to hope, in the present state of
| parties, that they can secure fair election if
| the Bourbon Democrats retain control. They
| have great reason to believe that the Anti
| Bourbon Democrats will help them to preserve
the school system, to secure pure elections and
an honest count of the votes and to put down
every form of domestic violence which
threatens the liberty Of the voter. Having such
reasons, the great majority of Republicans will
support the ticket of the Readiustcrs, though it
is sheer waste Of time to accuse them of SYM
pathy with the opinions Of that party as to the
| State debt.
, The election In Virginia will be accepted
throughout the North as proof of the real spirit
: OF the voters in Southern States. 1t will DO