The Portland daily press., 1881-09-14
THE SECOND DISTRICT.
Comments Of the Journal on the Contest.

The special election for Congressman in this
district has made a curious revelation of the
political situation in the Second district, If not
in Maine. In the first place it has shown that
the Republican party is perfectly united,
stronger than ever, firm in its faith in Repub-
l lean principles, enthusiastic in its support of
President Garfeld's administration, and well
prepared for the contest of next year. Ad-
vices from all parts of the district show that
every voter who stood with the Republican
party iii 1880, is Republican to-day; and that
scores who were against us one year ago. are
now with us. The Republican vote of Mon
day was unusually large for an off year.
In the second place the election has revealed
evidences of disintegration in the ranks OF the
two parties which last year Joined hands
without regard to principle on the discredita-
BILE platform of anything to beat the Repub-
licans.' From the very nature of the case,
such a union could not be permanent or har-
monious; for twas not long since demonstrated
that nothing can long hold the mass of men in
political relations except an identity OF princi-
pies. A negative platform-a battle cry which
begins and ends wi h pulling somebody else
down,-cannot satisfy men of principle,
whether Republicans, Democrats or Green
hackers The great mass of men are honest
aud possess positive convictions, and they at
tach themselves to parties to carry out those
principles-and not simply to beat somebody.
The by-play between the Greenback and
Democratic managers in the canvass preceding
the election in this district, showed the difficult
ty in securing union for nothing higher than
an Office If there had been two offices possibly
the difficulty might have been partially avoid
cd by an equal division. But there being but
one office the difficulty could not be overcome
in this way. It SO happens that there are some
Greenpackers like Scion Chase who actually
believe in Greenback principles, and very nat
uraily they insisted that the candidate should
represent these principles. These straight
Greenbackers are determined to maintain and
build up the Greenback party; and they en-
terrain the view that by going right along an0
nominating their own candidates, the great
body of the Democrats will come over to them
There are other Greenbackers who simply
want the offices and care nothing for principles
These gentlemen looked around for candi
| date having nlAou feCoIu, WHO COulu pt
claimed for 10th sides. They supposed they
had filled the bill. But lol the mon who are
| Greenbackers from conviction insisted that the
gentleman selected should stand up before
| Greenback convention and declare himself &
Greenbacker, and pledge himself to act fol
! and with the Greenback party. The con
| sternation of both the Greenback and Demo
| cratic traders at this unmasking of their TWO
| faced plan, was very great; but they wen
right on as though nothing had happened.
But it so happens that there are Democrat
| also who occupy the Democratic position By
| conviction, and these men had become tired O
| this continued endorsement of Greenbacl
candidates. They also feared with good reason
that if it should go on longer, the Democrats
organization would be lost, and the Democrat
| ic party in Maine "a part of a national organi
zationl would be sunk in the Greenback party
which has very little strength outside o
| Maine. Very naturally they protested agains
the endorsement of another straight Green
hacker by Democratic conventions; and
| majority of the Democratic convention uDex
pectedly took the same position, and nomi
mated Democratic candidate. The traders il
both parties were not dismayed at the situa
ton, and at once set themselves at work t.
overcome the difficulty, without pretending T.
consult the voters 1t was found impossible t
withdraw the Greenback candidate, becaus
the straight Greenbackers appeared to b.
stronger and firmer than the straight Demo
Gratis A pressure from outside was brough
to bear on the Democratic candidate TO with
draw, to which he finally yielded
) 1t was expected that the Democrats coul
all be brought into the traces, as heretofore
But there were many Democrats, who had be
come thoroughly sick of the manner in Whlc
few of their leaders had been trading OF
their votes, without consulting them. Th
cry of anything to beat the Republicans wa