The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-09-20
iBost IN journal.
Why Maine Went Republican

Why Maine Went Republican.
The most of our exchanges which have been
trying to assign the causes of the Republican
victory in Maine appears to US to have signally
failed to note the most potent influences which
brought it about. The most important inRu-
ence, and one which has been lost sight of. is
the present prosperous condition of the coun-
try, and particularly of the people of Maine. A
Democratic farmer confided to Republican
the real secret of Fusion apathy when he said
that the past "three years have been so good
ones for farmers who attend to their business
that have no heart to fight for change of DC
litical policy" 1t was less secret in the case
OF a Democrat in Eastern Penobscot who sur
prised his neighbors by not only declaring for
the Republican candidate for Representative,
but by leaving his business and working for his
election. 81 am as much Democrat as ever
said this man, "but believe that the present
prosperity will be more likely to continue ii
Mr. Frye stays in the Senate" The fact of
the present prosperity was used on the stump
and it was claimed to be largely due to the e.
nancial and protective policy of the Republi-
cans. Business men, farmers and workingmen
discussed this subject and it had potent influ-
ence in the agricultural sections, whose people
have reason to fear the competition of Canada
If the facts could be known, it would be found
that large number of those who were credit
ed as Fusionists in the party canvasses went
to the polls and quietly voted the straight Re-
publican ticket. The smallness OF the straight
Greenback vote has been surprise to all but
it eau be accounted for on the ground that ma
ny men who would have voted for Mr.. Chase
under other circumstances have been, at last
convinced that Greenbackism is a heresy be-
cause of the general prosperity which has fol-
lowed close upon the Republican policy of spe-
Gle resumption. These men, as rule, did not
declare themselves openly, choosing rather to
let the fact of their return to the Republican
party be announced on the counting of the
votes the night after election. In fact, there is
every reason to believe that considerable
number of the ten thousand Fusionists of 1880
whom the father-in-law of Governor Plaisted
complained of because they would not vote
without being paid, voted the Republican tick
ct while more were content to give that ticket
negative support by refusing to vote with the
Plaisted party. 1t was blunder of the first
magnitude to call such men as General Sam
Cary, E. NJ Boynton and Rev. Mr.. De La Ma
yr to Maine this year of plenty and prosperity
They are valuable only when they follow In
the wake at closed workshops, bad haryests
and famine as lesser plaques.
A second cause was the sense of insecurity
which GarceIonism and Plaistedism were caus-
ing and the feeling that continuance OF this
constant semi-revoutienary policy would in
lure the reputation OF the State abroad. The
issue between Governor Plaisted and the Coun-
Gil was closely canvassed and the weakness and
danger of the position of the former were ex-
posed. The pretensions of Governor Plaisted
were shown up in their true light, and a sober
and law-abiding people concluded that such a
demagogue as His Excellency had shown him.
self to be could not be Entrusted with execu-
tive authority. 1t should be added that Gov
ernor PlaIsted himself contributed not a little
to his own defeat by following Mr.. Blaine from
place to place and exposing himself to ridicule
and the most unfavorable comparisons by at
tempting to answer that gentleman's dignifed
but crushing criticism and arraignment of the
policy and acts Of the Governor. Never was
the puniness of an ordinary man made so ap
parent as it was in this unequal contest Each
successive defence and criticism by Governor
Plaisted called forth from Mr.. Blaine a yet
more crushing rejoinder. 1t was a conflict be-
tween pigmy and giant.
EEThese were The two leading causes of the Re
publican victory, 10 which should be added the
striking superiority of tho Republican ticket
and the almost matchless organization Of the
Republican State Committee