New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-04
MAINE and TIE NEXT CONGRESS.


Tie elections this month may have an i'm
portant effect upon the future of parties Not
much is expected by the Democrats i'll Yer
mont, nor has the contest been so exciting
that the election is likely to afford trustworthy
indications of the drift of public feeling Nor
do the Republicans expect much from the
election in Arkansas, for there has not been
such manifestation organization of an indie
Deudent force i'll that State as III some other
Southern States. The most interesting contest
is in Maine, and there the Republicans ought
to make unusual efforts, not only because or
the conduct of the Governor and his partlsans
in local matters, but because the election will
have an influence in other States and may
possibly affect the control of Congress. AS the
State has not been redistrcted and the four
members of Congress are to be elected on
general ticket, a slender plurality CT either
side may have far more weight than major
tiles counted 10y many thousands in other
States, Vile an election so close as to afford
excuse for dispute would give a chance to the
State Stealers that they would be very apt to
SEIZE Maine ought to give not only RepnD-
hcan majority, but majority so large that
stealing will he impossible.
There are Republicans in Maine, no doubt,
who are displcased with the conduct of the
present National Administration. But they
ought to remember, i'll justice to their friends
elsewhere, that the Republican party did not
create this Administration, is not justly repre-
scented by it, and will continue to exist after
the Administration has departed from sight
and memory. The principles for which the
Republican voters of the Nation contend are
well worth the utmost efforts that can be
made in any State. Those principles should
not be disregarded nor subjected to defeat be-
cause any official from the highest TO the
lowest. has forgotten or neglected either OF
them. The true Republicans i'll other States
who are contending earnestly for sound pr1n-
ciples have a right to expect that their breth-
rem in Maine shall not desert the cOlors be-
cause the Administration has not i'll all things
acted as it should. If there are voters in
Maine WHO care much for the memory of
President Garfield they will not help Dem
ocrats to strike down the principles for which
he gave his life. Nor should it be
forgotten in any hour of dissatisfaction
that the National Administration is doing
honest Republican work in many things,
for it is encouraging freedom of action and
fairness of elections at the South; 1t is main
tanning specie resumption, sound currency
and the public faith it is upholdlng the sys-
tenn of protection to American industry. For
these and other reasons 1t Is incOmparably
more desirable than any Administration that
Democrats or Fusionists would create. Its
faults are its own its virtues are those of the
great Republican party, which the State OF
Maine cannot afford to defeat.
1t would be strange indeed if the people OF
Maine should send to represent them at
Washington four associates of the Free-Trade
Democracy. AS respects some other phases of
! the tariff question, a man can hardly know
what the Democratic party would do II 1t had
the power, but upon the matters that chiefly
affect the industries and the prosperity Of
Maine there is no room to doubt what it
would do. Four members of Congress, help
! ing that party to elect Democratic Speaker,
might have power to turn the scale and thus
to insure, without further direct aid of their
own, action in the last degree hostile to
interests of Maine. Not without reason have
the people of that State for many years chosen
Republicans to represent them III Congress,
with few exceptions, and now, when every
vote will count in the election of four menu
bers, their majority ought to he SO large as to
make dispute impossible.