The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-07-14

There are signs that the Maine Republicans
are in stronger position than when their nom
ination for governor and congressman were
made. Equally manifest is the fact that the
democrats and greenbackers are less united
than before their conventions met. The demo-
Gratis cannot. be enthusiastic over fusion which
gives most of the offices to the greenbackers.
In other words, now that the zorces confront
each other, the dicipline and Cou rage OF the
republicans are plainly apparent, while the tu-
sionists are less confident than they were a
short time ago. The election occurs Se2tem-
Der II, and thus only few weeks remain for
preparation. The impetus gained by the re-
publicans will not only not be lost, but it will
90 on increasing up to the last moment OF the
canvass. What is well begun is half done, and
the heaviest work is accomplished already on
the part of the republicans. These assertions
are based on the press statements in behalf OF
both sides, with proper regard to certain facts
and abduction for oversanguine views.
A Portland democratic paper prints Ban
gor letter showing that this important region
which is a stronghold of the greenback heresy,
has local differences among the fusionists to be
reported. The Penobscot county ticket Is not
altogether satisfactory to the greenbackers,
and one worthyjwho was left offithe ticket is to
ness developed in the struggle for county Off
GERS will react against the State ticket. The
man who purposes to have ticket of his own
majyjmake serious work, for he is a de-
termined individual with quite
following. There is dissatisfaction also
in the Penobscot region with another nominee,
which will affect the Greenback vote some
what. A Waldo county Greenbacker writes
from another centre of that heresy, and de-
clares that Solon Chase is to have much
To- fol1 in cOuntV than the fI-
sionists imagine. The Greenbackers who re-
fuse to vote the fusion ticket and are support
ing Solon Chase are contributing to KepuDii-
can success, as the case now stands; and, II the
vote be very close, thst wing of the Green
hackers which declined to be counted among
the spoils of General Plaisted will have saved
the State from Democratic control.
The liquor question which threatened to
diminish the Republican vote will not
be q disturbing element. From present
appearances the prohibitionists as rule will
support Mr.. Robie. Mr.. Neal Dow's son is
Secretary of the Republican state committee,
and has prominent place inthe 1nnercounclls
of the party. 1t is understood that Mr.. Dow
senior is heartily in accordance with the Re-
publicans in this campaign. The secession OF
Mr.. Dow and his friends would have been
serious detection, and their present position
adds to the chances of Republican success. 1t
would be singular lack of judgment were the
extreme prohibitionists to oppose the Republi-
cans. who have given them all the legislation
they asked, and to favor the Democrats whose
real adherence of the prohibitory law is we'll
understood.
The vote of Maine in September, 1880, was
147, ,651, the largest vote ever thrown in the
State In the November following, the total
vote was about four thousand less. 1t is the
expectation of many Republicans and Demo-
Gratis that the vote in September will exceed
the largest previous vote in the history OF the
State. The Republicans, according to Dome
cratic accounts, have adopted plan for secur-
ing fnll vote of their party. unlike any before
used in the State. A descriptive Inst, alleged
to be in preparation, or complete, will give the
history of each voter in the State. The
Greenbacker's pedigree, whether Republican
or Democratic is traced, and thus most satis-
factory preliminary canvass of the State has
been inaugurated. The Fusionists suppose
that this list, t,shows Republican plurality of
5000, but as no official statement has been
made, this is only a surmise. The former
method of the Republicans was to argue from
majority of the previous year to a reasonable
or an unusual majority in the current year.
For long period this short and easy way was
accurate enough for practical purposes. When
the disasters came, and the surprising demon.
strations of the Greenback movement showed
that the Republican power in Maine was shak-
en- to its foundation, tho estimates had to oe
formed more carefully. There will always be
surprises, local or general, or both, in can
vass, but it hardly is possible that the Repuoil-
cans will be entirely wrong this year.