Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-09-20
THE VICTORY IN MAINE.

The news from Maine was good from
the first, but it is getting better all the
time. At this writing the Republican
candidate for Governor, Robie, is about
5000 ahead of the Fusionist, Plaisted.
The scattering vote is distributed among
several candidates. There is no doubt
that the Old Pine Tree State wheels back
into line once more IN all respects, and
henceforth must not be classed as doubt
ful. Greenbackism and miscellaneous
detection have run their course. A net
gain of one Republican Congressman will
helpin the makeup in the forty-eighlh h
Congress, and in every point of view the
the result is peculiarly gratifying. The
truth is that the Republican party is
gaining strength from year to year Su-
perficial observers note the chickering's
and jealousies of rival leaders and fac.
tious, the blunders made in Congress and
out, the sharp criticisms called out, and
similar things, and jump at the conclu-
sion that the party is going to pieces, at
least, is being weakened.
Time is great element in favor of Re-
publicanism, because the children i'm
bibe it with their elementary education.
School books are as non-partisan as they
can be made, but it is simply impossible
to learn the history of the United States
during the war of rebellion without hav-
ing the principles Of the Republican par
ty lnstilled into the mind. The text
books of our American history are our
schoolmasters to lead us unto Republican,
ism. Many a voter ofto-day was unborn
when the war began, and the majority of
them have little, if any, recollections of
politics before 1861. Whatever the poll
tics Of the family circle or the neighbor-
hood, young man cannot avoid asso-
ciating the name Republican with the
union CAUSE, d cause which sustains 10
the America OF today substantially the
same relation that the revolutionary war
did 10 our fathers. Apart from the Dem
ocratic newspaper the child reads moth
ing about its country, its past or present,
which does not tend towards Republican,
ism. Not history of the United States,
circulated In any of the Northern States,
however careful the writer may be to OBJ
tain neutrality, but does, in point of fact.
disseminate Republican doctrines. Such
will continue to be the case as long as the
Democrats are stupid enough to maintain
their old and odious organization. Moth
ing could be more certain than tEis. and
it explains the steady growth of the Re
publican party, as shown by the returns
from Maine.
In more specific way Maine is great
ly indebted to visiting statesmen" for
help in the recent campaign, but it was
chiefly home struggle Every candi-
date for Congress was interested in carry
ing the entire State. Then, to, Senator
Frye had great stake, and, more than
all, Mr. Blaine was put upon his metsle.
He could not afford to be idle. He was
compelled by the logic of events to do his
level best for the party and he did it.
Unfettered by any official position, he
threw himself into the campaign with all
the enthusiasm of his great nature. The
term Stalwart as political appellation
was one of Mr. Blaines contributions to
the English language, dating back more
than six years. There is nothing of the
half breed about him. He works for Re-
publicanism without the slightest devia-
tion from the straight path. However
much the Inter Ocean has differed from
him in the past on some points, and may
again on others, it is now, as always,
ready to accord to him the full measure
Of praise for his great services in the COM
mon cause. Like his great peer and ri
val, Mr.. Conkling, he is natural leader,
and each ought to be at the head of his
party in his own State, as Webster and
Clay, Lincoln and Douglass, Seward and
Chase were in their day. The victory in
Maine was the triumph of the entire Re
publican party, and should serve as nails
in the coffin of unworthy factiousness.
We can all have our personal preferences
without going into spasms Of jealousy and
spite. Such brilliant triumph as the
one of Monday last may well serve as a
stimulus to harmonious activity in the
cause Of good government and sound Re-
publicanism in every State in which the
party may be said to have a foothold.-'
Inter Ocean.