Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-04
8ailp 9tnnebef Jonrnal.
Augusta, Tuesday Morning, Sept. 4.
Republican Growth.

nCRuOI1Cdn OIOWtus
We do not recollect the time in the his
tory of the republican party when its op
ponents did not comfort themselves with
the hope that the dissolution Of the party
was near at hand. In Its early days this
was not unreasonable, but since it has
maintained its supremacy in the national
government with scarcely an interruption
for more than twenty years. the old pre-
diction of its early demise is stale and abb
surd. In latter years the ground on which
the democracy base their hope that the
republican party must soon pass ont OF
existence is that the party has completed
the work for which it was organized. and
therefore having nothing to live for ought
logically and naturally to die.
But in spite Of the predictions of its
enemies and their logic aud calculations
the party continues to live, grow and
prosper. 1t is larger in numbers now
than at any period OF its former existence
1t rests on principles that command Il
wider support than those upon which it
gained its early victories. he necessity
of its continued existence as power in
governmental affairs was never more
clearly recognized than at present. The
actual growth Of the republican
party" says the Chicago Inter
Ocean in recent article, has
kept pace with the demands made
upon it. This growth seems the more
wonderful with all the circumstances OF
the contests since 1860 in mind and with
the figures at hand The democratic vote
of 1864 was 1908. 72j. But in 1868, when
the Southern States were again in line.
this WAS doubled, or increased to 2, 109.6l3.
The extraordinary increase of 100000
votes to the democratic party coming from
the old rebels was met by corresponding
increase in the republican vote of about
100000. From 1868 to 1872 the republican
increase was $50 600, and the democratic
Increase l25 900. In 1876 the republican
vote showed an increase Of 436, 600 and
the democratic an increase of 10000.
This new and extraordinary increase in
the democratic vote was easily accounted
for. but in planning their campaign for
1880 the democratic leaders assumed that
there were actually more democrats than
republicans in the country. and that the
republican party, having received its max
imum, would decline. while the democrat
ic party having the impetus of new
growth would grow the more rapidly be
cause of the natural dec inc of its old rival.
But between 1876 and 1880 the republi-
cans gained 3lG, 900 votes. and the demo-
Gratis only 1890 In other words. with
party issues clearly defined and with the
conditions of free expression of opinion
pretty well established, the republican
party made gain double that of the
democratic party.
The disaffcction in republican ranks
since 1880 has not been caused by fall
ing away from old principles On the
other hand, those who raised the standard
of TtNbil III SOME Oh int Suites Alaue II
point of clinging closer to republicanism.
pure and simple. than the regulars. There
was no demand for change OF principle
among those who for the time being loos-
ened party ties. The insurrectionary
movement was in no part of the country
directed against principles, but it every
where took the shape of emphatic protest
against the subordnation of principle
and party machinery to personal
schemes and ambition. Ii was
not so much question of principle as a
question of which set of partisans should
have most influence in nominating candi-
dates and securing Federal appointments
But if the Presidential contest of 1884
turns. as ii is sure to do, on question OF
principle. 1t will be found that there are
more republicans in the country than ever
before. and that the growth in the last
three or four years has been greater than
in any corresponding period in the history
of the party"