Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-10
Notes from NTaine.

After the desperate nature Of the fight
the Republicans have made in Maine, that
the majority of Robbie for Governor should
only be about 10, 600 is not a result to be
vain about. The statement that the total
vote is the largest ever cast in the State,
shows how diligent the Republicans have
been to get every man to the polls who
was entitled to vote and who would
vote the Republican ticket.
The National Democratic Committee
has done nothing in Maine. 1t was not
expected that the State could be captured
from Robbie, who is most popular man,
and has made an excellent official. The
Republicans bent every energy to increase
their majority. Blaine managed the
canvass in person. He called INTO his
council Elkins and Handy, and nearly all
the shrewdest political wire workers of
his party. The most prominent and
magnetic Republican orators have been
making speeches throughout the State for
the last month, and they have eXerted
themselves to the utmost to arouse en-
thusiasm. The mails have been loaded
with campaign documents, and plenty OF
money was forthcoming for use wherever
it would do any good. And now, after all
this, Robes majority is little, if any,
greater than that of Hayes in 1876, and
scarcely half as large as that received by
Grant in 1872.
After the concentration of their efforts
on Maine as a strategic point the result is
not one that the Republicans can legiti-
mateIy boast about. They have gained
no substantial victory. 1t is only case
in which ''the Dutch have taken HOl-
land" The Democratic forces in Maine
could be considered as little more than
an army Of observation. After the efforts
put forth by the Republicans it would not
have been surprising if they had carried the
State by double the majority they claim.
From the fact that they did not do so 1t
NAV be legitimately dedUced that the
magnetic man had little influence in the
contest. Whatever enthusiasm may have
been displayed for his sake was at least
offset by the contempt that is felt
for him by the Independents. On
a survey of the field and a consid-
Grafton of the manner in which the
campaign was conducted and its results,
the conclusion is irresistible that had the
Republicans made no greater efforts to
carry the State than the Democrats did,
it is doubtful if they would have carried it.
The Independent Republicans were not
expected to bolt their party on State
issues. The disaffectiOn is all on account
of Blaine, and it will not be at all sur
prising if Blaine's majority in Maine is
considerably smaller than Robes, espe-
cially as the Republicans will not be able
to concentrate on Maine in the Presiden-
tial election. They will have too much
ground to cover. They will then have to
do their best work and put their money in
the doubtful States.
Two features of Mondays election are
worthy of especial consideration. One is
the great increase in the Democratic
strength in BiddefOTd and Lewiston.
These are important factory cities. These
Democratic gains, if they show anything.
show that the tariff doctrine of the Re
publican party is not carrying the work
ingmen as sOlidly as has been alleged.
The other feature is the small plurality by
which Reed was reelected in the First dis
trict. 1t is stated that about a thousand
voters were recently imported into the
district and employed in the navy yard
at Kittery in order to save Reed. 1t now
appears that he has only 800 plurality, so
it seems that only this importation of
voters saved him from defeat.
There is nothing in the Maine election
to encourage the Republicans or dis
courage the Democrats. Let the cam
paign so on.