The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-01-17
The Spring Elections.
THEIR GREAT IMPORTANCE THIS YEAR. TIME
II WORDS OF WARNING.

HEIR IRf4al lMFoEi ANtE his ! EAK llME-
LI WORDS OF WARNING.
The municipal elections which will take place
in this State next Spring are of so great impor-
lance that we deem them worthy Of the earliest
and most special attention of republicans.
With the State and National elections to occur
this year they have intimate and vital relations
1t cannot be said now, rs is sometimes the case.
that they have nothing to do with State and
National politics, for they are the initial move
ment. the opening guns. the first struggle of
the great campaign TO be fought this year.
which will decide the character of the national
government for the ensuing four years.
1t is of the greatest Importance, in political
as well military struggles upon which the
fate of nations depends. that there be perfect
organization, and that its spirit, unity. cohe-
siveness, strength and efficiency be always pre-
served In this way only can disaster be pre-
vented and success assured. Now suppose
that the republicans of Maine begin the cam
paigns of 1854 by allowing the Spring elections
to go 10y default, either on account of careless
ness. dissatisfaction with town or city officers,
or any matter of Il trivial nature. what cond-
ton will they be in for the State election in
september?
Their unity, strength and spirit will be brok-
en-. The men who fall out of the ranks at the
Spring elections, or fail of doing their duty
then As republicans, will not return cordially to
their places i'll September. Leading republi
cans, who advise mutny III the Sprng-if
there shall be any such-though they may be
ardent themselves in support of the republican
State and National tickets. will have the mort-
ication of learning that those when they
counseled III the Spring election to give aid and
comfort to the enemy, have gone entirely over
TO the opposition, OF are fully determined TO
go there, and are entirely beyond the influence
OF good though late advice. The poisonous
work done in the Spring cannot be eradicated
The labor, difficulty and doubt of the grand
campaign are enhanced and the cause and
ticket are irretrievaby and fatally damaged.
But besides these considerations is the ques-
ton of the control of the voting lists and ballot
boxes These pass into the hands of the party
which has the majority i'll town OF city govern
ment. They may be used fairly OF for IA fraud
ulent purpose. They may be employed
to defeat the will of the majority and bring in
a fraudulent minority. Judging the democrat
ic party by its past record, it has no scruples
about using the voting lists or the balot-boXes
TO accomplish by fraud the election of demo-
cratic officers. In this State, where we have
seen that party endorse the frauds attempted
by cX-GoN. Garcelon and his Council, in the
infamous count-out of 1850, there ought to be
no necessity for warning against the dishonest
practices of the democracy in elections. or eX-
horting republicans to vigilance in protecting
/ the voting lists and ballot boxes from becoming
4 the instruments of fraud in their hands. The
Spring elections decide who shall have the yot-
ing lists and ballot boxes in charge. If the
democrats should succeed in carving to WINS
and cities which they have not hitherto con-
trolIed, there will follow such frauds upon the
franchise ali honest men will deplore. and
perhaps the turning of republican ,ictOry-if
a fair vote and count could be had-into defeat
for the republicans and fraudulent democrat
ic success. Against such Il calamity as this it
Is the duty Of republicans to contend with all
their might. The ballot box must be protected
from fraud at all hazards. and the place to
make the most effective stroke in that direction
is at the Spring elections.
The democrats have already mapped out
/ their campaign for this wear. There are Ger
tain cities and towns in the State. which are
usually republican, that they propose TO carry
if possible i'll the Spring. No effort will be
| spared TO accomplish their plans. Dis>atisf fac
ton among republicans will be encouraged.
Offices will be promised. batteries will be
| profuse. Politics will be given the go-by unit!
after election. Non partisan tickets or cit
! liens tickets will be mainly relied upon to
! catch the simple and unwary. No device. that
| promises to be available, will be neglected. In
the city of Augusta and in other of our Ken
nebec cities and towns these tactics are to be
| tried.
Forewarned is to be forearmed. 1t is time
4 republicans were stirring everywhere, looking
| out for and circumvening the schemes of the
enemy. With vigilance, activity and per>ever-
ance we shall hold every fortress that will be
aSsailed, and come through the Spring contests
/ in good order for the fight in September.
I rkennebec journal.