The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-12-04
Reflections on the Fio,ras.

Having already presented as accurately as
1t can bow be ascertained the vote of the
States in the last presidential election and
called attention to some of the remarkable
phenomena it presented, without attempting
TO explain them, it is worth while now
TO give attention 10 the causes of the
facts, which are liable TO be misunderstood,
and which those who are interested to do SO
will constantly misrepresent from now until
the next election. The figures are not agree
able to Republicans because they have ac-
complished the defeat of the party in this
election, and they are especially disagreea-
BILE because the margin of difference is so
slight that the defeat appears like an ayoida-
bic accident instead of something which
could not have been helped. This is cause
for regret, but it Is not cause for discourage
ment. Indeed it is the circumstance which
gives the Republican party almost an assur-
anee OF victory in the near future, and warns
the Democratic party that It's triumph is a
freak OF fortune rather than verdict of pop
ular approval.
The returns show that the vote of New
England was not as large as ii ought to have
been in consideration of the increase in pop.
lation. In our judgment this failure on the
part of voters to exercise the right of suf-
frage is explainable upon other grounds than
those by which the Democrats and Indepen-
dents will seek to explain it. The assump-
fion that II any other candidates had been
nominated there would have been larger
Republican vote is probably incorrect, ex-
eept as 10 two States. In Massachusetts,,
the headquarters of the mugwumps, possibly
shat result might have happened. II Mr..
Edmunds had been nominated probably the
Vermont Republicans would have polled
larger vote; but 1t may be doubted whether
another nomination would have made any
substantial difference in the vote of the 9th
er New ENGLAND States.
The small vote in this State in the Presi-
DENTAL election is easily accounted for. -Four
years ago the State was carried in. Septem-
Der by the Democrats, and both parties ex-
eried themselves 10 get ont every voter
In November. This year the Republicans
WrIo SuCCoootul III OepUeIHD6r DY q decisive
majority, aud thousands who vote snly
when they are urged stayed at home. In
New Hampshire The falling off was slight,
not greater THAI the rainstorm might ac-
count for, and SO equally from both parties
that the difference in the pluralities between
this year and four years ago is less than one
hundred. Vermont is so certainly Republi-
can under any circumstances that nobody
feels uuder compulsoH to vote. Rhode
Island increased its vote for both parties.
Connecticut would probably have gone
Democratic under any circumstances, unless
Hawley could bave saved it; but we cannot
have as mauy Republican candidates as there
are favoriie sons. II is probable that the
Irish workDgmen who voted for Mr.. Blaine
ontnumbered the mugwumps who left the
Republican party. The increase Of popula-
lation In Connecticut by immigration is large
~ of the class, who incline to vote the Dem
ocratIc ticket.
1t has long been noticed and is a matter
Of regret that smaller proportion Of the