The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-09-13
The Maine Election.

As was anticipated, and conceded almost
without struggle, the Republicans carried
Maine last Monday, electing a large majority
of the Legislature, re-electing their four Con-
gresham, Governor Robbie and other state
officers The victory on the order of the
Dutch taking Holland, but the Republican
press are very jubilant In these days of de-
cline of the Republican party, those who still
stand by the rotten organization are so thank
fnl when they can obtain victory in states
that have been Republican for quarter of a
century, they cannot restrain themselves, and
the smaH-fry journals are illustrating their
columns with coons and ROSTERS. This sat
isfaction is not begrudged them, for they will
be very gloomy after November, when the
great voice of the American people will put
their condemnation upon Jas. G. Blaine, John
A. Logan, Steve Elkins, Bill Chandler, Secor
Robson and their corrupt management.
The Republican majority in Maine was
about $4,000, and an examination of the ma
iority in September of Presidential years will
show that the Republican party has done
nothing but hold its own, even with the STA
vorite son. the magnetic Blaine, in the field
for the Presidency. In the September cleo
ton of 1856 the Republicans carried Maine by
plurality of "a, $40; in 1860, by 1901; in
1864, by Is, 91S; in 1868, by 20, 4O3; in 1872,
by 1921; in 1876, by 1884. The average
majority, then, in those six presidential years
was Is, 1872, and Mr.. Blaine, by the most ex-
traordinary efforts, fair and unfair, has only
maintained the average plurality at Septem-
Der elections in presidential years. -Four
years ago, tits true, the Republican candidate
for Governor was beaten by a Fusion party,
composed of Greenbackers and Democrats.
1t was not a Democratic victory, for the
Greenbackers furnished two-thirds of the .vo-
tiers in the fusion movement The Maine
Greenbackers were Republicans, who had
split off from that party on a single issue.
They could not win alone; neither could the
Democrats. They united and were success
full, but the state went largely for Garfield,
even with a national Greenback ticket in the
field.
The whole strength Of the Blaine managers
was concentrated on the Maine election
Every orator left to the party, after the loss
of Conkling, Edmunds, Beecher, Schurz,
Curtis and other old.line Republican advo-
Gates. was pressed into service in the flavor
lite son's'' own state. Hawley, Hoar, Long,
Gibson: Judge West, of Ohio; Col. Snowden,
of Pennsylvania; Dudley, of New Jersey;
e M,nk.,an. ('nl ncnnO1 (nan
Beal Logan and the White Feathered Knight
himself exhausted their eloquenee in exhort-
ing Maine to save the statesman who was to
electrify the country.
In addition, money was openly used to cor
rLpt voters. In Blaine's own city, Augusta,
four hundred voters were purchased. The
city has population of 5000, and the post
Office there has forty clerks-men put in office
and kept there for the corrupt Political work
they are able to do. These men did good
work in bribing voters, and the New York
World publishes the names and residences OF
six who were the most active. They used
whisky and money freely, though posing be-
fore the country as party of high moral
ideas. Many Republicans in Maine have revol,
t ID at Blaine nomination, and took occasion
to show their disgust of him and his ways, but
their votes were balanced by bribery. The
Democrats made no effort, other than that
made by those of the state. The national com
mittee sent neither speakers nor money there
Maine is Republican state, and was conce
ded. By strong efforts the Democrats might
have reduced the majority. but they preferred
to concentrate on New York, and other close
and important states.
BIaine's great boom turns out not TO be {
boom at all. He but held his own. Had hi
majority been q, 900 the result would not hav'
had any effect elsewhere. The battle is to b.
fought in November, though prelminar
skirmshes are to take place next month il
Ohio and West Virginia. The former, il
presidential years, has been Republican 70
many years, though the Republicans will hav
hard work to hold it three weeks hence
West Virginia will go Democratic. as usual.