The Portland daily press., 1884-09-10
The Significance of the Maine
Election,

me S1gn1ucance OF the Name
Election.
No candid and intelligent observer of the
drift of political public opinion can fail to
comprehend the significance of Mondays
election in this State, in connection with the
coming Presidential election.
No local or State issues entered into the can
vass and by common consent of both parties the
contest was made the openinglof the campaign
which is to decide whether the party which
has administered the national government for
the past twenty-four years is worthy the con-
tinued confidence and support of the people;
or whether it has so lamentably failed in the
administration OF the great trust confided to It's
keeping as to warrant change that will re-
instate the Bourbon Democracy. There can
be no mistake in regard to the sentiment Of
the people Of Maine in this matter.
The charge Of the defeated party, that Re-
publican success was the result of the corrupt
use of money is ridiculously false, and if true,
would be an acknowledgment that the same
result would be comprised by the same means
in the election of President in November.
For, If an important election-which is to
influence sthe Presidential electlon-can be
carried in Maine by the use OF money, what is
to prevent the elections in Ohio, West Virgin
ia, Indiana and New York from being carried
in the same way? No one will pretend that
the people of Maine are less intelligent,
less patriotic, or more corrupt than the people
Of either of the States named. No one will
pretend that the national Democracy did not
RuIl k6o -
a sweeping Republican majority in this State
on account Of the Maine effect of such victo.
ry upon the elections to follow in other States,
which are to settle the complexion of the next
administration. No one will believe that the
National Democratic Committee had not full
knowledge of all the means used by the Re-
publicans to carry the election in this State,
or that they did not use every means in their
power to checkmate their opponents, and re-
duce the Republican majority to its minimum
The fact is both parties used what money they
could obtain for the legitimate purposes OF the
campaign. If the Republicans had the larg-
est purse, 1t was because greater interest in
the success of the principles of that party So
cured from the people more liberal contribu-
tons to its treasury than their opponents could
command. The same influence will operate to
produce like results in the elections which are
to follow.
The fact is there never was canvass by any
political party more honorably conducted than
that which resulted in the brilliant Republican
victory of Monday.
The key note of the Republican campaign
was given in the admirable letter of accept
auce Of its Presidential candidate. which set
forth clearly and forcibly the issues which di-
vide the two great parties, and the claim Of
the Republican party to the continued support
of the people, and throughout the canvas, there
was no lodging, no concealment, no evasion,
but full, free, exhaust discussion in the
press, and on the stump of every question per.
tinent to the issues involved, The record of the
Republican party. made by twenty-four years
of successful administration of the govern
ment, was held up in the light of day before
the people, and contrasted with that of the
Democratic party. Honest aud successful ad-
ministration in the past was offered as guar
antee Of like administration in the future.
The tariff was made the prominent issue, and
on this. as on all questions at issue between
the parties, there was left no room for doubt
in regard to the position of the Republican par
ty. 1t dealt in no ambiguous or cant phrases
as ''for revenue only" "for revenue exclusive.
ly," or "for revenue with incidental protec.
tion," but boldly advocated protective tariff
which would build up American manufactu res
and protect American labor against the
pauper labor of Europe.
In short the Republican party of Maine,
under the leadership of its Presidential stand
ard bearer, appealed directly to the intelli-
gence of the people, and received their verdict
of approval.
The people of Ohio, of Indiana, of West Vir-
ginia, of New York, and other States, which
are to decide the Presidential contest, have the
same interests at stake and will be governed
by the same considerations as those which in
fuenced the people of Maine; and will be
found ranged in the victorious Republican
column in October and November.
If the Bourbon Democracy have not vet
learned that the people will not put the new
wine of the Republic into old Democratic
bottles, it is because, like their old French pro-
49,