The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-04
The Victory.

In an election of unprecedented interest,
calling out the largest vote ever cast in
municipal contest In this city, the Republl-
can candidate for Mayor is chosen by ma
jority close upon 400; four of the seven Re-
publican candidates for Aldermen are elect
ed, and after the second election, to be held
to-day in Ward 3 there will be five Republi-
can members of that board to two Demo-
Gratis, while he new Common Council will
have fifteen Republicans to six Democrats.
This is great and gratifying victory and is
an assurance to the people of the State and
the country that the chief city of Maine is
staunchly and enthusiastically on the side
of honest and honorable administration of
public affairs. 1t is Republican success
for although, as always happens in NUM-
cipal elections, some men of both parties
vote for the candidates of the other for other
than partisan considerations, the number of
Democrats who voted for Mr., King was
probably not larger than the number of Re
publicans who voted for Mayor Deering.
Mr.. King was the Republican nominee
Mayor Deering was the Democratic nominee
and both received the party support as
strictly as ever happens in such cases.
1t is not to be denied that the Republicans
had great advantage in the character and
qualifications of their candidate for Mayor
The Democratic candidate was renegade
Republican of the Butler variety, SO we'll
known to the party in which he formerly
trained that he could never have been elect
ed by it to aAy responsible Office He there
fore took himself with few congenial spir-
its to the Democratic camp, and was well
coined with the effusiveness they always
manifest for converts who come proposing
trade. He was taken up as reformer. There
is no Republican SO stepped in self-seeking
and jobbery that he does not appear to Dem
ocrats as reformer when he is willing to
be Democrat for Democratic votes. He
was elected Mayor in an hour of alteration,
and for year the city has been scandalized
by Democratic reform administration
One year was enough.
The PRESS, at least since August last, has
presented the current facts concerning the
city administration with i'll fuIlness and truth.
ana mas nasIr2fed their tendency and sig
nilIcSnce with with steady purpose to have
them thoroughly understood. As soon as it
was discovered that The charlatansm of this
City Government was being exposed, the
Mayor and his organs attacked the PRESS in
a manner which released it from any obiiga-
ton to preserve pretence of respect for the
crowd. But the PRESS has carefully kept
its criticism within the limits of just con-
sideration of public interests. 1t was only
OF the mayor and his associates, as officials,
that we have spoken, and with a kind of
faulty they took care to afford us abundant
means of showing forth their real character
and motives. Indeed, they made these so
plain that the citizens who give attention to
the conduct of municipal affairs needed no
service of ours to convince them that the
condition of things at the City Hall made
thorough revolution and renovation nee
essary.
The Republicans presented as their cand-
date gentleman whose character and fit
ness presented strong contrast to the in
cumbent. Modest, dignifed, intelligent,
sincere, capable and faithful, good citizens
of both parties recognized his superiority to
the clustering, arrogant, self-seeking, blum
dering, intriguing and uncertain person at
the head of the city governments. 1t was
necessary for the supporters Of Mayor Deer
ing to be constantly explaining away the
plain import of bis acts, and continually
bolstering his reputation with turgid
phrases of commentator. But they could
not make him seem boon 10 the city. 1t
was unnecessary to do anything of the kind
for Mr.. King The people knew him to be
genuine man, and all attempts to create
prejudice against him, or to belittle his merit,
failed without need of contradiction. The
people regarded the two men truly, and
they have given their verdict in terms that
are as emphatic and conclusive as they are
simple and clear.
Portland now escapes from the unfortu-
nate condition of a city domineered over by
Democratic reformers. Her people want no
more of that sort of thing. Their expert
ence is likely to last them good while.
They will rate Democratic pretensions at
their real worth hereafter, and look to the
Republican party for administration that is
clean, honorable, economical and efficient.
But our experience is not peculiar. Phila-
delphia end New York, Chicago, Cincinnati,
Boston and a score of other cities have had
a similar experience with Democratic ad-
ministrations. Some have got rid of them
and others will do so in good time. The same
weakness and wrong-headedness appears
wherever the party has control, and consp:c-
uously in the House of Representatives at
Washington. The Democratic party is
by an element which is intoler-
ant of high motives, of progressive ideas, of
faithful public service. 1t is never given an
but it allows it to sour On its
hands for want of wit to improve it. That
Portland is again a Republican city not
only politically and locally, but in the
broadcast sense, and as far as the wires carry
the news the city's fame and prosperity are
advanced,