Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-09-11
PRESS OPINIONS.

Blaine has certainly done all that
could have been expected Of him by his
party in the Maine contest. What he
did that mare the victory was necessity
rather than choice, and however he may
stagger in the west under the iron clad
Prohibition he has given to Maine, he
had to give it or suffer defeat in his own
state. He had to carry his state largely;
he had TO do It with the factors
within his reach, and now he is ready
for the less hummlng but more desperate
battles in the revolving Republican states.
II he can hold Ohio in October by any
reasonable party majority, 1t will be
proof that he has at least even chances
for election in November, and II he shall
carry West Virginia with Ohio, he will
then be about the only candidate in sight
of the winning post. But II he shall
loose 0hio--there's the rub and il the
B sipe Prohibition sweep Of Maine shall
bs the cAuse OF losing Ohio, as is more
than possible, will the Maine majority Of
yesterday be accounted victory or a de.
feat H-Philadtiphia Timer, Ind.
Mr.Blsine therefore appears to be 4, 900
votes more popular in Maine than the late
President Garfield, ard 4 900 votes less
popular than sx. President Rutherford B.
Hayes. This is not very hopeful show.
ing for the Republican Presidential candi
date in his own state. II does not show
an overwhelming enthusiasm for q
"favorite SON." Ga the contrary, 1t shows
that II the Democratic national com.
mittee had chosen to contest this
election, instead Of letting 1t 60 by
default, they might have done 80 with an
excellent chance Of success. Among such
details as have reached us up to the time
Of going to press, the most important in
their national significance are the carry.
ing Of great manufacturing cities, suoh
as Biddeford and Lewiston, by the Demo.
Gratis, which have heretofore cast sub
stautisl Republican majorities.
York Herald, Ind
Maine settles New BuglAnd. II BEETLES
the oroskers over Mr.. BlaIne's home
strength 1t settles Democratic predic.
tion. It settle the list Of doubtful
states by pairing it down to the mar
rowest limits of eight years past.
II settles the result OF three months Of
oslumr and decides In ad vance the effect
Of eight weeks more OF like cam paign.
The Democratic party has been bobbInR
aud dodeing In advance over the exp cited
| effect of this doubleshotted charge. Its
organs have been disoounting the size Of
the majority in advance to minimizs the
victory when 1t comes. But the majority
settles even the prophetic organs with a
sweeping Republican victory. Rhiiadel-
phia Reie, Rep.
II gives no evidence Of any such popu-
lsrity on Mr.. Blaine's part In the state OF
his residence as should have been tx
peoted; none such as Mr.. Rdmunds would
have shown in Vermont, or Mr.. Lincoln in
Illinois,or Mr.. Gresham in Indiana. 1t dis
closes the fact that where he should have
been Overwhelmingly strong he is no
stronger relatively than even Mr.. Hayes
eight years ago. The real struggle is yet
to be made. It will not be materially
affected by the "politcaI promenade
which the managers had arranged in
Maine. 1t will be determined by forces
far more potent than those enlisted there,
and these forces are working steadily and
strongly against Blaine.-Neio York Times,
Rep.
The Republicans throughout the CONN.,
try can we'll afford to take of their hats
and cheer over such a result. II was a
victory pluckily achieved, In spite Of the
undetermined methods of the oppos. ton.
1t not only showed the healthy condition
OF Republication in Maine, but It in
directly demonstrated the wonderful
popularity Of the Republican standard
Observation-Disclosures american, Rep.
a. Under the circumstances, with an ALI.
ance between the Republicans and the
Prohibitionists, the majority for Mr..
Blaine's candidate for governor would
have been at least 10000. The failure
to reach these figures is an exposure Of
the weakness Of Mr.. Blaine and an
aoknowledg cement that his magnetic In
fluenoe will not attract the close states Of
the wsst.-NsU York World, Dem.
There are crumbs Of comfort for both
Republicans and Democrats in the re.
turns from Maine The Republicans may
rejoice that the majority for their oandi-
date Is quite IS large as the most san
guine had prophesied 1t would be, and
the Democrats may find consolation in
the fact that they gain somewhat In the
manufacturing oities.-NsO York Sun,
Butler organ.