Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-15
The Maine Election.

The Maine Election.
The result or the election in Maine
Monday was just about what the Demo-
Gratis expected and what the best
informed Democratic papers predicted 1t
would be. The Democrats appeared to
/ have little hope OF carrying the State, and
! consequently they did not 60 into the
campaign with much earnestness,
although some very able speeches were
made by their orators, their organization
was maintained and they polled very
solid vote. The Democrats did not seem
to expect much aid from the Prohibition
lists, though they were quite we'll enter
tanned by the manner in which the Prohi-
bition orators worried the Republicans
and made up In noise and buster for what
the Prohibition party lacked in actual yot-
ing strength. Indeed it might be said that
the Democrats rather enjoyed the cam
paign as spectators rather than as being
actual participants in it. However, when 1t
came TO voting they were on hand.
The Republican losses were not notable,
this being an "of year" as it is called, in
politics, except when the fact is consid-
cred that extraordinary efforts were made
by the leaders, who themselves we're led
by Blaine, to get an unusually large ma
jority in the interest of BlaIne's candi-
dacy for the Republican nomination for
the Presidency two years hence, and from
the other fact that the Republican losses
were greater proportionatelY than were
the Democratic losses.
1t would seem from the returns Of
Maine elections in the past, that anything
under a majority of 10000 for Bodwell
must be regarded as too near what was
ordinarily to be expected to do Blaine any
good. The fact that the Republican
managers attempted to hedge or prepare
for the news Of a small m ajority by only
claiming 1000 or 5000 majority before
the election does not deceive any one.
This is an old trick, and has been tried IN
Maine as we'll as in other States several
times without effect.
The result has not created any sensa-
ton in any part Of the country. 1t was
not only what was generally expected, but
the very fact that such was the case
must be considered as practically a de-
boom, and that was what he and his
friends were fighting for. or course the
great Republican leader would not have
made ten speeches in any ordinary State
and Congressional campaign just to get
the usual "Off year" Republican majority.
1t is possible, perhaps more than proba-
BILE, that had the Democrats gone into
the fight with enthusiasm the
Republican majority would have been
materially reduced. The Democrats felt,
however, that they had no hope Of carry
ing the state, and OF course it was hardly
to be expected that they would put forth
any very extraordinary efforts. The
closest Congressional district was that OF
Tom Reed, whose ability and personal
popularity are so great that there was no
reasonable hope of accomplishing his
defeat.
1t has been said that the Democrats
made mistake in nominating Clifford,
recognized aristocrat, who had little in
common with the common people, and
who was the last man to enlist the SYM
pathies and active support of the work
ingmen. or course it is impossible at
this distance to tell whether the charge
was true or not. II appears, however,
that Clifford made very creditable race,
when the efforts put forth by his party
and his opponent are considered.
1t Is quite certain that there is no
ground swell for the Republicans in
Maine, and it is very evident that the en-
thusiasm for Blaine does not extend be-
yond the Republican party lines, which
are very closely drawn, as are also the
lines of the Democratic and the Prohlbi-
zionist parties, as small as the latter
party is. Maine is Republican State
beyond a doubt, but the Republicans
might as we'll do away with the Septem-
Der election, as they can hope hereafter to
make very little capital out OF it for use in
States that are in the doubtful list.