New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-09
THE EP1UD IN MIME.

Great interest is felt in the election in Maine
next week, not because any one expects The
Democratic vote to prove stronger than it has
been, and not because there is especial interest
elsewhere In the local questions involved, but
because an obvious fraud is there in progress,
and people elsewhere want to know how many
voters will lie mislcd by it. Everywhere outside
the State people are interested in the result
solely because it NAV help the Democratic party
TO control the next Congress and the next Prcsi-
Dental election, and yet everybody in Maine is
assured that the third party movement Is not in
aid of the Democratic party and concerns State
issues only. On the pretcnce that some new
prohibitory legislation is needed, which In all
these years the majority of the people OF Maine,
being heartily in favor Of prohibition, have never
devised or thought expedient voters arc asked 10
help the Democratic party to defeat protection
lists and to elect free traders to Congress, 10
help it put the control of Congress into inc
hands of free traders for the next two years,
to defeat the able leader of the Republican pro-
tectionists who worthily represented district
in Maine. and to create for the Democratic party
a prestige of apparent growth and success which
NAV helm it in the next Presidential election.
It used to be said, In vain the net is spread
in the sight of any bird" But the Democrats
think the birds in Maine have less sense than
anywhere else.
There is no pretencc that the Democratic
party is stronger this year in Maine than it has
been. Indeed all know that the discredltablc
conduct of the Administration in the matter Of
the fisheries has cost the party the confidence
of many voters, and that the disgust of Dem
int, do in net
also prove source of serious weakness at the
polls. Add to this the fact that the voters of
Maine, without distinction of party, are greatly
interested in the maintenance of the protective
system, and that the desperate struggle made
ut the last session to pass the Morrison
bill, making wool and lumber free
and otherwise undermining protection, has
been enough to justify a refusal of
thousands of Democrats to support their party
in its present free trade attitude, and it will lie
understood why the Democrats have not dared
to make any open effort this year for their
own ticket. They have spent their money in
supporting third party ticket, through which
they hope that the Republican vote may I've
so weakened that the party will be discouraged
elsewhere, while one or two instruments OF free
trade may he elected to Congress in place Of
able Republican members. That is the begin
ming and end of Democratic hopes, and every
Prohibition voter, either willingly or igno-
rantly, lends himself to this frcetrade fraud.
Under such circumstances it is not strange
that the Republicans speak out the Indignation
which an honest man naturally feels when con-
fronted with dishonest knavery. For they know
that every Democratic organ, in and out of
Maine, will at once set up the claim that the
Administration has been sustained. its con-
duct about the fisheries and its shameful appoint
ments Endorsed, and its free trade policy APP
proved, if by diversion of some Republican
votes to third party ticket the plurality over
the Democrats can be reduced. II is dishonest
20 avoid the discussion of every vital question:
OH the pretcnce that the temperance issue is OF
absorbing interest, with intent to use TO the
utmost any favorable results that cln be attained
as proof that the people of Maine approve the
Administration and its tariff policy.
In this situation every person who votes for
Prohibition ticket is bonnd to know that he
votes to help the Democratic party. 1t makes
no difference what he processes or really desires i
by the necessary effects of his action he must
be judged at the bar Of conscience and of public
opinion. The inevitable effect of Prohibition
vote In Maine this year is TO help the Demo
cratic party, with all its herescs and It's crimes,
to secure fraudulent success.