St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-09-23
MAINE.
Geo. W. Curtis IN Harper's Weekly.


In the Maine campaign the chief
figure has been Mr.. Blaine. The gen.
eral political situation is one of pro-
found calm. There is no great ques-
ton imminent. The state of Maine is
generally republican. There was, in
fact, no apparent reason for rOuslng
campaign. But it was early annOunc-
ed that Mr.. Blaine would take the lead
and that eminent orators from other
states would appeal to the people. All
this meant but one thing. Maine, as
the state of Mr.. Blaine, a candidate for
the republican nomination in 'S8, must
be made to appear more strongly re-
publican than ever, to give him ga
good send-Off." This is transparent,
but it is fair politics, and although the
whole enterprise was endangered by
Senator Frye's remarkable allusiOn to
"the little bit of smirch on the skirt
of Mr.. Blaine," yet the plan was car
ried out. Mr.. Blaine led the host of
speakers, and gave what he thought
was the best one for the party. He
took the most conspicuous and vigOr-
Gus part and yet we are inclined to
think, that he has not strengthened
himself as presidential candidate.
His chief object evidently has been
to force protection forward as the
great issue of..'88. His remarks direct
ly upon the question, and the use he
made of the labor question, with the
subordinatiOn at the outset of all other
questions, plainly revealed this pur-
pose. But this plan, if not mistake,
was confession. 1t was the declara-
ton that this was, upon the whole,
the best republican "hOld." Now, in
point of fact, protection, however i'm
portant an issue in itself, is not felt to
be burning question, and the parties
do not really divide upon it. presi-
Dental campaign is always fought up
on actual and not upon remote or pos
sible issues. Despite Mr.. Blaine's as
sertiOns that democratic success means
free trade and pauper wages, the cOun-
try has seen democratic success, and
has seen also that it was not followed
by radical changes in the tariff or by
lower wages than under republican
administration. AS Mr.. Gladstone
says of the Irish question as it was
not yet a ripe issue, and Mr.. Blaine's
insistence upon it was confession
that the republican position upon 9th
harmonious or satisfactory.
This was demonstrated by the course
of the brief campaign. While Senator
upon Mr.. Blaine, and then explaining
that he did not mean little smlrch,
and while Mr.. Blaine himself was in
sisting upon protection, the prohibit
tiOnists burst upon the field, and fore
ed the fighting upon temperance. They
left Mr.. Blaine no alternative. He
was obliged to repeat and defend his
amazing proposition that taxes ought
to be raised upon liquor, not for the
support of the government but to be
distributed among the states; and also
to confess that he held as in 1884, that
prohibition is local and not a nation
al ISSUE But this, even if true, is OBJ
viouSly no answer or argument for
those who believe that prohibition is
the paramount question before the
country, and who therefore cannot
support a party which denies that 1T is
a national issue. Mr.. Blaine reprOach
ed Neal Dow for not supporting the
republican party, which, by his own
least in Maine. But Neal Dow could
justly answer UlldG ny MI. OIdllO . OWh
argument it might be a liquor party in
New York, and this is a situation in
tolerable to any prohibitionist. Mr..
Blaine's campaign was based upon an
error, and for his own fortunes it has
miscarried. He does not emerge a
stronger candidate for 'SS. He has
not gained either mugwumps or prOhi-
bitionists, who embrace the great body
of republicans who opposed him, and
he has certainly not satisfied "labor"
that the depression of industries, and
consequent loss of employment, with
the low wages which occurred under
republican administration, will be nee
essarily remedied by republican sue
cess. No other republican candidate
has so numerousa following as Mr..
Blaine, but it is plain that doubt of his
availability in 1888 is rapidly spread
ing among republicans.