New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-12
THE gTT0JTTJOy IN MAINE.

The magnificent victory in Maine is really
a surprise to all parties. The Republicans
! hoped for large plurality, but had not vent
ured to claim more than 1900 or $4,000.
| The Democrats confidently expected to cut
down the Republican plurality to about 5000
A result differing so widely from the eXpecta-
| tons of both parties, in State which is al
ways thoroughly canvassed has significance
that should be attentively considered.
II was to be expected that the vote would be
large, and it appears to have been the largest
ever cast. Maine. like Vermont, never casts
a full vote in Presidential elections when the
result in the State is certain; the full vote
comes out only in the State and Congressional
elections preceding Presidential votes. In 1884
the total vote in September was ll2 ), and
in November only 13O,462. At the State
election in 1886 the total vote was only
1908, and the Republican strength was
diminished not only by $500 stay-at-homcs,
but by an increase Of $50 in the Prohibition
vote over 1884. This year the Prohibition
vote in the towns heard from has fallen off
about 80 per cent compared with 1886; the
Democratic vote has gained about per cent.
and the Republican vote has gained nearly 8
per cent. These changes indicate plurality
of about 10000, and as Mr.. Blaine tele
graphs, the largest plurality since 1866, and
political revolution
The figures in this case do not tell the whole
story. In 1884, with MIR. Blaine himself
candidate for the Presidency it was natural
that the Republican vote should be swelled
and the Democratic vote diminished by State
j, al fcr bn NJ
No one can estimate the force Of such i'm
pulses, but it would be simply mendacity to
deny that they had great force in the Maine
elections of 1884. A Republican vote greater
than was then cast to aid the election Of
Names favortc to the Presidency Repub
lican plurality greater than Mr.. Blaine himself
could then obtain, is indeed "a political revO-
lutiOnD
Nor is this ALL The influence Of Federal
patronage in such State as Maine is large,
and the entire influence of public patronage
and office has been employed with the most
INSCRIPTIONS zeal to break down the Repub-
lican party in Maine ever since the two most
msavOry Democratic leaders, Pillsbury apd
Chase, were selected for influential offices,
while the chairman of the Democratic State
Committee, Brown, was permitted to make such
appointments as he pleased, even though he
sold some for money. The business has been
overdone, no doubt, and the use Of patronage
for partisan ends has Disguised some indie
pendents. Nevertheless. the direct influence
Of Federal officers in every city, town and little
hamlet has been considerable, and has been
exerted without reserve. II the control Of all
the Offices in Maine was worth thousands of
votes to the Republicans four years ago, as
Democrats then affirmed, and that force has
been taken from one side and added to the
other, the fact that the Republicans have
nevertheless a larger plurality than in 1884
means, indeed, "a political revolution"
The causes everybody knows British free
trade and British disregard Of American in
terests. Maine has manufactures and fisher
men. Par Of the voters who are personally
Interested have been Democrats, and have OBJ
stinatey believed that Democratic Admins
tration would not fail either to protect them
against the aggression of Canadians, or to pro-
tcct their industries against foreign COMPETE
ton. Mr.. Cleveland's Administration has
failed in both respects, and has proved that its
failure meant deliberate refusal. 1t has re-
fused to employ the power conferred by acts
Of Congress to secure justice from Canada Ii
has refused to enforce with fidelity the tariff
laws now existing. 1t has urged with fanatcal
zeal a removal of more than third Of the ex-
listing duties in the interest Of free trade. The
answer of Maine is something more than IN