Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-13
After the Battle.

The most melancholy crowd of men il
the good old state of Maine about this time
are the Democratic politicians. who prom
| ised the National committee that If they
would furnish them plenty of Doodle, the
state of Maine should either be carried fol
| Putnam or the Republican majority reduced
TO a minimum. The members of the Ma
tionsl committee were beguiled by the
smooth promises of these Maine Bourboni
into larger expenditure of money in Maine
| than was ever placed there in any previous
election. It was a large pot, but still the
| ambition Of the Democratic organizers
was not satisfied. They had started out to
soap the state and were determined to plas-
ter it on thick. The Federal ofice-holderi
were invited 10 follow the shining example
of President Cleveland and drop their mite
into the party hat. Twenty per cent is said
to have been the modest basis upon which
the Democratic leaders rallied the servants OF
the Government Ofcourse these contributions
amounted to an enormous sum and when added
to the amount which the National committee
had contributed made pile that staggered
even the Democratic managers themselves.
were beseiged for contributions. When
finally the financial work of the campaign
was completed, the Democratic moguls were
highly elated. The genuine Bourbon states
man has always had unlimited faith in the
power of Doodle at the polls. When, there
fore, they found themselves well equipped
in this direction their confidence was plainly
apparent. Democrats from outside of the
State caught the infection and talked conf
IDENTIFY of large Democratic gains in Maine.
Some even went so far as to predict the cleo
ton Of Mr.. Putnam. Hon. Arthur Sewall
the Maine member of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee-a gentleman who was GER
ainly In position to know the large dimen
sions of the Democratic purse-was reported
to have predicted with much confidence
that if Putnam wasn't elected he would come
exceedingly close to it. Everywhere the
Democrats were aware that their party were
finely equipped with the "snews of war"
and talked and acted with great assurance.
Many pot they wagered that the Republi-
can candidate wouldn't get more than 5000
plurality.
The younger element of the Democratic
party shared the confidence of the old war
horses with earnest enthusiasm. A number
of them got chance to pose on the stump in
defense Of the Free Trade party. Such,
naturally, were led astray somewhat in their
reckonings by an over-estimation of the
effect whch their burning words" and fer
vid assertions-and right here we would re-
mark that with the average Free Trade ora
ors assertion loudly made and tenacOusly
adhered to has always taken the place of
trgument-produced upon the intelligent
otcrs of Maine. Such young enthusiasts
re loud IN their predictions, and great is
mighty tumble which They took Monday
night after stern facts and large Republi-
can majOrities had wdened the scope of
their political understanding The Demo-
Gratis in this campaign had, as usual, blum
Tered. They had decidedly underestimated
both the intelligence and the character of
the people of Maine. They had thought to
reduce the Republican majority by an ex-
travagant expenditure of money at the polls
rhe result showed that the voters of Maine
cannot be bought They had tried TO obscure
he broad, plain issue of Protection vs.. Frt e
Trade by wholesale misrepresentation and
fallacious deductions, but the magnificent
Republican majority which was rolled up
Monday showed that the voters of Maine are
accustomed to think for themselves-and
,hink intelligently on all questions pertaining
to their own welfare and prosperity.
Monday night was indeed gloomy time
for the Bourbon shouters. The voice of
Maine had gone forth to the nation, proclaim
ing in thunderous tones its reputation of
Free Trade
The Republican party fought a great fight
and won great victory. Their campaign
vas conducted on principles and never des-
rended low enough to indulge in mud sling
ng. This course was also adhered to by the
,bler Democratic papers. On the whole the
campaign, as regards personalities, was one
of the cleanest ever fought in this State.