The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-09-20
NOW, UP AND AT THEM.

This is not promising or wise time
for Democrats to go about whistliUg
with their hands in their pockets and
their eyes on the skies, while they COM
placently WHISPER to themselves:-"This
isn't going to be very much of a show
err"
Don't make any mistakes. Everything
up to date indicates that it isn't only a
shower, but regular full grown storm,
and it will take Democratic cyclone to
Democratic friends arrange the political
conditions for the proper sort OF an at
mospheric disturbance the better.
We have heard from Oregon, Yer
mont and Maine. Not one OF these
states has ever gone Democratic in a
Presidential year and no one expected
they would break the record in 1888.
But it was shown that in Oregon the
drift was Republican,; that in Vermont
the majority rolled up was quite abreast
Of the old time figures; and now Maine
declares that her brigades are solid and
that frantic efforts to break her lines
have proved dismal failure.
No, these are not pivotal States.
Their places in the Electoral College
were discounted long ago, and are no
more fixed this moment than they were
before the conventions were held. But
all this indicates a degree Of fixedness,
which serves notice on the attacking
columns that the Republican lines are
solidly formed all along the great front
Of battle, extending from Oregon to
Maine. The defections and changes
hoped for have not materializcd; the
dicipline Of the great army remains full
y up to the regulations Of political war
fare.
The battle. IL won, is to be against
forces welded together by excellent tao
tics, we'll generated and strong in num-
bers-not mutinous, apathethic and I'M
disciplined. There probably will be less
solidity in the States now classed as
doubtful, where the floating vote is less
hide-bound than in the States already
heard from, but it won't do to bank on
these hopes. The enemy must be taken
at the strength already ahown, and met
with the most aggressive and relentless
warfare. Anything else would be alb
surd, and might cost victory in Nov
ember.
In order to let the people understand
the mathematics OF the situation. we
give the electoral figures. The ElPc-
toral College has 40l votes, making 20l
necessary to choice. OF this number
the Republicans may reasonably be al.
lowed 1872, which includes California
and several close northwestern states
The cold Democratic column, over
which no one will dispute, foOts up 1853.
The doubtful states, so-called, represent
SO voter, viz: New York, SO; New Jer
sey, o; Indiana, Is, and Connecticut, 6.
Nineteen votes added TO the Republi.
can column OF 1872 will elect, but Il
takes forty eight additional votes for q
Democratic victory. New York anC
New Jersey combined. which may safe
ly be classed as Democratic, yield forty
five Of this number, three short Of vic
tory. The balance must come from
either Connecticut or Indiana. One O.
those states would he enough.
Should Harrison carry his own STATE
(15) his party would be within foul
votes Of the promised land, aud Connec
ticut could more than fupply them.
The race is neck and neck, but il vii
be just as well for certain sanguine cit
liens to have proper generation for tn
size of the Nutmeg State. The motto
must be: mo sleep till the morn ate
election"