Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-09-18
Echoes of the Maine Election.

Rarely ever has the result OF an election
In one state, especially in an OF year, at
tracted SO much attention and eNerted so
much influence as that in Maine this year.
IL is not too much TO say that II has put
new energy and confidence into r,publi-
cans in all parts of the Union. and caused
corresponding depression in the democrat
ic ranks In Washington ii Is the one
topic discussed in political circles, and
everybody is talking about Its wonderful
influence in sruusing the republicans from
the Atlantic Ia the Pacific
The Importance attached to the great
republican victory In Maine does not arise
wholly from the fact that the majority is
unexpect teddy large This 1t Is true, is in
itself very significant The fact that a
republican plurality of - 6+i on governor
in the last non presidential year has been
now increased to Is. 72l- even larger than
in the presidential contest two years ago !;
and tina, this plurality has been obtained
on an aggregate vote thirteen thousand
less than In 1856 and over thirty thousand
less than in 1855 is indeed Indicative of q
most powerful trend OF public sentiment
towards the republican party.
But the significance OF the result is
greatly increased by the fact that the dem
ocrscy of the country have seen nj TO
make a special snu bitter Issue against the
cause Of Speaker Reed and the Republican
Congressman in amending the rules and
modifying the practice of the House SO As
TO enable majority to legi>late; and have
made the contest in Speaker Reeds dis
trict, especially. national issue. Up to
the day OF election leading democrats In
the country expressed confidence that the
result OF the vote in Maine, and especially
in Speaker Reeds district, would show
such falling on In she republican ms ori-
~ a. To give them an opportunity 10 claim
that the people sustained tie democratic
opposition to the doings of the present
republican Congress.
The increase OF the majority Of every
republican candidate for Congress In
Maine, and especially the Increase OF
Reed. plurality from ISIS In lss6 and
2i29 in ls>s 10 4sS? in $3.50, has fallen on
the democratic managers with such crush
Ing weight that they do not know what TO
say. Already many democratic leaders are
confessiug that they have made serious
mistake In raising an issue against the
work OF the republican majority in the
present Congress. Already they are dis
covering that the people approve party
which simply obstructs. Already they are
learning that the people are in full sympa-
thy with the course OF the republicans in
amending the rules OF the House 80 that &
majority can legislate.
II is the rule in an ofyear for the Re
publicsns IA make less favorable show
Ing than In presidential year when the
white heat OF national campaign brings
out the full Republican vote This arises
from the fsc5 that so large proportion Of
sCtlve business men and farmers
who think they cannot spare the time TO
go - the polls-sre Republicans. But in
Maine this wear these busy Republicans
have come out in larger proportion thsn
usual snd the Democratic voters have
come out in smaller proportion than usual
the latter evidently because they do not
take kindly TO the issues raised by their
lea ier>
While the license issue raised AS the
Democratic managers in Maine, coutribut-
ed materially 10 strcng ihcning the stay al
home feelings among the Democratic vot-
crs. vet the indications are unmistakablc
that these voters did not take kindly 10 the
issue raised by The Democrats against the
Republican majority OF Congress. There
i no reason to suppose that this feeling
does not extend throughout the country.
and will manifest itself in the November
elections. Maine has once again showed
herself IN s double sense the Dirigo State
Trt-tStau Journal