The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-06-16

viding line between the two parties more
clearly marked. The Maine Democracy
have finally been brought up to pretty
nearly unanimous support of a tariff for
revenue only. And judging from the
unanimity with which the resubmission
plank was adopted in the recent State
convention, the great mass of the
party has been brought round to look
with favor on license policy. In years
past the Democracy has been inclined to
hedge on both these questions. Four
years ago it declared for tariff for
revenue only, but when the campaign
got hot there was a good deal of faltering
on its part and disposition to modify
the tariff declaration. Two years ago
the resubmission plank was adopted in
the State convention, but the support it
got in the campaign was lukewarm and
half-hearted This year the leaders
those people who are supposed to strike
the key notes. of campaigns for their
party : seem disposed to stand up
straight on both of these questions.
Another reason why the campaign is
likely to be a hot one is to be found
in the unusual enthusiasm which
pervades the Democratic party. Since
the Greenback party collapsed the
Democratic party in this state has
been, until this year, about as 1ifeless
body as exists outside grave yard. 1t
braced up little in the last Presidential
campaign, but for the most of the time
it has been as devoid of enthusiasm as an
inanimate machine. 1t has felt that it
had no chance of success, and therefore
it has entered upon the campaigns with
little spirit. This year there is a change
What has brought it about is not, per-
haps, of great consequence. The i'm
portant fact is that it has come and
that the party will enter upon this cam
paign with much more spirit and en-
thusiasln than it has exhibited in many
years. 1t has hope this year, not of
| course of electing Mr.. johnson but of
gaining a good many seats in the legisla-
ture and of capturing some important
county officers, and consequently it will
fight with far more than its usual de-
termination.
To be sure the Democratic campaign is
to be in many respects very ignoble one.
Its keynote has been pitched to
suit the basest elements in the party's
composition. But it must not be in
ferred that this will have the effect
of driving off any considerable part
of the better element. National con-
siderations will hold most of them in
line, disguised though they be with the
action of the party on local questions.
For this reason we look for less 'skicking''
over the re-submission plank than was
witnessed two years ago. Maine is tie
first state to hold an election, and great
many of the better element will swallow
their disgust, lest poor showing in
Maine should have an unfavorable effect
on the Democratic national campaign.
Republicans must look the situation
in the face and prepare to meet it.
Increased activity and zeal on the
part of the Democrats must be met
by increased activity and zeal on
the part of the Republicans. 1t will not
be safe to assume that the resubmission
plank will keep many Democrats at home
as it did two years ago, for there are
other considerations which may neutral
ize the repellant force of this plank in
the coming campaign. The results of
several municipal campaigns in the
spring should be sufficient to convince
the Republicans that this IS not year
when it will be safe to count on Demo-
cratic apathy to help them win their
victory.