Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-07
What II Means.

The significance OF the political avaianche
tina, buried the Democratic party, apparent
| iy beyond hope of resurrection, in the
municipal elections held in this State Mon-
daS, is unm' s.akabls. 1t was something
far m ore than mere llcal Issues that caused
such Democratic strcneho 'ds Us Waterville,
Lewiston. Belgrade and Bristol to swing
soIii'y into the Republican column, and
carried Republican cites and towns
again for that party by overwhelming
m.j9ities. 1t is the protest OF
Maine people against the cou.se of the DEM
| ocraiic party 10 the affairs of this country
since the 4th of last March. One year ego
tie nation was enjoying an era of nne1sm-
pied prosperity. Industrial enterprise was
busy in all parts Of the Ind. Labor was
in demand, wages Ligher thaa they had
ever been before in the history Ct the re-
public, the magnificent resources of the
country were everywhere being developed,
and the pc ople we're busy and contented
and were enjoy ing more of the comforts and
Injuries of life than they had ever
! before enjoyed. The farmer found a good
market fer his produce, and felt the force
of the fact that all the members of COM
munity who have either their labor or COM
modi:ies to cell share directly in its pros
perity. A few short months of Democratic
rule were sufficient to change all this. To.
day idle factories dot the land, and in their
shadow soup houses have been erected to
feed the large and rapidly grow ing army OF
the uneml dyed. Depression broods over
the industrial world. Everybody is feel
ing the Iiach of Democratic hard
times; everybody is signing for return to
the happy days Of Republican prosperity.
Thousands of Democrats, disgusted with
the suicidal policy of of the Democracy are
leaving its ranks and joining the RepuoE-
can party. The people are availiDg them
selves of every possible opportunity to e1-
prl IS til mselves at the polls, and doing so
with an emphasis that is not to be misunder-
stood. To this fact have been due the
ma gnihcent Republican majori,ies achieved
since last March, the $4,000 in Mas
sachusetts, the 10000 in Iowa, the
so 900 in Ohio, and, more recently, the
$50 900 in Pennsylvania. These magnit-
cent Republican victories in the state cleo
lions have BIZ en- followed by equally signi-
ficAnt Republican victories at the municipal
els ctions all over the country.
These expressions of public opinion have
been the protest of tile people against the
destruction of our national prosperity by Il e
Wilson tariff bill. The State of Maine in
particular should be arrayed agan that
infamous measure which discriminstes
az inst ali our leading industries. 1t
does not snare single one of
the interests in which the greatest num-
Der of our citizens sccure livelihood. In
fact therc,is scarcely one that is not left in
free competition With similar interests in
Canada and European countries. In this
connection it may be interestingly consider
foc moment the prominent products of our
State v hich TIE Wilson bill either puts upon
the free list or reduces the duty to such an
extend as to leave practically no protection
against foreign competition. 1t is long
one and pothng thatc uld possibly haveie
levied upon to cripple the industries of Maine
appears to have been omitted from it. 1t
incu les lumber, granite, clapbosrls, laths,
hubs, pickets, slaves, cabbag es, eggs plants,
straw, apples, bacon, hams, beef, mutton,
pork, lard, tallow, starch, potatoes, wool,
contributes at all largely to the prosperity
of our State. In view of tits fact it is
not surprising that the municipal elections
this week went overv helmingly Republi-
can. The voters of this State felt that they
coul not afford to be put, in tie
slightest degree, in the attitude of enGors-
ing party that has labored SO assiduously
to destroy our industrial prosperity. This
is net Democratic year. The people are
best to rebuke its reckless butchery of our
national prosperity, and they are permitting
no opportunity for registering their views
at the polls to pass upimproved.
The voters of Augusta will be no excep
ton to the rule. The report will never 60
ont that the party whose effort has been to
bresk down the prosperity of Maine. re-
ceived approval aud encouragement from
our State capital. The voters are thorough
ly aroused, and when they 60 to the polls
next Monday they will not fail to roll up an
old time Republican msjority.
The New Age derives great comfort from
the fsct that the fill on the Gage street ex-
tension was done under Democratic
Al,