Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-09-15
The Election.

plurality. 1t far surpassed the eA-
pectations of the most sanguine party
workers.
1t had long been evident that many
of the leading Democrats in the State
men who have heretofore been fore
most in its councils, would not endorse
the revolutionary platform adopted by
the Chicago convention. 1t was known
that many of them would register
rebuke to its heresies by voting the
straight Republican ticket; but no one
Anticipated that so many of them
would pursue this course. Thousands
of old line Democrats, the best and
strongest men in the party, placed the
welfare of their country above politi-
calpreludice, Monday, and, for the first
time in their lives, voted the straight
Republican ticket. They preferred ma
tional honor and the supremacy of
law. to national dshonor and mob
rule, and cordially assisted the Repub
licans of their State in burying Bryan
ism, and all it stands for, beyond all
hope of resurrection. There is not
enough of the Popocratic party left in
Maine to form the basis for coroner's
inquest.
Returns received from a large ma
iority of the cities and towns in the
state show that if the same ratio of
Republican gain holds in the towns to
be heard from the Republican plural
ty will exceed 50,000 The Republi-
cans have not only carried every coun-
ty in the State: but almost every town.
The State Senate will be solidly Re
publican, and the returns indicate that
not more than three or four Democrats
have been elected to the House of
Representatives.
A significant feature of the
election was the sweeping Republican
gains made in the distinctly Agricul-
tural districts of the State. 1t was to
The farmers that the followers of Mr..
Bryan most largely directed their ap-
peals. Their answer has been en-
phatic, and shows conclusively that
the intelligent yeomanry of our State,
are not to be beguiled. by specious
reasoning, and appeals to class preju-
dice and passion, into the advocacy of
any proposition involving national
dishonor. The campaign has been,
from start to finish, an educational
one. The people of Maine have clear
understood the issues involved in the
election, and their answer is as intel
ligent as it is emphatic.
can State committee, is due a generous
share of the credit for this magnif-
cent victory. He has conducted a
mastery campaign, Indefitigable in
his labors, no detail has been too small
to escape his attention. The work
from the start has been thoroughly or
ganized, and methodically pursued.
No mistakes have been made. and no
opportunities wasted. Few people real
iZe the immense amount of work in
Volved in such campaign. Mr.. Man
ley has labored early and late, and the
returns show how effectively.
Mr.. Byron Boyd was selected in Feb
ruary last as the secretary of the Re
publican State committee. The action
of the committee proved most fortu-
nate. Mr.. Boyd has discharged the
duties of his office in a manner tc
elicit the warmest praise and the high
est commepdation. He has devoted his
entire time during the campaign to
the work at headquarters. and has
been Mr.. Manley's tried and trusted
colleague He has rendered yaluabl,
service to the Republican party.
Upon the stump large and abb,
corps OF speakers have done earnes
and effective work, and the Republica,
press OF the State has strongly supple
Siented their efforts. 1t was a lon.