The Portland daily press., 1896-09-16
POLITICAL NoR'EAsTER.
(Boston Journal.)

Maine has paid her respects to the the
cries of the Popocrats. She has rolled
up plurality for sound money and pro-
teotion double anything ever recorded in
the September election of any Presiden-
tial year.
n Tho triumph lie moro than straw
which shows how the wind blows. 1t is
the wind itself. 1t cannot be accepted
even by free silver advocates as aught'
but an overwhelming rejection OF their
vaparies, The State of Maine wishes to
our revenues adjusted to pay our bills;
1t has no sympathy with the 16 to idea,
with the abuse of the Supreme Court
with the spoils system, with the mob
rule and the other evils for which Mr..
Bryan stands.
We have no occasion for attempting to
magnify the moral effect Of yesterdays
magnificent vote in the Pine Tree State.
It carries its own conclusion to every
thinking citizen in the land. But just
Is certainly is it impossible for the
friends of the Bryan doctrines to mini
mize the lesson of the day. The large
Republican vote and the small Democrat
vote admit of no ambiguous inuarprata-
ton. Nor heve we the slightest desire
TO claim all the credit for the Republi-
can Party. The undeniable fact that
the Republican Party has been on the
right side at every political crisis in our
history does not blind us to the COM
mendable independence shown by Dem
ocrats who come over to its standards
at such time. The Democrats who
stayed away from the polls are to a
lesser extent entitled to credit. They at
least appreciated that the free silver
mania ia danger.
The Republican campaign was vigor-
Gus, oostant and without flaw. 1t
aimed at the instructloneof the people
and counted upon their intelligence.
The Democrats are not truthful II they
gay they made no fight. They were we'll
organized, and their weakness was the
weakness of their cause. 1t is not easy
to find men who believe In ghosts. 9
There is one less State for the Popo-
Gratis to weave into their crazy-quilt ia b.
ulations, upon which they have based
their hopes of victory. They did not
count upon carrying Maine, but they did
expeo: few more votes.
TIE VERDICT OF THE EAST.
Boston Globe.)
Maine reiterates with unexpected EN-.
phasis the verdict of Vermont against
the free coinage of silversand the Chicago
platform. There is 10 room for doubt
that all the remaining states Of the east
will in November concur in the jude
ment of these two typical eastern states.
The battle ground lies wholly in the
middle West and the border states Of the
South. Naturally all opponents of silvel
everywhere will share In the inspiration
that these September vict cries lend tc
hofr Oo1 hnf the ORnoralG In the HaId
and their lieutenants will not make the
mistake of overlooking the difference be-
tween a contest with silver in states
where the issue is new and the forces be-
hind it have not the advantage of seas
oued organization.
The Republican victory in Maine II
more notable than that in Vermont fol
evereI reasons. In the first place Maine
had been twice carried against the Re
publicans in the greenback days. In thu
next place it is the home of the Demo
cratic candidate for Vice President
Finally the silver men really made {
spirited fight, although necessarily very
tardy one, since they did not withdraw
their first nominee for governor and
stood until little more than month
ago. The result is that while they hav,
polled n far smaller vote than in any pre-
vious presidential year since and ever
including 1861, they have increased by
5000 CT so their vote in 1894.
The only remaining states to speak be
fore the general election are Georgia ant
Florida, which will vote in the second
week in October, and which may be ex
pected to voice the known silver senti
menE of their section as Maine and Yer
mont haveexpressed the contrary opinion
of this section.
The Georsia election will present Al
interesting coincidence. MI. Sowall,
She Chicago nominee for Vice President
has met with a reverse in the Maine cleo
ton, and in Georgia Mr.. Watson, thu
Popnlist nominee, will be put to test
If Mr.. Watsoa's Populist ticket should
fare no better than Mr.. Sewalp
ticket Jared Monday, honors will be ever
between Mr. Bryan's two running
mates.
A SILVER OPINION.