New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-15
NAMES VERDICT FOR HONESTY.

NAMES VERDICT FOR HONESI1.
If a September election ever meant anything /
the vote in Maine yesterday signifies that the /
tide of American sentiment is setting steadily |
and irrcsstibly in the direction of sound money |
and National honor. Vermont gave the first in ,
dcation of the popular rejection of Reputation
and anarchy. But the verdict Of a State more
subject 10 the currents Of changing opinion, of
more diversified interests and less extreme par
tlsan tendencies was needed to make the an
swer to dishonest appeals so emphatic as TO dis
may those who make them. and encourage patrl- !
otto citizens TO the hard work which the prospect
of great victory stimulates. Vermont gave the
lie to the story that the Eastern farmer had sue
cumbed to the cheap-money temptation. with |
which Mr.. Bryan's followers have sought to
create panic. Maine says that no trade. no in
terest. no tie of party no influence of local pride
no seed of greenback heresy even, can induce the
voters of the United States to dishonor their
country or cheat their fellOwmen.
II is impossible as yet 10 state accurately the
size of the Republican plurality. AT the hour of
if not quite 10000 The plurality might fall
several thousand below that and still leave yes
terdays achievement the greatest victory ever
won by the Republicans in Maine Neither Ere
mont nor Lincoln. nor Grant, nor Blaine. nor
Harrison, ever carried the State by any such
vote In 1876 Hayes carried It by 1G,3S} In
$780, after the State election had gone Demo
cratic by a narrow plurality, Garfield managed
to win by SSGS The Republicans carried it by
10 100 in September. 1884, and by 2O,O69 in No
vember In September, 1855 the plurality was
1906, and in November 1928. That Septem-
Der election foretold Harrisons election AMI four
years later a plurality of $500 foretold his de-
feat in the country. The election Of 1894, with
its phenomenal plurality of 3S,97s, was the in
dex of the dissatisfaction with hard times then
felt so acutely and manifested so strongly at
large the next November. That great majority
has been outdonc, and the meaning is unmis-
taxable
The returns show that the great majority for
Powers Is not due to Democratic neglect.
Franks vote is reported larger than that given
for the Democratic candidate in 1894. The free
silver people evidently worked hard, and brought
out every adherent of their cause. But in spite
of this increased Democratic vote, and the fact
that many honest-money Democrats doubtless
stayed at home unwilling to support frec-sllver
candidate, but less ready to help elect a Repub-
lcan Governor than they might he to vote for
! Sound Money President, phenomenal plural
ity is given to Powers. and Speaker Reed and
the other Republican candidates for Congress
are returned by handsome majorities.
As Maine is az Eastern state, the significance
of the election will be questioned by the
Bryan managers now that their campaign there
has resulted so disastrously. But II is TO be re-
membered that of all Eastern States Maine was
the most favorable ground for free silver
propaganda. 1t was deeply infected with the
greenback idea, and was once carried by
Fusion ticket on greenback issue The Demo
cratic candidate for Vice President lives there.
The free silver campaign was prosecuted with
great vigor in every corner of the State, and
high hopes were entertained of holding down
the Sound Money plurality. These hopes were
sgnally disappointed. Honest men of both par
ties united to make the voice of Maine go echo
ing into every State of the Union with the news
that the programme of scaling down debts and
giving license TO riot is doomed. Farmers or
wage-earners, Democrats or Republicans. it is
all one, the people are for honesty and order.
Maine IS far East. it is true, and they say that as
YOU 90 West the people who want to cheat grow
thicker. but this is libel which nobody will
believe without proof, and the proof is not
forthcoming They said the craze was in Yer
mont and Maine but il was not The answer
from other States may be awaited then with
confidence. Work must not cease. but the work
may be done in good spirits with full expecta-
ton that il will not fail Maine calls on the
whole country TO strive for place Of honor
among the States which stand for the Nations
good name She has SET the pace They must
be active to rival her.
REACTION ~ JAPAN