Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-17
..oemec cratic Gains" In Maine.


Those papers and individuals who
have been shouting over the DIE
Democratic gains" in Maine at the.
late election, will do well to consider
the fact that there were fewer votes
cast in opposition to the Republican
candidates than have been cast at any
State election since the Republican
party was formed and elected its first
Governor in 1855. With the exception
OF 1852 when the Greenback and
Fusion movements absorbed the
straight Democratic party. that party
has not failed at State election since
1888 to cast larger vote than 1t did
this year. Thus the great Democratic
gains as announced in the headlines
and editorial columns of certain pa
pers, seem to be OF decidedly mega
tive character.
The total vote cast, this year. is the
lightest thrown in Maine for quarter
of century. Only four times in all
the half century and more that the Re-
publican party has been the dominant
factor in Maine politics has it rolled up
at a State election a plurality as large
as the $4,000 achieved, this year. The
years when a higher mark was reached
were 1861 and 1866, and the tidal wave
, nf1 |nn n a
the Democratic gains? It wasan off year
election and the Republicans waged
absolutely no campaign, while in some
sections Of the State the Democrats
were frantic in their endeavors to get
out a winning vote; yet the Democratic
vote was almost the highest on record.
and the Republican plurality and ma
jority among the largest ever achieved.
Vt was a remarkable Republican VIC
tory, and Shows in most striking
manner the loyalty and activity of the
Republicans of Maine.
The party organization, in absolute
certainty Of "a victory. made no at
tempt to arouse the interest of the
fully expected that there would be
heavy falling off from the full party
vote of two years ago. 1t was in
evitable under the circumstances, ana
has absolutely no significance that can
give comfort OF encouragement to the
Democrats Had there been any need
of it, the party could have added 10000
or even 10000 to its plurality of last
Monday. What would have been the
use? Without any argument or urg-
ing. without a single speech or the dis
tribution of single document, the in
telligent, enthusiastic rank and file Of
Maine Republicanism showed it's devo-
ton to party principles and it's COM
plete satisfaction with the presen:
State and national administrations, by
winning what may be justly called the
greatest victory in its history. The
State ticket triumphs overwhelmingly.
The four congressman are returned by
an aggregate majority even greater.
Inslo of the 12 times that m Reed has
{ N elScted 70 Congress hs$ihs had 4,
smaller majority than this Year. With
the single exception of the register of
deeds IL northern Aroostook the Re-
publicans elect every officer in all 1S
counties The Senate will be solidly
Republican. and the party will have
100 of the Isl representatives. Such is
the result of Republican strength and
harmony as manifested, last Monday
Democratic apathy and weakness re-
suited in the smallest party vote in
two generations, and Republican 10y
atty and activity. in spite of the light
ness of the general vote. won one of
the most complete victories in the
memory of man. The Democratic party
is very welcome to such f"gains" as it
is making, or is likely to make, in
Maine.