During the 1884 presidential election, Mainers had a particular reason to take an interest in the outcome. One of the state’s own politicians, James Blaine, was the Republican candidate.

After studying law in Pennsylvania, Blaine moved to Maine at the age of 24 to become an editor for the Portland Advertiser and Kennebec Journal. Soon thereafter, he launched his political career becoming a U.S. representative for Maine and eventually speaker of the House.

After two previously failed attempts, Blaine received the Republican nomination for president in 1884. At the national convention, Blaine’s greatest potential opposition, Civil War Gen. William Sherman, made his famous statement, “If nominated I will not accept, and if elected I will not serve.”

That paved the way for Blaine, who was not a hands-down favorite with all Republicans.

“When Mr. Blaine was nominated there was a very large number of Republicans in Massachusetts and New York who did not believe in him,” wrote the editor of Farmington’s Franklin Journal in a post-election summary.

Grover Cleveland was nominated by the Democrats, and what ensued was a nasty battle. The Franklin Journal editor called it “one of the most bitter political contests that has ever been waged in this country.” The Democrats attacked Blaine for his close ties to big business, especially the railroad companies, while the Republicans attacked Cleveland for having fathered a child prior to his marriage.

As the battle between Democrats and Republicans raged across the country, the candidates seemed to be running neck and neck.

“The best informed men say that it will be a close contest,” observed the Franklin Journal a week before voting day.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Franklin County voters went to the polls.

Although there were no national results by press time Friday afternoon, at least the local outcome was clear. Blaine had won every town in Franklin County.

The race between Blaine and Cleveland was so close that official counts were not completed for another two weeks. Finally, Grover Cleveland was declared the next president of the United States.

Although Blaine had been a clear favorite, Franklin County reaction to the outcome was positive. “Perhaps we will not have such a brilliant administration as Mr. Blaine would have given,” wrote the Franklin Journal, “but President-elect Cleveland will make a good chief executive.”

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