Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-12-24
Daily Asnnrbet Aournal
Az u g ia.
yUEsDAY MORNING, Dec. "a, 1879.
A CONTRAST.

After the late election in Louisiana, the
proceedings oil Governor Warmoth in re-
constructing the Board OF Canvassers to
count and declare the vote of the State
were called in question, also the doings
of the Board were challenged, there being
good reason to believe that fraudulent re-
turns were made in order to keep the State
government in the hands thus controlling
it and secure Warmoth's election to the
United States Senate. From the dispute
thus originated there sprang two bodies
each claiming to be the legislature of
Louisiana, the State and the United States
Courts have been employed over many
knotty questions which have arisen in the
controversy, and the authority of the gen.
eral government has been invoked and
has interfered to keep the peace. Had it
not been for federal bayonets there would
undoubtedly have been blood she'd And
now the Warmothites after beseiging
Washington Intellectually in order to the
restoration of their bogus legislature to
power, are going to memorable the coun-
try concerning their hard fate, hoping that
they can stir up fever of public sympa-
thy in their behalf. Unable to settle To-
cal dispute among themselves, they pro-
pose to carry it into ether States and COM
munities, to see if the latter will not be-
smirch themselves in the corrupt pool Of
Louisiana politics. There are some phys
ical diseases SO fonl and dangerous that
those afflicted with them are isolated for
the public safety; we Judge the general
opinion will be that the more closely such
cases in politics as that in Louisiana are
isolated, the better for the public health
morally and politically. The wonder is
that such creatures as Warmoth should be
brazen enough to 60 abroad on such an
GRAND as he appears TO be upon.
So much for Louisiana. In contrast with
this let US place the recent proceedings in
relation to the election of municipal off,
GERS in Boston. The official count and
declaration of the vote Immediately after
the election was to the effect that Mr.. Gas
ton was elected Mayor Of the city by a
small majority. But the friends of Mr..
Pierce, the opposition candidate, declared
that fraud had been perpetrated in one of
the wards, and demanded au investigation.
Accordingly a committee was appointed
by the city government and authorized to
investigate the case, ascertain the facts
and make them known. The committee
concluded their labor last week, and the
result is that they find a mistake of about
five hundred votes in the ward where
fraud was alleged to have been practiscd,
so that instead of Mr.. CASTOR being elect
ed his competitor, Mr.. Pierce, is elected
by plurality Of more than seventy votes
Now here is a complete reversal of the
result Of the election as first announced.
But there has been no disturbance about
the investigation, and there will be none
at the change in city officers which it has
produced. The courts were not called in
W 5CttiC hCithNi WNiC 1bitta CitttS
troops demanded to keep the peace, nor
will there be any committees 60 wailing
through the country about oppression and
the crushing out of State rights. The
friends Of Mr.. CASTOR made no objection
to investigation. 1t was understood that
he would not accept the office while there
o,cnnic,x tbaf Lilo oil
honest. And all good people of all class
es in Boston, whether they voted for Mr..
CASTOR or not, are glad that the wrong
has been ferreted ont and that the right
has triumphed.
In these two cases are manifested
striking difference between Louisiana and
Massachusetts. If the public sentiment
Of Louisiana were up to the standard ex-
hibited in this Boston affair, such men as
Warmoth would be driven from public
life and the President and Congress wonld
not be disturbed by their disgracefu
brawls about State affairs. We admire
the steadiness and manliness of Boston in
submitting to this overturn in relation to
the Mayoralty, and we hold it up as an
example to be commended and initiated
all over the land. 1t is true that it is on
ly right to submit when In the wrong, but
that is not the way the Warmothites in
Louisiana do, nor are they all confined to
that State. 1t would be much better for
Louisiana to keep her committees at home,
turn out her Warmoths from Office, and
20 into process of selftraining that will