Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-22

fairly and Justly when they have the re-
sponsbility and the power. The tempta-
ton to gain some small and contempt IDLE
advantage by over-reaching and cheating,
they have not the strength or courage to
resist. The Democratic Congressman
from that State. who left his back pay in
the Treasury during the canvass in which
his party was making all the capital it
could by denouncing the Salary Grab as
an Administration measure, and ur2in9
the people to rebuke such dishonesty by
returning Democrats to Congress-and
vino Immediately after the votes were
counted sen, On and drew his share of the
Grab-was a fair Illustration Of the aver
age regard for honesty and d"cency OF
the leaders Of the party in the State. Once
or twice these leaders have been trusted
with power because their opponents had
blundered 20 badly, had been - reckless
and hcadslrong that the people thought it
time to make u change and remind the
party in power of the fraility OF its
tenure and the weight Of its
responsibility. Each time these Dem
ocratic leaders mistook the occasion, and
drunk with success went off in wild de-
bauch over the spoils of the camp.
Last year they carried the State and
true to their instincts sacrificed everything
in the future for the sake Of present COM
fort and advantage. They carried parti-
sanship to the extreme; they made no
pretense of anything higher or more intel
lgent than purpose to make the most OF
the present opportunity. Naturally enough
they Disguised the people who had revolt
ed from the Republican party on account
of its intolorant partisanship and its reck-
less management, and these people quiet
ly manifested their disapprobatol last
March by voting for Republicans instead
of Democrats. The result was a republl-
can triumph, that party having upon the
returns majority in both branches of the
LEGISLATURE And now comes an oppor-
tuni,y for the Democrats to indulge in
petty trickery. and to undertake by over
reaching and cheating-just the offences
which they have denounced their oppo-
nents for, and on the stump and in their
newspapers howled themselves red i'll the
face over-to defeat the plain and unmis-
taxable will of the people. The Governor
-Wcston-and the Conncil-four Demo
Gratis and one Republican-are the can
yassers of the votes for Senators. In or
der to give the Democrats majority IN
the Senate, the Governor and Council
have deliberately thrown out 800 votes
cast for Matt Head in the second Dis
trict upon the ground that the candidates
true name is Nathaniel Head-and and all
the votes cast for the prohibition candi-
date in the Fourth District, upon the
ground that he was ineligible, not having
resided in the State seven years. This
gives the Democrats ma ority OF two in
the Senate and the organization of the
body.
This is the brieiest statement otthe case.
There are charges of uniairness and doub
lie dealing against GOV. Weston, who, it
is said, agreed to have the matter referred
to the Supreme Court for decision. and
did no. fulfill his agreement. But there
is enough in this simple state
ment of the facts to show the DISPOSE
ton by which these leading and represen-
tative men of their party were animated
1t ought to be plain enough, even to q
purblind New Hampshire Democratic pol
itician, that there is no advantage to be
gained by this bit of sharp practice which
can compensate for the damage the whole
party must suffer from it. Indeed there is
no real advantage in it. The wrong will
be righted as soon as the Legislature is
organized, and all that Gov. Weston and
his council of cheap Johns will have gained
by it will be the notoriety attending very
weak and stupid attempt to do very dis
honest and dishonorable thing. The
will of the 800 voters who voted
for Matt Head cannot be defeated by
any such game, but the men upon whom
this fraud is attempted, and thousands OF
others who may have been led into voting
the Democratic ticket in order to rebuke
Republican trickery and dishonesty, viii
turn away from Democracy and all its
works with loathing and disgust. That
kind of pettltogging is bad enough when
it has some reasonable chance for success,
and is undertaken with view of procur-
ing some real advantage; but when, us in
this instance, it seems to be inspired by
nothing but intrinsic dishonesty and abso-
lutte inability TO do right when there is an
opportunity to do wrong, it rises to the
dignity-lf we may be allowed the para
dox-oi total depravity.
THE POR7L 1VD ADVERTISER El
PLAINS.
DAILY ADVERTISER OFFICE,
PORTLAND, Me-, May p, 1870.
To The Editor Of the Journdl
An ANONYMOUS CORE spoudent of the JOulua