The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-12-29
M AINE
Gov. Garcelon Sustained---An In
mense Democratic Meeting at
Lewiston.
What the Republican Revolut1onists
are Doing.

Some fifteen brief questions, it is said
have been agreed upon. Morrill, expresses
great confidence that Gov. Garcelon will
agree to submit the question. Petitions
are coming in rapidly from all parts of the
state. urging the Governor to submit the
questions to the Supreme Court.
BELFAST, Dec PA call headed
Law and Order" invites tho citizens OF
Belfast and vicinity 10 favor of sustaining
the state authority in the faithful discharge
OF their constitutional duty, and feeling
that the reasonable utterances of Repub-
lican meetings should not be permitted TO
go forth as the sentiments of the people of
Maine. TO meet on Monday evening to give
an expression ot their views in regard to
the threatening aspect of affairs. Gov.
farcelou IS invited to attend,
GARDNER, Me, Dec. 27,-Considerable
dissatisfaction is reported among several
prominent Democrats and Greenbackers
on account OF ciergymen addressing the
Indignation meeting on Monday night.
There is much excitement here over the
Bangor affairs. Petitions have been sent
the Governor and Council signed by eiti-
zeDs OF both parties, urging the propriety,
expedlency and justice of asking the opin-
ion OF the Supreme Court in accordance
with MorrilPs request.
LEWISTON. Dec, 27. The fusionists had
large meeting in the city hall to night,
to ratify the action OF the Governor and
Council. at which 5000 people were pres
ent. Ii was very enthusiastic meeting
and was called to order by d. T Noyes,
and Nathan Morrill, was made chairman.
A committee with Calvin Record as chair
q an. was appointed to wait on the Cover
Gor at his residence and request him to
address the meeting. While L. b. TORY
was speaking Gov. Garcelon came into
the ball a1d was received with cheers.
the audience rising. Gov. GarceIon said:
| most heartily thank you for this ex-
preston OF your confidence. A long life
OF seventy years has been spent in this
community If there has been any act
OF mine 10 any way reasonable or in
violation of law or order, | am uncon-
scious of it. l do not come TO apologize
for what has been done in the way Of
counting the returns made by municipal
officers. The records speak for them
selves. Almost imme ediately after the
election it was limited there would be
Unfair means used in counting the votes
and that an attempt would be made to
steal the state. The election returns
were placed IN the hands of the committee
on elections in October last, and until
Nov. II no person save the committee had
access to them. Prior to Nov II | had
hardly seen a newspaper for fortnight,
as L was busy removing my residence ard
Office That day | went to Augusta and
went directly to my chamber in the ca pitol
aud in five minutes | was called upon By
CON mittee of Republicans who demand
TO see the election returns. The confer
eOce that followed has been reported cor
rectly The very fact of these Republi-
cans presenting themselves served TO
make me more cautious in counting the
returns ia a lawful and constitutional man
ner. 1t there has been any act of my life
which | am proud of it is of the perform
ance of my duty iu tabulating and counting
those returns. We have simply followed
the constitution and laws as interpreted by
the Supreme Court time and time again
The constitution prescribes certain things
for cities aud towns to do at elections. LII
the requirements of the constitution are
not complied with theresis no legal cleo
ton. The provisions were made for the
purpose OF securing an honest election. 1t
turns out sometimes that there are informs
alitles IN the returns. The legislature
undertook to provide by law for correcting
this. That correction must be made by
record Ii there is no record what can
the returns be corrected by? If the record
is like the returns where can the correction
come in? Now. when this avalanche of
statesmen came in on me at
Augusta, it popped into my head that
their very object was to see the returns
and then go home and see that their
records were made all right. In the case
of the Portland returns, which were illegal
and the record sent for, lol the records
ka f,.cf EEo
The Republicans say the intention of
the voters must be regarded and not the
constitution and law. The selectmen
of the town of Danforth had the pre-
sumption to go to the clerk and demand |
that he change and correct the record
[ have letter from Mr.. Berry, the Town
Clerk, saying be was threatened with fine
and imprisonment unless he complied. |
That is what comes of this amending the
record Amend your record three months
after election and where is the result of
any electiou2 Tabulations were made up
on the basis of the constitution as explain
ed by the court as far as possible and if
there is any one act of my life in which l
am conscious of performing my duty with
out fear or favor, it is in the performance
of this duty, imposed upon me. The cir
cumstances that have surrounded me
have been untavorable- | haye in reality
had to face trowniDg world on account of
the foul lies of the Associated Press and
had vituperation and sIander heaped upon
me for over quarter of a century. (Gov.
Garceion alluded to the unfavorable COM
ments upon the action of VIM. Pitt Fessen-
den from Lewiston pulpit, at the time OF
the impeachment trial of President John
son. and said the very clergyman who
hurled anathemas at him was obliged to
publicly confess three years after that F'es-
sender was one of the most honest men
ever known.) Every method that could be
devised has been brought to bear on me to
induce me to change my line of conduct,
not only by the usual forms of sour faces
and villiication, but also by threats OF as
sassination. received letter last night
warning me to be careful on my trip to
Augusta, to watch the very food that
put into my mouth. This is only one OF
many similar letters from various parts OF
the state. i have faced more terrible
guns than these paper bullets. nave
slept where bullets whistled through the
trees and I am not frightened by these
despicable threats. If am to be assaso
sinated for obeying the laws OF the state
my life could be offered on no better altar.
It would cause more respect for the con-
stituIion than ever before. -
The Governors s remarks were louoiy
cheered. Mr.. Neal, OF Portland, made