Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-12-26
SEW ENGLAND SEys =.
THE MAINE ISFANY SENATOR BLAINE REVIEWS
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
AUGUsrA, Dec. 22.-Senator Blaine wrote
tue following IN reply 10 invitation TO attend an
Indignation meeting al Gardiner tonight: 1 would
he glad to attend the Gardiner meetn, were n moi
thai think the chief value in all such demonstra-
tons lies IN the fact OF there being voluntary un1
lrrepressible expression of the community that
speaks. have given my views in a meeting uf nv
fellow iOwnsnen and shall say nothing elsewhere.
II the people IN every town do not feel that their
duty calls them 10 protest against the great outrage
committed by Governor GIrcelOn and his COUNCIL
then Is lde TO urge them by invl-
tation or t. stimulate them 10y appeal
Town government Is the buwark of New England's
strength, and II Is the sancity of the town govern
ment thai mas been outraged. AMI the rights of town
government that have been DESTROYED. Thirrv-seyen
members Of the legislature. fairly and indisputaby
elected. have been counted out ana in not a single
instance did the Governor AMI council Onerh hearing
to he peoples elect. whom they had determined 10
sacrifice. The dark deed was appropriately done in
secrecy and IN stealth. -Four or five who were
threatened with dsfranchisemelt did h. ursent
solicitation, secure the privilege OF appearing be-
Iore lhe STAR chlhlhct council, hut tiry telt
AMI knew they were talking 10 The men who
mai preiudicel their cause. men who hal no
ear for reason and no eye Tor light Never
before IN the history OF Maine was a party
In interest refused full hearing before the gov
crnOr and cOuncil.and fun opportunity 70 examine
the election returns. An accurate search into tne
records shows that in y-nne years there haVeheen
just sixteen cases in which the governor ami
council found the official returns 50 fatally defec-
tive in form as 10 deprive a candidate apparently
elected, of his certihcate-Iverasng one case IN
4 little less than every four years Gov. Gdrcelon
and his council find thrtg-seven fatally defective
returns in single year, AMI hy OF tAp-- prOvl-
dental dispensatiOns or happy accidents which
only come 10 bless the Just and encourage the
righteous every one of those thlrty-seven fatally
defective returns was declared hy the democratic
council 10 exist in districts thai had chosen repul,-
lean senators or Representatives. one OF the
graveSt charges against George III. 10y our FeVOu-
tlOnary ancestors thai he had refused them the
right 10 choose representatives their local egis
ature hut his majesty was Informed In an mmOr-
tai declaration that the legislative powers Of free
people are Incapable Of humiliation. II the Cover
nor and council hai IN Imitation Of George III.
fused the right 10 choose legislature the outrage
would not have been half 81 grievOus Is That which
they now attempting 10 in1lict upon the people
of Maine. They have gone far beyond George Ill.
for they have refused 10 grant certificates OF
election 10 those who were chosen by the people
and not stopping AT that point. they declare
we-1nust submit and accept / legislature whose
members the people specilicay ami personally re
1ected. IrifersOn's recital of all grievances that
led 10 the overthrow OF British power in the thir-
teen colonies presented none 81 calling AMI ntol-
cradle as those which the governor ani council are
now seeking 10 fasten on the people Of Maine. Let
II he specially remembered that the governor ant
council dp not even claim they have knowedge Of
4 single Illegal vote for any one of The numerous
names whose returns they rejected They do not
claim To show that any vote was east without being
counted or counted without being east or that the
people anywhere voted differently from the returns
made. They only claim that certain returns
were defective on technical points. narrow and
immateria in themselves and easily corrected
under the laws OF the state and then they claim 10
sci aside AMI diSobcy those laws. They hold the
towns accountable for not complying with
the sirictest letter and least cNaction OF one
statute. and then deiidntly proclaim their
right 10 nullify other statutes ia the same book
on the SAME subject. In Oihc words they claim
that the statute regulating the duty Of the town Of
icers shall he fulfilled To the uttermO-t and minui-
est point, while the statute prescribing the duty OF
the governor and council may he set aside oy a sort
of penary power Of the dtspenSlilpn extended 10
them alone.
AZ INDIGNATION ADDRESS.
BANGor, Dee 23.-The executive COM
mittec appointed 10y the Indignation meeting sat
urlly. issued an address. urging all good citizens OF
every city, town and hamlet in the STATE unite
with Us on taking measures for concerted action 10
prevent the contamination of The outrage perpe-
trated upon the rights AMI liberties Ot the people
and the honor and fair name of our common
wealth. The address saws, great evils demand
prompt remedies. AMI for this greatest wrong ever
committed under 4 free government We believe thai
among the people Of Maine there clean hands 10
discover aad strong arms 10 apply the Means 10
render II Of no avail. For TINS purpose We ask your
advice. assistance AMI cooperation that the hon
esty. intelligence and patrot>mof or people may
become a living f1rce 10 carry out jheir will.
INDIGNATION MEETING IN PORTLAND.
PoRTLAXD. Dec. o3.-An enthusiastic in
digna;inu meeting WAS held Tonight Ex-Governor
Mashhurn presided. He criticised severely the a'-
lion Of the governor and council and appealed to
honest democrats to denounce their proceedings
Congressman Reed said he held no parry responsi-
he the misguided men who have done the deed
are alone guilty. Whether any one else i 10 hc
held responsible would depend upon their acts.
speeches were alIJ ma Re hy Geo. 3. Talbot ana
others.
THE MAINE LEGIsLArUEE.
Augusta, Me. Dee. u 1t is possible
there will not be quorum ui The legislature when
II meets IN Llnnary, several TtpJhicaHs having
sgniiied their intention t. absent themselves amt
several counte,i-in fus!rni-is having stated thar
htN