The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-30
THE GREENBABK PROTEST.
The Action of the Council Condemned.

Mr.. EDITORIALS did not vote the Repub-
lican ticket last fall and am conservative
Greenbacker in belief and action, suppose
what might contribute to your paper would
not be interpreted as being tinged with any
partisan spirit unidentified to fair degree of
consideration by all candid minds
1t is with feelings of regret that / am COM
PEELED in justice to myself to say aught in ref
erence to the question, now the all-absorbing
one in our state, viz, the counting out of sew
eral cities and towns by Gov. Garcelon and
Council an act which 1 would not believe
they even contemplated, but nevertheless
which has been accomplished in all of its de-
formity.
The plain right Of suffrage should be held as
most sacred trust to be guarded upon all
sides by the ability and power of every honest
man, and any attempt from whateyerssource to
garble this right is simply an outrage of great
er magnitude and deserves the severest con-
domination Of all parties.
Why should a citizen of any state and espec-
tally of New England state, who has ever
been loyal to good governments and suppos-
ed representative of civilization and enlight-
ment equal TO Cat leasD any portion of this
world, be deprived of his elective franchise
simply on account OF some clerical error or
technicality, when it is self-evident upon the
the face of the returns that the intent was
honest?
Does the Constitution of the State of Maine
fairly construed mean that whole cities and
towns mag loose their representation because
somebody, mere agent of the people, has
blundered? That thousands of honest voters
and millions of property shall beataxed without
representation, ana all on account OF clerical
error or some minor technicality? II so then
our forefathers certainly made very poor use
Of their experience, and constructed batter
ing ram which should do violence to the car
dinal principles, which are the foundation OF
Republican institutions.
We don't believe this was the spirit and in
tent of the men who framed our Constitution,
and we furthermore believe that it is fair and
also respectful to the memories of those de-
parted individuals that we give them the cred
it of having sense enough to frame constltu-
ton for not only this but all the original states
which should guard with the greatest care the
elective franchise of every individual.
We cannot then concede that Gov. Garcelon
and Counsel have even o shadow OF right to
interpret the Constitution and statutes in any
way but what shall represent the plain will OF
the majority, and we never believed they
would until the overt act was accomplished.
The question now is what shall the people
do.
We believe they should do just this for it
seems to be the only thing that can be done:
Exercise spirit of moderation and calmness
and trust to the integrity OF the men who make
up your Legislature to do what is just and
right, and we earnestly trust and believe that
every Greenbaek Representative in the state
will wash his hands OF this proceeding and sat
isfy the country that they do not wish to come
into power upon SO fimsy a pretext and so
dangerous an experiment as q clerical error or
technicality. No party can afford TO bear such
burden, as it will load them down to death
and oblivion. GREENBAcK.
Mechanic Falls, Dec 20.