Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-18
FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE.

While we believe the action of the gov
ernor and council of Maine in excluding
from seats in the legislature of that State
number of Republican Senators and Repre-
sentatives shown upon the face of tho re-
turns to be elected, is strictly in accordance
with law, and just retribution upon the
Republicans for many of their past sins in
like direction, We doubt it's policy. The
members were unseated for informalities in
making the returns. How grave these in
formalities were We hava no means of know
ing. The Republicans assert that they we're
trivial or merely technical, while the Demo-
Gratis declare that they were of 50 grave
nature as to leave the governor and council
no other alternative than to throw them
out. We believe the gentlemen who COM
pose the canvassing board to be honorable
men who discharged their duty in accorda
with what they believed to be the letter and
spirit of the law. The fact
that they have been sustained in their course
by Republican judge of the supreme court
confirms this belief Yet they may have
acted injudiciousy and arbitrarily in some
respects. Their conduct looks too much
like on attempt to fight fire with fire.
Hitherto the Republicans have not scru-
pied at the use of any means that would aid
their cause. They have construed the law
vigorously or loosely, just as it suited their
purpose. Now that the Democratic oppor-
tunity has come they fume, and fret, aud
storm, and threaten, simply because the laws
they themselves made and placed upon the
statute books are strictly enforced to their
detriment. 1t is hardly manly in them, for
they who give blows must expect to take
them on occasions with az good grace
as possible. AS the laws they
enacted have proved defective,
and the election officers Of their own choos-
ing have proved incompetent, are not they
to blame rather than officials who act &C..
cording to the law and in obedience to their
oaths of Officer 1t is childish to protest
against wrong that was created by them
selves and had been so frequently employed
to the injury to their opponents. They
probably realize that chickens sometimes
come home to roost.
Notwithstanding the fact that the can
wasting board has acted legally in all things
pertaining to this matter, we fear that its
political effect will be bad. It will lead to
the fear that the Democrats all over the
country are determined to follow the prece-
dents set by the Republican party in the
past, and, if in their power, deprive the
people of their just representation.
This fear We believe to be ground
less, for all true Democrats would rather suf-
fer wrong themselves than inflict it upon
others. The Democratic party is incapable
of perpetrating the electoral villainy of 1876,
and there are few in its ranks who would
suggest that any means be employed to de-
feat the expressed will Of the people. Yet
we fear that many who do not understand
the facts of the case in Maine, will be led
into error by partisan appeals and misrepre-
sensations. Had it been possible, without
the law, it would have been better
to allow the Republicans to control the legis-
lature in Maine, for then they would have
been denied weapon that may prove for
midable one in the next campaign. It is not
always judicious to light fire with fire.