Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-12-26


If politicians could be persuaded to ex-
pertinent with the axiom that ''honesty is
the best of policy, /" they would not only
find it successful, but would deprive their
opponents of that plausible and far reach
ing excuse for trickery called precedent.
A few years ago when Maine was the most
solid of Republican States its Republican
Senate set aprecedent which has just been
copied by their Democratic antagonists
with terrible effect. The law of Maine
provides that the authorities of ''planta-
tions'' election districts) shall after an
election send to the capital an envelope
containing the check list used at the cleo
ton, and that both within and on the out
side of the envelope there shall be written
a certificate of the correctness Of the vote.
In the case of Mr.. Madigan. Democratic
Senator elected from Arostook-in rs we
think, the certificate was endorsed on
the outside of the envelope but not on the
inside and on this trivial technicality the
Republican Senate actually excluded MIR.
Madigan and gave his seat to Mr.. Burleigh
about even whose residence in the county
named there was doubt. Among the Sen
ators who voted to do this was Daniel F..
Davis, now Republican candidate for
Governor before the present legislature.
As our readers know Maine has at present
Democratic Governor and council who
constitute the Returning Board which
counts the vote. It appears that the Su-
preme Court Of Maine has been very rig
id in it's construction of the election laws
in contested cases, and taking advantage
of every trivial technicality this Demo-
cratic Board. while following the letter of
the law, has for most frivolous flaws in
returns, about equal to the Madigan case,
withheld certificates from some thirty
Republican members who were undoubted-
" elected by the people giving the Demo-
Gratis and Greenbackers majority of the
legislature. It has created the greatest
excitement in the State, and Senators
Blaine and Hamlin who have had nothing
to say against the action of the Louisiana
and Florida Returning Boards, are active
in advising the Republicans to resist tho
action of this one. 1t is proposed that
without waiting for the decision of the
legislature, that body having the power to
review this action of the Governor and his
council, the Republican members who were
the choice of the people. but from whom
the certificates are legally but unjustly
withheld, shall by force enter the hall and
take their seats. SO 9t-
However the affair may end one result
will be that the Republicans will carry the
State next year. There is a spirit OF fair
play among the American people that
will not brook such questionable dealings.
It is that spirit aroused by the Returning
Board outrages of 1876 that causes Dem
ocratic majority in the National Congress
to-day and which will not be satisfied I'M
til 1t sees Democratic President in the
White House. In the meantime the Re
publicans of Maine may realize in some
measure how the Democrats felt thres
years ago. i5w 4'! .....
The same sort Of legal wrong it is statee
is now being prepared by the Republican,
of the New York legislature-the passage
of a law for electing the Presidential cleo
tors of that State by their own body ane
thus securing the certainty of the electora
vote next year for the Republican candi
date. The constitution of the United
States permits this mode, but its adoption
would be clear robbery of the people o.
the right to vote for President and tn
practical Acknowledgement of many thou
sand Democrats, as well as many Republi
cans who would desire to vote agains
Grant.
The Berkely Light Infantry, Martins
burg. w. Va, were mustered out Of ser
vice on Monday evening, the 18th inst.
their term of enlistment in the service Q
the State having expired. 1t is expected
the company will be reorganized.
At the municipal election in Cambridge
Mass. Father O'Brien, a Catholic priest
Was elected member Of the school com
mittee. He was voted for by the Catho