Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-03-05
We have not seen the evidence on which

this glowing picture is based, and we have
not the counter conclusions of the republi-
can members. But standing wholly by
itself, without sitting or comparing the
evidence, and even without the criticism
of others who have heard the testimo-
ny we are impressed with the fact that Mr.
Potter canvass is too strongly toned. 1t
would have been more likely To be accept
able if he had not made the democrats
quite such angels of light, and if he had
not portrayed the republicans in quite such
satanic shades There may be honest diff
ference of opinion as to which party was
guilty of the worst practices in Louisiana
in 1876, or the most of them; but no one
except Mr.. Potter and his friends on the
committec-pretends that the fraud was
all ON one side. We are compelled to ad-
nit, for our part, that the republicans were
guilty of much that was unjustiiiable; but
we are shut out from Mr.. Pottcr's conclu-
sion that the democrats were guilty of
nothing by the known facts of the case.
Mr. Potter lays great stress on
the admission of the Wheeler COM
mittee Us to the election of 1874, appar-
entity imagining that what was true at any
given period must be true Of period only
two wears removed. On this theory We
invite his attention to the report of the
Teller committee regarding the election
of 1878 That, too, is Il republican report
it relates to period just two years re-
moved from the Presidential election, and
it shows the most reckless fraud and vio-
lence ON the part of the Louisiana demo
Gratis
1t is as safe to reason backward rs for.
ward in point of time, and we are sure
that whichever way one reasons, they will
not find any democratic party so pure and
blameless as the one Mr. Potter has dis
covered in Louisiana. If, however, all Mr.
Potter's allegations be true, what curl
ous position they leave his party in. The
gist of hi. argument is that Louisiana ant
Florida were misrepresented by the au
torites whose action was accepted as final by
the Electoral Commission. He even goes
so far as to say that the Florida case NIGH
be AM examplc to be followed in every North
ern State, if not prevented by law, and, ad
hitting his description ofthe case to be cor
rect his assertion is correct also. But why
then, has there been no remedy provided
Because the democratic House would no
consent to one. a bill was passed in thu
Senate early in the session regulatin.
in II very fair and sensible man
ncr precisely the difficulties which Mr.
Potter describes. 1t changed the date o
Presidential elections to leave ample tim
for settlement of disputes, required tina
these disputes should be settled in tn
States, and that their settlement should b.
accepted rs final. The House not only re
fused to take up the BILL but the maiorit,
agreed on another bill, presented by Mr.
Southland of Ohio, which was in the las
degree improper, which asserted tn
grossest claims of power for Congress
and set up Il scheme of Capitalization sue
as the country has never conceived OF
This fact is sufficient to stamp the demo
, cratic report, even if it were not silent ol
all proofs of democratic fraud. as Il mer
; partisan effort, unworthy of serons atten
ton.
4 marked indication of the returning pros
perity of which business men everywher
now begin to recognize the signs was pre-
, sented in Providence, X. l., on Friday morn
ing last at the sale by auction of the celebra
ted manufacturing property of the Atlanti
|, Delaine Company, situated not far from tina
city. The mills belonging to this well-knowl
company have been idle for severa
years, and the various parcels an,
fixtures of real and personal prop
erty appertaining to them have long been alb
solutely unstable. On Friday last New Yorl
capitalists Mr.. Bernheimer and MIR. Julliar,
were among the contesting bidders. Tn,
first bid was for Sl00, 900, but the subsequen
advances nuctuateu LOT quarter OF an h0u
from 500 to $40, 900 until for the sum of $500,
900 which was finally offered, the propert,
was adjudged to Owen Brothers, of Rhod
Island, who intend forthwith to put the mill
in working condition. They expect to sooi
employ many hundred operatives and hav,
provided the necessary additional capital fo
full working purposes Nothing could b.
more encouraging to business men who on,
wear 400 heard only of mill owners Va ho war,
bankrupts and of manufacturers who wer,
closing their works. These busy notes o
preparation for new or enlarged enterprise
herald the early re-Opening of the great bat
tie of industry all over the land. .--Nep Yoyl
World.
Legislative Proceedings.
Continued from first page.)