The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-18
Boston Journal
Al ~nunpNrnTENT nUERTHROWN n,

When the first chapter of the Globes ridlcu-
lous charges of bribery in the Maine election
was made public, it was predicted in these col
umns that it was the initial movement IN
conspiracy to count out the Republican major
ity in the Legislature and reverse the decision
of the people. AT that time most people even
in Maine were inclined to make light OF our
predictions. The result has shown that our
fears were we'll grounded. The Governor ana
Council have done just that thing. A Senate
to which the votes of the people elected ~ he
publicans and IL Democrats, has been SO re-
versed by the usurping process that 1t VIII con-
sst of II Republicans and ~ Fuslonlsts OF
Democrats A House to which the people
elected 80 Republicans and 60 Fusonists has
been so changed by the Governor and Council
as to contain 70 Democrats Zone more than
quorum1, 5S Republicans and 10 vacancies.
These changes involve the defeat OF the Re
publican candidate for Governor, who had ~
600 plurality over the Greenback candidate,
40 900 over the Democratic candidate, and who
only lacked about $50 votes of having clear
majority. 1t also involves the choice OF Fusion
State officers and gives the Governmental Name
into the hands of party that the people voted
down in Maine In other words and to put the
matter plainly and truthfully, popular goueTn-
anent qciN be suspended IN Maine after the first
Wednesday Of January, 1880, for at teaSt
one uedr. The Government chosen by the peo-
pie has been overthrown in advance, and over
thrown, too, by men who are sworn to main
tain such Government. There never was
more complete usurpation in Mexican State.
The coup d'etat of Louis Napoleon was not
more audacious or more subversive of the con-
stitution of France than is this coup d'etdt OF
Gov. Garcelon and the Fusion leaders.
Those who make themselves the apologists
for this crime will urge that the counting out
was the result of strict observance OF the law
They must know that such assertions are false
Suppose technicalities did exist, does not the
act of 1877 provide that such returns may Do
corrected so as to conform to the record? The
cities of Portland, Lewiston, Bath, Rockland
and Augusta will not be represented because
the Governor and Council refused to re-
ceive the corrected returns i'll defiance
of this law. What were the nature
of these errors? In Portland, where the
Republican Representatives had at least
500 majority, they are rejected because on the
return a hundred votes, more or less, cast for
cratic wards, were returned as scattering, and
so returned to Augusta by the City CLERK.
Thus So 900 people and one-eighth OF the tax
able property in the State have no voice IN the
formation of the State Government. In most
of the other cities the returns are thrown out
because only three of the Board OF Aldermen
signed them-probably the fault of the Secre-
tarv OF States officials who sent out the blank
with places for but three Aldermen 10 write
their names. On this fimsy pretext four cities
are disfranchised. All OF these returns might
have been corrected to conform with the will
of the people if the Governor and Council had
not refused to comply with the plain require
meuts of the Act of 1877. In Cumberland
County three Republican Senators are rejected
because in the return of one town the votes be-
ing the same for the four Republican cand1-
dates, the word "ditto' was written after the
number of votes for the first man named on
the list 1t will appear when the facts are
made public, as they must be, that the Govern
or and Council have not only broken one law
but have violated precedent, law and Const-
tuition.
But how does it happen that there are no
technical errors in Democratic towns? Inc Oh
ficials in such towns are not more efficient than
are the Republicans, and they had majorities
in quite large number of towns, say 100.
There is reason to believe that it came about in
this way-that the returns OF all the towns
were opened and inspected, and when there
were errors in Democratic towns they were
sent back and amended. This is known to
have been the case in four Democratic towns
in Washington county, and in one in Kenne-
bee county. 1t will also be remembered that
Mr. Rounds, the States attorney in Washing
ton county, has charged that the returns have
been tampered with, and has asked to be per-
mitted to prove that fact to the Governor and
Council, and although nearly every leading
Republican in the State has pettioned that tri-
bunal to make such an investigation, it has re-
fused to do so or to notice the charges. This
circumstance of itself fixes suspicion OF wrong
doing or guilty knowledge upon Gov. Garcelon
and his associates untl they shall have pu rged
themselves by making the investigation.
1t appears that the Republicans Of Maine
have no legal remedy Already many OF them
advise submission for the present assured that
the people will set the matter right next year:
Thus far no leading Democrat has denounced
the outrage, and it is asserted that the rank
and file Of that party generally sustain it, but
that many Greenbackers already denounce 1t
and express q determination to wash their
hands of it, The Republicans are thoroughly
indignant and will remain so during the next
wear. But what ground have they to expect
fair count next year? Will not a Government,
not of the people or for the people, allow
government elected by the people in 1880 to re-
gain power in 1881? These are most important
uuaStiOnS