New-York tribune., 1879-12-31
TILE MINE DIFEICULTY.

A refusal by Governor Garcelon 10 submit TO
the Supreme Court the questions in dispute,
he must surely be aware, will be everywhere
interpreted as a confession of deliberate Grim
naity. 1t is an acknowledgment that the de-
cision of court cOniesscdly eminent in
ability and impartiality would he adverse to the
course which the Governor and Council have
chosen to pursue. No one can believe that
The leading Democrats of Maine would bear
the mfamy which a refusal To submit these
questions 10 arbitration will bring upon them,
il they had reason to believe that the decision
would he in their favor. As 10 the effect OF
their course upon public opinion, the refusal
must prove a fatal step; after it, they can be
excused only by those who are reckless and
base enough to defend any crime for the sake
of partisan advantage.
But is a refusal shrewd as respects the
immediate object s0ughtR The questions
so ably put by Mr. Morrill, in his letter
have been carefully examined by readers
in every part Of the country. They certainly
leave upon the mind strong impression that
the Governor aud Council have been guilty OF
an exceedingly wantOn violation of law. Fol-
lowed by refusal to invite the opinion OF
the Supreme Court upon them. they are cal
culatcd to have . powerful effect upon public
opinion especially rs leading and respectable
citizens of both parties in great number have
pettioncd the Governor to submit them.
Every active and influential mnn in Maine has
examined these questions. 10y this time. and
knows how strongly public opinion leans to
the belief that the proposal OF Mr.. Morrill, was
emlnenty judiciOus patriotic and iair Men
who have any political ambition. or any hope
of n political future in Maine, will think
twice before they will venture to take active
part in a conspiracy, after 1t has been 50
thoroughly exposed and branded. There are
hundreds of influential Democrats IN Maine
who, though they may say httle, will never look
upon man as honest, decent or lit TO associate
with gentlemen, vino takes seat in the Legis-
lature upon fraud so shamclcssly confessed
by the perpetrators. How many men are
there who will be willing to wear that mark
of dishonor for lifetime
II is not impossible that a refusal by the
Governor to submit to the Court the Ques-
tons propounded may convince more than one
Democratic member-elect that he cannot
afford to help so bold and impudent a STEAL.
If three men only recOil when the moment
comes, the conspiracy will fail. 1t is hard to
believe that the Democrats of Maine have
contrivcd to elect such set of men that not
even three of them care for the respect of
decent and reputable citizens
II is not certain that the refusal of the
Governor and Council will prevent formal
submission of the questions at issue. Per-
hans by majority Of the members OF
the Senate, or perhaps in other ways, the
same opinion may be legally invited and
elected which the Governor and Council hesi-
tate 10 face Ii will be all the worse Tor them
if an adverse decision follows a refusal to in
yite an opinion. The pretence Of the Gov
ernor that the essential questions at issue have
already been adjudicated will become con-
temptible if he does not dare to invite formal
decision of those questions at the request of
his opponents for he knows, and all lnteli-
gent men know, that his opponents believe
that his conduct is not warranted, but en-
phatically condemned, by the previous decisions
of the Court Thus it will come to pass, if the
Governor refuses, that the Legislature will
assemble with certainty that the Governor
and Council were not only guilty of straining
the law IN order to defeat the real will of the
people, but were also guilty of deliberate and
conscious law breaking. 1t would he strange
if every Democratic member elect should be
willing to participate actively III such a
crime.
"SRIRMISHING."
A circular has been brought TO light which
annears TO have been dispatched To the "coun-