Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-12-21
Denounced by Representative of Both
Parties.

Den0vnced by Representatives of Both
Parties.
Louisvi lie CourieI-Journal Dem)
We expressed the hope several DAYS ago
that the Maine Council would not count
out Republican msjority from the Leg
islature simply on the ground of technics
defects IN the election returns. We showed
that the fierce bulldozing and beating of
Kettle drums on the part of Blaine and his
follows were designed to force the Council
to commit this palpable wrong so that
political capital could be acquired by the
Republican party for use next year,
As we understand it, Republicans have
been counted out on the ground of ignor-
ance or negligence on the part of election
officers, and not because they were not
elected, as several known Republican dis
tricts are deprived of representation. The
result of this Maine count will be just
what Blaine want d. He will work up the
largest Republican majority in Maine next
year which the State has ever had. The
action of the Democrats and Greenbackers
is suicidal, and no more i!ladvised course
could have been taken.
Cincinnati Gazette Rep).
Some of the Maine Republicans want TO
fight for their rights. There is no call for
that. Let the Democrats consummate th cir
infamy and there will be nc Democratic
party in Maine henceforth to bother the
Republicans. Republicans in Maine and
througho he country can desire no more
valuable help than Garcelor and his
Council are lending.
From the New York Tines (Rep)
We do not remember to have ever met in
the history OF American politics recital
of more inexcusab.e abuse of power than
this, taking it upon the evidence cf its
apologists only. 1t is claimed that the
Democratic officers have not violated the
law; that they had the discretion, under
the Constitution, to do what they have
done; and it is tauntingly asserted by their
supporters and admitted by their oppo-
nents that their action Can not be remedied.
Admitting that this is the case, the most
that they can plead is that they are techni-
cally innocent but in fact guilty of the
grOssest wrong that men intrusted with DO
lisical power can inhict upon a free people
From first to last, their conduct has been
that of men conscious of dishonorable
purpose and afraid of the light. They post
poned action to the last moment on the
Legislative returns. They held their ses-
slons IN secret, as they had a legal right,
but were by no means required to do.
lhey refused all access to, or inspection OF.
the returns, and all opportunity to explain
or correct errors, or to enlighten their own
judgment, as fair minded men engaged in
the just execution of public trust would
not have done. And this behavior be-
comes the more plainly inconsistent with
honest Intention when it is noted that Gov.
Garcelon himself will profit by the result
o. his own pettifogging: The Democratic
managers will make nothing by the tactics
which they have adopted.
Firm the Philadelphia Times Qnd. Dem)
The fraudulent Legislature of this wear
may declare that the Legislature Of next
year shall elect the Presidential Electors
The same tribunal that steals the Legisla-
ture and government this year will have
the power to steal the Legislature and
State officers next year, and the fraudulent
Legislature organized under color of law
could thus lawfully cast the vote of the
State for President, for the contamination
of the Louisiana fraud in 1876 made it
necessary to ordain as the National law
that authority could go behind the returns
of State. Such a chapter of fraud in
Maine is only remote possibility, but it
would be as logical and as lawful in its
greater result as it can be in the usurping
centrol OF the Legislature and State gov
eminent this year.
IT WILL. DESTROY THE DEMOCRACY
Philadelphia Press (Rep).
1t will eventually destroy the Demo-
cratic party in that State, and deal it a
severe blow in every portion of the country.
If elections are not to elect, it is a mockery
to have them. If votes peacefully polled
are not to have their force, there is an end
to republican government, and its forms
are frauds. At the last election the Re-
publicans carried both houses of the Leg
islature of Maine. The Governor and
Council have, upon purely technical
grounds, everruled this verdict, throwing
out enough elected and substituting enough
unelected to reverse the result, and thereby
perpetuate themselves in power. Tnis is
done under the forms of law, but it is not
merely lawlessness, it is the highest GRIM
inality; it is scoundrelism without pailia-
ton or justification. If approved by pub
lie conscience it could not but be accepted
as proof that the people have wearied of
elective Institutions, and are hurrying to
their overthrow. 1t is idle to talk of prece-
dents or excuses for such bold dishonesty
The men who have done this are criminals
who deserve the b CHEST punishment which
the law can infict upon betrayal of trust
It is not question of partisanship; it is a
question whether we are longer to have a