The Portland daily press., 1879-12-13
N. Y. Tribune.l
A Word About Maine.


We give the Democrats of Maine fair warn
ing If they reverse the will of the people and
by fraud substitute Democratic majority Tor
Republican majority in the Legislature, they
will insure the election of a Republican Presl-
dent in 1880. No fraud need be resorted to by
Republicans. They need use no tissue-ballots,
load no shot-guns, organize no rifie-cluos.
But they can adopt measures which neither
bulldozing nor massacre at the South, nor
fraud in Maine or New York, can possibly de-
feat. The object of the proposed fraud IN
Maine is we'll understood. 1t is to secure such
control of election machinery that the Demo-
Gratis can count in their electors next year.
Against that danger Republicans can provide
by method strictly constitutional, and in the
early history of the Republic generally EN-
ploy yed. Probably contemplation OF the conse-
quences may lead the Democrats OF Maine TO
retrace their steps, and TO abstain from the
meditated fraud.
The Constitution authorizes each State to
appoint electors in such manner as its Leglsla-
ture may direct. The Legislatures OF New
York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio and ev-
cry doubtful Northern State are now Republl-
can. If the infamous fraud threatened IN
Maine should indeed be perpetrated, 1t would
not take one week to put through the Legisia-
lures of these States bills providing for the ap-
pointment of Republican Presidential electors
for 1880. Disposition to resort to this course
will depend mainly upon the behavior OF the
Democrats. But for the attempted frauds in
Oregon, South Carolina and Florida in 1876
the resort to tissue-ballot5 and rifles in 1873
l.la Of DarnOpr2tS at
the last session of Congress the loyal North
would not have taken such care as to secure
legislative control in every doubtful Northern
State The conduct of the Democratic party
produced profound alarm, in regard to the IN
tegrity of the public credit, but still more IN
respect to the perpetuity of free institutions
Republicans in all Northern states were
warned Conservative and loyal men took care
that there should not be single Northern
State in 1880 in which the popular Will could
be defeated by trickery, fraud or force. what
possibilities of infinite mischief there were, III
Democratic control of State Executives or Leg
islatures, had been shown in Oregon, and the
Republicans quietly resolved to place every
critical Northern State in the hands OF loyal
and faithful men before another Preslqenual
election. That work has been done and those
who represent the true opinion OF the North
now hold the power to determine IN what way
electors shall be appointed next year.
1t is to be hoped that Democrats VIII see NJ
to abandon the fraudulent and violent methooS
to which they have seemed disposed TO resort
By such methods they can gain only sure de,
feat. The Solid South, produced by fraud and
| outrage, has resulted in Solid North, whose
| demands may as well be respected. 1t tdemands
| d peaceful and free election III every southern
| State suppression of frauds in the counting
| and returning of votes in Maine and elsewhere
| and ballot-box protected by United states
laws If the Democratic party accepts these
| demands in good faith ana unfeserveuiy, llele
| will be no occasion to guard against 1t as
| nublic enemy. The Republicans have no rea-
| son to shrink from an honest electlon. Ihey
| know that free and honest votes. honestly
| AN increase of the overwhelming majorities OF
| this year. Such decision the Republicans
| would infinitely prefer to any other. But II
| the Democrats do not dare to make a tair ap-
| peal to the will of free people, and resort to
| fraud or force, they may learn what q solld
| North can do to protect itself
| It was the purpose and spirit of the Constitu-
ton that the Presidential electors, chosen IN
| such manner as the previously existing Legis-
| latures of the States might direct, should elect
| President without direct popular canvass of
| the merits of candidates. A disputed election
| like that of 1876, with its prolonged anxiety
and peril would not have been possible under
the system originally prevalent There have
beenmany warnings that the Democrats mean
to count themselves in next year, and the
| shameless job threatened in Maine is only one
of many signs OF that purpose. Murders at
! the South and frauds at the North, revolution
! ary m demands for repeal of election laws, and
threats to stop the supplies OF Government,
| all point to the same end. The North demands
that these things shall cease. 1t demands that
| conspiracies against the freedom OF elections
| and the supremacy of laws shall be abandoned.
| Ii the North is not satisfied, before Northern
| Legislatures adjourn this Winter, that there is
| to be free and fair election, measures can be
| offered to secure full and effective expression
| of it's will. The conduct of Democrats will go
far to determine what the course of the North
shall be.