Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-12-25
Misrrll
The Outrage IN Maine.

lhe creme which seems To be now flpc
for a.owsl IA Maine gll make the most
painful Impression all over thS Northern
States When the T'FiluRs first disclosed
the pot more than a month ago, the plan
FOR counting out the Republican iegIsla-
tors was thought 20 be too monstrous for
belief The majority was so large, the
sentiment OF the people OF Maine was 50
well understood. that the outside public in
sisted the Maine Republicans were alarmed
without cause. The Governor and his
companions would not contemplate such q
bareiAced Injustice. Even the Democratic
newspapers. outside Of the State OF Maine,
were Al frst incredulous. One OF them In
| Newly ORR rldculed the idea that Demo
/ cratic Returning Board would I'cook re-
turns" aud declared that u the Democrats
OF Maine were 20 count out the Republicans
they would be doing what kellogg's men.
assisted by Secretary Sherman. Mr.. Slough
| ton and tie other visiting statesmen did az
| New-Orleans three years ago. As the
action OF the Louisiana Board has always
| been denounced BY this paper a. one OF the
| greatest crimes OF the century, the Journal
In question 10 declaring the case In Maine
| To be exactly parallel committed itself to
the most strenuous disspproyal OF Governor
Garcelon's course; aud indeed il did imply
| Ia the same article, that although Repuoli-
| cans might have no right TO complain If
| they were cheated, the Democrats were
I quite Incapable Of approving any such ras-
J caliiy. \ few days later. having perhaps
| received certain information. THE New
| York Democratic organ changed it, tone.
| Tactly admitting the fraud. II had the
shameless audaciiy 10 say lis II not ask
| lug little too much Of good nature 10 de-
maud that the Democrats shall al~aSs
| submit 10 be counted ont, and be prevent
| ed from counting ini" No other apology
is offered for the outrage than tins. II d,
! the plea OF the thie' Society T. corrupt
| dishonesty prevails In good society; three
fore. ~ill steal, and If snybody calls me
, a thief | answer. You're another" For
three wears the Democratic press aud
Democratic politicians have b-eu lyins
Atrociousiy about the action of lh- South
ern state Returning Boards in 1876 and
| fri.ning Ia be shocked at their slIeged
u,urpations in reversing the pretended
verdict OF the polls. At last "a Democratic
Board of Canyassers ,hnds An opportunity
to cheat shall We slways submit 10 be
counted out" say they. ana be prevented
from counting in: No indeed. 80 here
goes. s.''-and clear Republican majority
| disappears.
There is all essential difference between
| the cases OF 1876 and the case OF 1879
| The laws Of the disputed Southern States
not only empowered, but strictly CON-
manded the Canvassers 10 throw cut the
votes OF all precincts in which the freedom
of the election had been disturbed by acts
| OF violence or Intimidation. IL was a dan
gerous discretion 10 intrust 10 the Board
| but the systematic attempts of the Demo
| ersls to suppress the colored vote made
such a provision necessary for the freed
mau'- protection. There can be no Ques-
| tIon Whatever that the Boards acted within
their authority. The only dispute is over
the facts OF such a degree Of violence aud
fraud in particular districts as would NOR
| ally Justify the exercises of the discretion
WHICH the law reposed in the Csrvassers.
| II Is not TO the point 10 continue the dis
| cus.ion OF the Louisiana bulldoZing now
candid men who have read the testimony
| In the case are pretty well agreed that tne
| decision OF the Board was not only authOt
lied BY the law but fully warranted by III.
facts The consideration We ask our
readers to bear in mind is that the rejected
votes of 1876 were not disc arded on ac-
| count of technical errors, but in obedience
20 law which declared that majorities
obtained BY force and terrorism should no,
be reckoned as An expression OF the popu-
lar will. In Maine it is far otherwise
| There no such extensive discretion has
ever been intrusted TO the Canvassers
The law does not assume that election.
can be vitiated by terrorism in a free white
community, and IT requires the Governor
aud Council to issne certificates To the per.
sons who appear to have been elect ed BY
the face Of the returns Under certain re.
| strictions the Town clerks or other local
| ofY3.ers may be- and heretofore have been