Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-29
BY TELEGRAPH.
Associated Press kilograms to the Daily
Kennebcc Journal.
MAINE NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
PORTLAND CLERGY ON THE
COUNT.OUT.
Remarks by Several CIergymen During
Their SUNDAY Sermons.

Their SUNDAY sermons.
PORTLAND, December %. Rev. James
New hinnic, pastor of the Free Street Bap-
list Church, preached to-day from the text
''Thou art weighed in the balance and found
wanting. lie said in the course of his re-
marks 1--WE have Just had an election on the
question of fulfilling our promises to those
who lent us money to put down the rebellion.
The question of public honesty was at stake
and every honest man supposed the election
settled it, but that decision has been set aside
by the Governor and Council. Suppose their
decision is allowed to stand thorough indif-
ference of the people to insist upon their will
as expressed in the election, what is to him
der a usurping government from defeating
the will of the people on other vital questions!
am not speaking as a partisan. You will
bear me witness that from this place | have
freely denounced sins of the national govern
ment, but | speak as minister of the Gospel
of honesty and righteousness, and in the
name of that Gospel do denounce crime
against honesty and righteousness which our
State is now Witnessing. Shame on the man
who on the paltry excuse that he has GER
tificate in his pocket. takes Il seat in the Leg
isaturc, as an officer, to which the people
have not sent him. | call upon you all, as
Christian citizens, of whatever name, to rise
above all partsanship and insist that at what
ever cost our elections shall be fair and their
decisions inviolable. Let us be indignant at
dishonesty everywhere IN cur own party as
well as elsewhere.
Rev. II. w. Lath, pastor of Plymouth Con-
gregational Church, in the course Of his SER
mon to-day, said IF the rights of the citi-
zens of this State are invaded by the Cover
nor, no man desires peace at the expense Of
righteousness. Every one contesses that the
stirring up of passion and the conflict Of
tongues is bad, but every one knows that
there is something even worse than that sub
mission to evil rule. Moreover every one
who advocates resistance to rulers now does
so for the sake of peace in the future. 1t is
conflict to-day that there may be well grounded
peace tomorrow.
The situation at Bangor.
BANGOR December q. Nothing OF i'm
portance has transpircd to-day, and the city
is as quiet and orderly as it was five minutes
after the loads of arms and ammunition
were turned back toward the State arsenal.
The people of our city are much incensed at
the sensational and incendiary dispatches,
sent from here to certain papers abroad; and
as one of these specials to Boston paper was
telegraphcd to a New York paper by the Asso-
ciatcd Press, grossly eXaggerating the action
of the people ON Christmas day. and reporting
that the republicans were forming secret
military association with threats to seize the
arms in the State arsenal, the Associated
Press agent in this city feels it his duty to
contradict such mischevous reports on the
authority of the best informed citizens of
Bangor.
There has been no purpose to trouble the
arsenal or any other property OF the State.
Interviews with a large number of leading
and most reputable citizens show that the
people of this city emphatically refuse to CEN
sure or stigmatize the spontaneous action
which resulted simply in stopping teams Ia
den with deadly weapons and explosives,
driven through the principal street, without any
show OF authority. No one knew whether
they were being lawfully transported, or
carried off by unauthorized persons for pur-
poses dangerous to the public peace; and the
teams were stopped by an inquiry as to the
authority by which the munitions were being
moved.
The attempt to give to the clerk, French,
some sort of military authority, by styling
him Major. and Assistant Adjutant Gen
eral' in dispatches, is entirely unwarranted,
as he is simply clerk at the State House,
with no military rank or authority whatever.
The action of the Governor in sending such a
person without written credentials, orders or
requisition to transport large quantities of
arms through the city on holiday, is regard
ed bv our citizens as inexcusable; and under
the circumstances of the clerks inability to
show any authority for his action, many citi-
zens think the mayor would have been justi-
fed in taking charge of the dangerous mate
rails and holding them until afforded some
assurance that they were in proper hands.
The citizens generally denounce the careless
ness, if nothing worse. OF sending such
quantity of explosive material openly through
the streets without any precautions required
by city ordinances. and not even accompanied
bv the clerk to whom the Governor verbally
entrusted the responsible duty of transport
ing the contents of the State arsenal to Au-
gusta. The citizens here believe they were
fully justified in stopping the teams under
such circumstances, and Indignantly resent
being referred to as mob, or rioters, while
they refer for proof of their law abiding char
acter, to the quiet dispersion as soon as the
munitions were carried back to the State ar
senal, where they have remained in perfect
safety ever since. They say no weapon or
threat of weapon was used by the impromp-
tn gathering of respectable business men,
and that the Governor is the one who has re-
sorted to arms by thus ordering their remov-
al from this city to the State Capital.
Lieut.. C. +. Miles OF Oldtown, command
ing the fersey Light Infantry, has requested
the statement. that he removed the arms OF
the company from the armory to his residence
for safe keeping, on Thursday night, by or
ders from Major NJ. NJ. Folsom and the State
House clerk, Mr.. French. Major Folsom is
a townsman, and the most intimate political
follower of Mr. Smith the fusion candidate
for Governor, and is next in rank below
Lieut. Col. Daniel White, commanding the
regiment of militia.
Although the removal of the arms was de-
cided upon in this city, Thursday afternoon,
in view of the excitement here. as Lieut..
Miles states, no consultation was had with
Col White, who was easily accessible, but
the action was taken ON the orders OF the
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