Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-06
To BE Counted Out of the Presi-
dental Election Also.


If the conspirators to steal the State sue
coed in their attempt to count out the re-
publican majority elected TO the legisla-
ture. and to count in fraudulent demo-
cratic majority. they intend to count Maine
entirely out of the Presidential election
of next year. They purpose to have the
bogus Legislature which they shall count
in go forward and choose democratic
electors, men who will cast the electoral
vote of the STATE for Tilden, or Hendricks,
or whoever may happen to be the demo-
cratic candidate for President. Impossi-
BILE! exclaims many an honest soul who
has never sounded the depth of depravity
to which the Pillsburys and Garcelons
will go to advance party ends. But it is
not impossible. 1t is not only possible
but the purpose is to do it.
If it is done mark what the situation will
be. The hope of the republicans is in
having Solid North to oppose
a Solid South. We must carry
the North solid to elect republic
can President. Now swing the electoral
vote of Maine over from the republican side,
where it belongs, to the Southern side,
where it does not belong, and very posi-
bly,, yea, most probably, the change might
be sufficient to defeat the republican can
didate and elect the democratic candidate.
Can this be done? The democratic con-
sprators think it can. and they mean to do
it, too. If they can shut out inspection Of
the election returns at the State House-if
they can usurp the powers of the Supreme
Court-if they can count out thirty-six re-
publcans fairly elected to the legislature
by the popular vote and count in thirty
six democrats who have no more right
there than if they were Mongolians,-if
they can carry out the conspiracy to tram
pie under their feet the will of the people
as declared at the ballot-box and set up
State government by the contingent
process-they can do anything which self
interest or lust of power prompts them to
do. Counting in democratic electors is
but a small task compared with the at
tempt to count in democratic legislature.
The condition of things in this State
should the conspiracy succeed would be
startling. Of the ultimate result there
can be no doubt. If the republicans are
counted out there will be such retribu-
ton come upon the workers of the iniquity
as will forever prevent repetition OF it.
But suppose the republicans are counted
out by the Star chamber, high-handed,
outrageous process now being tried, and
democratic electors are chosen and the
people are thus deprived of the privilege
of taking part in the Presidential election
as they have been accustomed to; we shall
then see State, which we have no doubt
will cast $4,000 republican majority at the
State election next September, bound hand
and foot by the fraudulent democratic
legislature, and unable to take a single
step to prevent its electoral vote being
cast for the election of democratic Pres
ident, and that vote not unlikely carrying
with it the election of the candidate for
whom it is cast.
There is not a government in Europe to-
day that could exist in the face Of such a
state of things. The despot who should
attempt such an outrage upon popular
rights would be driven from his throne by
the popular indignation. Let Governor
Garcelon come before the people and at
tempt to justify contingent the republi-
cans on the ground that they made him
MAD. because they did not appear at the
Council Chamber with hat in hand and
their heads bowed down as though APP
preaching an eastern monarch. and how
much would such plea avail to save him
from their just wrath The people of
Maine are in dead earnest about this matter.
They will have their turn and their say
about the government of this State soon
er or later, and will reckon with their
servants for the way in which they use the
power that is in their hands.