The Portland daily press., 1879-12-24
HONORABLE DEMOCRATS.
Four Found in Lewiston Who Denounce
the Outrage.


A journal reporter this morning called
on Geo. F. French, Esq, one of the Democrat
ic candidates for representative to the legisla-
ture from Lewiston, and found Mr.. French
pronounced in his views of the contingent
infamy. Mr.. French said: 81 do not believe
in putting party before loyalty and honor 1
never will uphold my party in anything that
think is wrong. I do not believe it is ever
right to thwart the will of the people on mere
ly technical grounds. l. do not think the exec
utive has the right to declare any law uncon-
stitutional, which has not been passed upon by
the courts. 1 cannot see how there can be any
defence for such cases as Skowhegan and Lis
bon. 1 do not believe majority of Democrats
in this part of the State defend the course Of
the Governor and Council. L have not been
round among them to any great extent, but
this morning hear of several Democrats who
do not believe in the course of Gov. Garcelon
and who can't defend him.
81 don't know what is the way out of this
crisis. hope that enough Of those who have
been certifcated will decline to accept legisla-
tive positions, so as not to defeat the will Of
the people would certainly scorn to accept
a certificate given me under these circum-
stances, and L should not take my seat IN the
Legislature on bubble, and when | know
that the people had not asked me to 60"
One of our oldest dry goods merchants, John
| A. Rodick, Esq. and a Democrat of long
| standing, was called on by a journal reporter,
Monday afternoon. The reporter asked of Mr..
Z. his deliberate opinion in regard to the
| count
my serious opinion is that it's wrong" said
Mr.. Rodick. 81 do not uphold Governor Gar
| Il al,
| Why is it that the Republican returns are full
| of errors and the fusion returns are all right?
| That's what sticks me!'' Mr.. r. expressed
this opinion with considerable emphasis.
81 behave that it is right for defeated par
| ty to quietly bow to the will of the majority.
We've always done it for 20 years. and be-
lieve it is the right thing to do" He continu-
| ed: 81 have leased some Republicans consid-
erably by telling them that It's no worse than
Louisiana, but my serious opinion is that it's
| wrong"
Our reporter then called on Oliver Newman,
| Esq, a well-known Democrat, who represented
! Ward in the Board of Aldermen last year.
Mr.. Newman said that he did not wish to be
mixed up in politics at all, as he was thorough
| ly disguised with them. He said he did not
believe in counting out" He thought that
| Governor Garcelon and his Council had done
| a great wrong. He did not know as they had
been worse than the Louisiana Returning
Board, but he did not approve of their action
Our reporter asked VI .. Newell, Esq, one
! of the best known Democrats and merchants
in the city, what he thought of the counting
out business.
81 think it's sheer fraud" said he, "and
that the men that are engaged in it should not
be sustained. That's just where l stand. It is
simply subverting the will of the people, and
| / shan't back it up. | have just signed call
for an indignation meeting, and signed in good
faith"
Chow long have you been q Democrat?''
eight years. But if the Democratic party
is to degrade itself in this way, I'm done.
shall be square about it,
Mr.. Newell, as is well known was elected
last year by the Lewiston Democrats to the
office of Assessor of Taxes, one of the most re-
sponsible city offices, which he still holds.