Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-11-19
1aiIp Aennebet Journal.
Augusta, Wedn s lay Morning, Nov. 10, TO
Worsc and Worse.


Things have come to Il strange pass in
the State of Maine. We held an election
in September in which the republican
candidate for Governor had 10000 more
votes than the greenback candidate and
l6, 600 more than the democratic candidate
we also elected 80 epublicaTmembers to
the next House, and - to the next Senate,
while the democrats and greenbackers
elected only 6l to the House, and II
to the Senate. The election returns pub
lished in all the papers Immediately after
election showed the result as we have
stated. Those returns came directly from
the town, city. and plantation officials and
agree with the records wnich they made
at the time.
But with all this large popular vote and
great preponderance in the Legislature over
the fusionists, a plot has been Matched by a
nest of conspirators intended to thwart the
plain expression Of the popular will and
retain in power those who have been vot-
Gu Jul at tiit DdilSt-DoN. nt ItPubiittth
papers exposed the intended outrage and
protested against it. Then some Of the
best representatives of the republican par
ty, including nearly all the ex-Governors
of the State for the last twenty-five years,
also members of Congress and Senators,
met here at the Capital to take counsel to-
gether and to seek by peaceful, legal, and
fair means to prevent the consummation of
this great wrong. They have been in per-
son to the State House asking
permission to see the returns--to be heard
in relation to the matter-to have an OPP
portunity to learn who of the republicans
elect are to be counted out and for what
reason-but they are not only denied ac
cess to the returns which now should be
open to the inspection Of the whole pub
lie, but their petitions to be heard are
treated with contempt, and the door of
the council chamber is closed against the
most honored and best men we have in the
State
Yesterday efforts were made by ex-Gov-
ernor Dingley and other gentlemen to OBJ
tain hearing of the Council. but the
Council were so deeply interested in con-
sdering the petition of rumseller for
pardon--as we understandable they had
no time to give Mr. Dingley and others
hearing upon subject which is agitating
the State from centre to circumference and
threatening the liberties of the people with
destruction, and on the above pretext re-
fused to admit him to their presence. We
are told that not an instance is known
in the history of our State, prior to
this, in which any individual, no matter
how poor and humble, has been refused
hearing by the Governor and Council. 1t
was among the complaints of our fore
fathers who rose in arms against British
tyranny, that they were permitted no voice
in selecting their rulers, and that their
petitions were spurned with contempt
from the foot Of the throne. The repub-
licans of Maine have the same reason for
complaint against the Governor and Coun-
cilthat our fathers had against King George
and his ministers. They are going to
place such men in Office as they please re-
CARELESS of the popular will, and the pc
titions of the people tor redress are
spurned from the door of the Council
Chamber.