Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-11-27
An Outrage Contemplated in Maine.

An outrage contemplated III Malnes
A characteristic plot for securing a
continuance Of the power of the Demo-
cratic state officials in Maine has Just
been developed, but whatever may be its
result it will sooner or later
rccoil with crushing effect upon the party
in the interest of which it has been con.
cocted. The recent election for governor
in Maine resulted as follows:
Davis, Republican. ,463
Smith, Gseenbacker.............. $40
Garcelon, Democrat........ JIG
Bradbury, Democrat aud scattering. Sl1
The state constitution requiring
majority to elect, there was no choice
by the people, for although the kepub.
lican candidate had a very large plural
ity, he lacked $50 of a maj ority over sill
opponents. In such cases the constitu.
ton provides that the lower house of the
legislature shall send to the senate two
names from the four highest Of the can
didAtes voted for, one of which shall be
elected governor. As at the last election
the Republicans elected 10 senators to
the Democrats and Greenbackers II, and
al Representatives, 60 by the opposition,
they very properly counted on being
able to place their candidate in
the gubernatorial chair. But just here
appears the conspiracy to cheat them
out Of their we'll earned victory. The
constitution and laws of the state require
the governor and council, who in the
present instance are Democrats, to send
certificates of election to the persons who,
on the face Of the returns, appear to be
chosen to the senate and house,
and if the returns are irregular
or defective in form they can
send to the town authorities for such cor
rections as will make them conform to
the result as recorded in the local re-
cords. Any inquiry iato the regularity
Of the election is the province of the
two houses, which, as in other states, are
made judges of the election and qualifi.
cations of their members. Immediately
after the election the Democrats
raised the cry Of fraud and bribery
and they have kept it up ever
since, with what purpose now appears.
The Boston Globe, the organ Of that
political saint, Ben. Butler, has been con-
spicuous in this cry of corruption, and
has devoted columns to disseminating
the idea that the Republicans carried
the state by bribery aud other forms of
crime against the ballot box. But
after all this noise, upon being
pressed for evidences of its charges,
it made out to show that. sew.
enty~six dollars, in the aggregate, was
spent in seven towns for election eur.
poses. No one who ku7ws anything
about political management would &C.
riously claim that any great amount OF
corruption could be worked with such
an Insignificant sum, were the managers
30 disposed. The noeagerness of the sum
is, on its face, evidence that it was used
solely in payment Of legitimate expenses
of the campaign. A pretended letter of
Senator Blaine was published az evidence
of fraud, but the senator promptly de.
nounced it as q forgery, and the Globe
showed its animus by refusing to publish
| bis card.
| 1t is said that on this irresponsible
cry of fraud the Democratic governor
and council have determined to assume
the power to reject the votes of all
! towns where irregularities or frauds are
alleged; and, as these are all Repu blican
towns, the Democrats would thus secure
control Of the legislature at It's organjza.
ton, and before the vacancies could be
filed they would have secured the cleo
tion Of their candidate for governor.
If the Democracy dare consumnnate 80
bold usurpation of power, they will
meet with a retribution at the hands of
the people, a year hence, that will
efectually preclude the possibility of
their ever again repeating the crime. II
there was any fraud in the election there
is legitimate way of exposing and
Furnishing it, but 80 glaring an outrage
upon law and the will of the majority of
the people as is proposed by these minor
;ty officials cannot be tolerated without
incurring the greatest peril to the prin.
ciple Of free and honest elections. 49,