Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-11-29
Governor GarcciOn.

I
lie acts of any of its Governors. Begin
ming with William King and ending with
Seldcn Conner. the record OF the long
line i one that commands the respect Of
all our citizens. These men did their duty
as became the chicfEXccutiyes of II
State. with the constitution which they
swore TO obey as their chart and with SUI
prcme respect for the sovereign will OF
the people. For this they are deservedly
honored by men of all parties. They
were partizans il is true. but their parti-
zanship never was permitted to lead them
into acts that were opposed TO the con
stitution and the laws, or in derogaton OF
the sovereign power of the people. 1hey
were men of principle as well rs men OF
ability. They knew what was right, and
they followed where the right led. They
had their temptations as all men III hlgh
office have, but n0 one questions the purl-
tv of their motives or raises II whisper
against them for disloyalty to the State or
disobedience to the constitution.
But if the democratic and greenback
papers can be believed, the present Gov
ernor, Alonzo Garcelon, is about to de
part from the course pursued by his dis
tinguished and upright predecessors a.
Chief Executives OF the State, and to
blast his name and sully the fair fame OF
the State of Maine with an act that will
be reasonable and may leadto deplorable
consequences. The papers referred to
have not scrupled to manufacture dis
graceful speech and put it into the Gov
ernor's mouth, and then eXtol it and him
for the words which it contains insulting
to respectable men who waited upon hum
to ask simple favor as to examining the
election returns. They are besmearing
him with fiattery. They are comparing
him to Andrew Jackson. They are prais-
ing him for pluck, while at the same time it
is evident that if he does the thing they
desire him to do it will be for lack of that
very courage which made Andrew Jack
son famous. He will show true courage
by resisting the appeals and batteries OF
the contingent conspirators. The pres
sure To do wrong is from them. 1t will
require courage to resist it. He will need
strength to shake off the opportunities,
batteries and promises with which they
beseige him. They hold out to him the
prospect of the Governorship and say to
him, Count ont the republican majority
in the Legislature for us and this power
shall be yours another year and per-
haps several years more II the Gov
ernor has true manly pluck and integrity
he will say to them Get behind me. "
If he has not the courage to do that and to
follow the letter and spirit of she constitu
ton in regare to counting the election re-
turns, he will be the first Governor of
Maine disgraced by his official action, and
his name will be despised as long as the
State endures.
Governor Garcelon has the opportunity
to render his name honored, like the
names of those Governors who have gone
before him, but to do it he must turn his
back upon the conspirators who are hound
ing him on to destruction. There is yet
time to avoid the pit into which they have
been hurrying him. The recent treasona-
bic utterances of some of the organs ought
to open his eyes. They ask him to count
out the republicans, right or wrong. They
say if the republicans get control of the
State now they will hold it, and therefore
the Governor should count them out and
keep possession. This is revolutionary
talk. Let the Governor stick to the plain
well.