Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-20

Justify the counting out of large Republican
town that would destroy Republican Sena
tor or Representative. To contrive all thi,
required time, and so the present Council
worked over the returns cooking and doctor
| ing them from October Both to Dec. 18th
For this period they did it openly. How long
before Oct. 30 the returns were surreptitious-
| ~ opened will never be known till the Coun-
ell grant the investigation asked by Mr..
Rounds. Ordinarily in former years, a week
or ten days sufficed for an honest Council 10
count the returns.
Sixth-To make some sort of covering for
the atrocious fraud they have committed, a
great effort has been made to prove that the
republicans carried the election by bribery
and corruption. This is a Fictitious and
fraudulent pretense, got up to cover case.
Why don't they indict somebody? They
tried it in September, before Grand Jury,
two thrds of whose members were fusionists,
and they came very near indicting democrats
instead of republicans. They have got up a
large number of afidavts from men of q GER
tain character, telling how they had been
bought for one dollar, or two dollars, or
some triffiing sum- Many of these affidavts
have been recalled by the parties, who made
counter-statements, declaring they had made
the first affidavit when drunk on the liquor
which the democratic agent furnished. If
man will sell his vote for dollar, or any
other sum, he is hardly the witness to appear
as public prosecutor Of a great party. The
whole effort to sustain the bribery charge has
been attended with disgracefu conduct by
the men who started it, and who have syste
maticaly bribed their witnesses to commit
perjury. These democratic and greenback
agents have really beeng guilty themselves of
bribery, of subornation, of perjury and OF
getting men drunk enough to be participants
in both crimes.
Seventh-Some of the democrats who
chucklc in private over this infamy, and do
not wish to come out in square approval o. it,
are in the habit of charging it off against
Louisiana, where they allege the republicans
cheated the democrats. Well, certainly the
Maine republicans did not cheat the Louisi
ana democrats, and even if somebody else
had done it, the Maine republicans ought not
to be made vicarious sacrifice But there
was no cheat in Louisiana. The bulldozers
and murderers of that State were warned by
law that wherever they wrought violence in
parish, and destroyed the right and power
of peaceful voting, the parish should be
thrown out. This was the law Whether
wise or unwise is not for us to determine;
but it was the law, and the enforcement of
that law defeated Mr.. Tilden and elected Pres
ident Hayes. But where on earth is the
analogy to sustain fraud in Maine. unless
you consider it good morals to steal my
purse in Maine because you think an ac
quaintance of mine robbed your friend in
Louisiana.
Eighth-And now we are asked with the
insolence of the highwayman making off with
stolen property, what we are going to do
about it?
We are pursued with the taunt that we
cannot help ourselves, and are boldly told
that the same Tribunal that has done the
counting this year will be in position next
year to repeat the game. And such l have
no doubt is the deliberate intent.
Success always inspires courage, and if the
people of Maine meekly submit now they
will be called upon for a still greater display
of meekness hereafter. The prizes next year,
beside the State officers, are five representa-
tives in Congress, a senator of the United
States, seven Presidential electors, and the
undisputed possession of the political power
of the State until Jan. 1888, as we are to have
biennial elections hereafter. Within that
time they could appOrtion the State into Leg
islative and Congressional districts to suit
themselves, gerrymandering at WILL appoint
the valuation commissioners, who would
punish certain sections of the State by an
undue and unfair share of taxation, and gen
orally run riot after the reckless style of adj
ministration already inaugurated. This is
the treat to which the people of Maine are
invited. This is the burden for which
they are asked to bend their backs. This
is the degradation to which they are ex-
pected to submit. A great popular uprising
will avert these evils and restore honest gov
eminent to Maine-and the people are
already moving.
At the close of Senator Blaine's remarks
the old hall was set ringing and ringing again
with applause, and the widest excitement
his remarks should terminate and the honor
able Senator's name was called and repeated
by scores of voices. When the outburst had
subsidized, the President read the following
despatch:
BosToN, December 10.
Chairman Indignation Netting, or Hon. j.
g. Blaine:
When the Louisville Courier-Journal sug-
gests hanging Garcelon, (the New York
World denounces Governor and Council with
out reservation, and every independent dem
ocratic paper of the country does the same),
we can safely appeal to the people of Maine
VINO Will Dranu tnese COnSplTatOTS as the
blacklist villains of this century.
JAS. A. HALL.
A burst of applause greeted the telegram,
and then there were calls for Rev. Mr.. Ecob,
pastor Of the Congregational Church In re-
spouse the reverend gentleman came for
ward He said that when ministers and pas
tors of congregations signed the call for a
meeting of this kind, and were willing to
come forward, it was because they were i'm
pressed with the greatness of the occasion
1t was no small matter for ministers to take
such position, and they would not if not
impressed with the conviction that every citi-
zen should take decided stand. BY taking
such position they say to all that they have
planted themselves squarely and determined.
ly against any such action. He was proud of
the record of ministers, for every time they
were on the side of liberty, freedom and JUS
tice. He held the vote to be a sacred thing,
and did not propose to see it trampled under
foot. 1t was the ministerial vote which
smote slayery-the bayonet came in at its