The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-29
Solon Chase's Views.
The Duty OF the Greenback Members to
Deal Out Even-Handed Justice.

The Bangor Commercial has received the
following from Mr.. Solon Chase, in reply to
request for his views on Counting out" and
Counting in:''
Thus far, only the Governor and Council
have acted In acting according to the strict
letter of the law, the Governor and Council
may have overlooked the common law, which
is founded on common sense and justice, and
which is in the head of every honest man. This
common law is the shield and sheet-anchor of
our liberties, and cannot be winked at. If the
Greenbaokers had carried the House and Sem
ate on the face of the returns, and the Reprb-
licans had had the returning board, and they
had done just what the Governor and Council
have done, how we would have howled; and it
is no wonder the Republicans howl. The Leg
islaton of the Republican party has been most
villanous-has robbed the producer to enrich
the fund-holder, and we have made our gains
by showing this robbery 1t is only by homes
ty and devotion to our principles that we can
hope to make gains in the future. The Green
back members of the Legislature are honest
men-too honest to stay in the old parties
and now they have a duty to do. That duty
is to deal out even handed justice. As there
are many vacancies in the Legislature, justice
to the people demands that these vacancies
be filled as soon as may be- so that the whole
State be represented in the business of Legis-
lation. In settling contested seats, techni-
calities must not stand in the way OF equi-
ties. Nothing short of evsn-handed justice
will satisfy fair-minded men. The Greenback
axe must hew to this line, and let the chips
fall which way they will. The Greenback
party will be responsible for the acts of
the Greenback Legislature. A majority of the
men who hold certificates as members of the
Legislature are Greenbackers. These men are
the jury to review the action of the Governor
and council, and can go behind returns II the
verdict of that jury is hawk-eyed, and made up
according to the logic of to Z, it will be a
scorpion bite to the rag-baby. II the jury metes
out equal and exact justice to all men, it will
be feather in the cap of the Grcenback party
of Maine. To resist the Governor and Council
until their action has been reviewed by the
Legislature is resistance to the constituted au-
thorities. The findings of the Governor and
Council are binding for the time being. An
attempt to set aside the decisions of the Gov
ernor and Council by force is revolution. Law
less force, no matter from what source it comes,
cannot usurp the place of authority clothed
with the form of law. Ii our constitution
leaves open chance to count in" men who
are not elected, the Greenback Legislature will
provide a way to remedy that defect. The
partisans of one of the old parties say, in
''counting out" only justice has been done.
The others say tits revolution Counting OUT
is no novelty for either of the old parties. This
time the Democratic bull has gored the Re-
publican OK, and that alters the case. The peo-
pie are waiting to see ''them steers" pull.