Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-12-26
Tho Maine Infamy.
SENATOR BLAINE on THE swINDIE.


In his speech at the great indignation
meeting at Augusta, Me, Mr. Blaine, made
the following effective points:
First-The Governor and Council have re-
fused certificates to % Republican members
of the IIousc and 10 eight Senators, 81 in all
swept off and ont Ivy one wave of an auto
cratic hand.
Second-0f this entire number there was
not one case for which the law did not pro-
vide and direct the mode of correction. But
the Council said the law was UnconSttution-
al, and they set it aside.
Third-1hore have been 50 annual cleo
tons in Maine. carried in turn by the old
National Republicans, by Democrats, by
Wings, aud for 90 years by the Republicans.
In all that time not so many fatal defects"
in the returns have been found, nor so many
Senator's and Representatives counted out as
Governor Garcelon and lis Council have
counted ont this single year. Not half so
many.
Fourth-And all the ''iatal defects" are in
Republican Senatorial ana Representative
districts. Not one of the Democrats or
Greenbaclcrs elected to the Senate or House
was found to have a defective return behind
him-cf course not, after the returns had
been secretly and surreptiliously doctorcd.
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 factious and fraud
ulent prctcnse, got up 10 cover n case. Why
don't they indict somebody: They tried it
in September before a grand jury, two-thirds
of whose members were FuSonists and they
came very near indicting Democrats instead
of Republicans. They have got up large
number of aflidavits from men of a certain
character. telling how they had been bought
for 81 or 90 or some tritling sum. Many
Of these aifidavits have been recalled by
parties who made counter statements dcclar-
ing they had made the first affidavit when
drunk, on liquor which the Democratic agent
furnished. If a man will sell his vote for a
dollar, or any other sum, he Is hardly the
witness to appear as the public prosecutor OF
great party. The whole effort to sustain
the bribery charge has been attended with
disgraceful conduct by the men who started
it, and who have Systematically hrihed their
witnesses to commit perjury. These Demo
cratic and Greenback agents have really been
guilty themselves Of bribery, of subornation
of perjury, and of gettingmcn drunk enough
to be participants in both crimes.
Seventh-Some of the Democrats who
chuckle in private over this infamy, and do
not wish TO come out in square approval of
it, are in the habit of charging it OFF against
Louisiana where, they allcgc the Republicans
cheated the Democrats. Well, Certainly,
Maine Republicans did not cheat Louisiana
Democrats, and even if somebody else had
done so, Maine Republicans ought not to be
made 4 vicarious sacrifice. But there was
cheat in Louisiana. The bull-dozers and
murdercrs of that State were warned by law
that wherever they wrought violence in a
parish. and destroyed the right and power
of peaceful voting, the parish should he
thrown out. This was the law; whether
wise or unwise was not for us 10 deter
mine. But it was the law, and the enforce
mcnt of that law defeated Mr.. Tildcn and
elected President Hayes. But where on
earth is the analogy 10 sustain a fraud in
Maine, unless You consider it good morals to
steal my purse because you think an acquain-
lance of mine robbed your friend in Louis
lana
Eighth-And now we are asked, with the
insolencc of the highwayman making off
with stolen property, What are we going to
do about it: We are pursued with the taunt
that we cannot help ourselves, and are bold
ly told that the same tribunal that has
''done" the country this year will he in a
position next year to repeat the game, and
such ! have no doubt is the deliberate inten-
ton. Success always inspires courage, and
if the people of Maine meclily submit now,
they will I've called on for still greater dis
play of meckness hereafter. The prizes next
year, besides the State offices, are five Rep
resentativcs a Senator of the United States
seven Presidential Electors, and the undis-
puted possession Of the political power of the
State Till January, lSS3, as we are to have
biennial elections hereafter. Within that
time they could apporlon the State into Leg
islativc and Congressional districts to suit
themselves, gcrrymandcring at will to ap-
point the Valuation Commissioners, who
will punish certain sections OF the State 10y
an undue and unfair share of taxation, and
run riot, after the reckless style
of the Administration already inauguratcd
This is the treat To which the people are in
vited; this is the burden for which they are
asked To bend their backs this is the dcgra
dation To which they are expected to submit
\ great popular uprising will avert these
evils and restore honest government to
Maine, and the people are already moving.