The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-01-31
Maine Mischief Makers.

away, and the bow of promise shone |
brightly over the state capital. The
Republicans, acting under the decl-
sion Of the Supreme Court, had or
ganized a legal legislature and elected
"A governor and other state officers.
They had gained possession of the |
state house without resort to arms,
the commanding general of the mill
tia had formally recognized the au-
thority of Governor Davis, and all
danger of bloodshed had apparently
passed away forever. The Fuslonists,
who up to that time had been bold
and defiant, showed disposition to
withdraw from the contest, and their
governor expressed himself as anxi-
Gus only to retire from the hopeless
struggle with as good grace as pos
sible. 1t was even doubtful whether
the Fusionists Legislature would re-
assemble at all, and if it did, only to
adjourn sine die. So general was the
conviction that these troubles were
at an end, that the ministers offered
up thankful prayers in the churches.
and the members of both political
parties did not hesitate to express
their satisfaction that peaceful set
Element had been reached. How
different is the situation to-day The
Fusionsts are more belligerent than
ever their organs breathe Dreathen-
lngs and slaughter, and the Republic
can Governor has been forced to call
out the military to protect the state
house from assault. The Fusionist
treasurer has stolen the great seal of
the state and used it to give the ap-
pearance of legality to the acts of the
mock government; the Fusionlst
governor has eXerted himself to raise
an armed force to resist the lawful
militia of the state, and the Fusion
ist legislature is contemplating the
establishment of a new state capital,
under the protection of the Demo-
cratic municipality of Biddeford.
The facts which have been set forth
in the press dispatches do not fully
account for this SINGULAR change of
front. 1t is true that the incorporate
counsels of such men as Pillsbury,
the editor of the Fusionists organ,
and Gould, the legal adviser of the
Fusionists, have had much to do with
keeping alive the spirit of resistance ;
but we cannot believe that in the alb
sence of more substantial reasons for
persistence they would have over
come the scruples of men who but
one week ago admitted that theirpo-
sition was untenable, and avoWed
their intention of submitting to the
Some more potent 5t infYnHeefnHce Ai must
have been brought TO bear upon the
obstructionists than has yet been dis
covered, and we shall not be sur
prised if revelations yet to be made
shall disclose the fact that the course
of the Fusionists during the past
week, was inspired and directed by
political manipulatorS outside of the
state, and for purposes more impor-
tant than the mere control of local
Offices. 1t is no secret that it was a
part of the plan of the Fusi0nists, in
case they succeeded-as they conf
IDENTIFY expected-in securing undis-
puted possession of the legislature, to
change the method of choosing pres
idential electors, SO as to give that
power into the hands of the legisla-
ture, and thereby secure the state for
the Democratic candidate. 1t is true
that the present legislature would
not be vested with that authority,
but they hoped by repetition of the
tactics employed by Governor Garce-
lon and Council this year to secure
another Democratic Legislature next
autumn, in which event the DISPOSE,
ton of the electoral vote OF the state
would be a foregone conclusion.
Losing this opportunity, nothing
could prevent the choice of Republi-
can electors. 1t is no secret, as we
have said, that this plan was serious.
ly entertained at one time by the
Democrats, and there is no evidence
that it has ever been abandoned. If
then, INSCRIPTIONS political leaders
in other states believing, perhaps,
that the Republicans of New York
contemplated similar coup d'etat,
had determined that the exigencies
of the party required the communi.
cation Of this plan, we have already
to hand an all-sutlicient motive for
thecountenance which has been given
TO the Fusionists, and which seems
10 have been powerful enoug.. to
persuade even the most conservative
OF their number to defy at once the
courts and the military. What the
outcome of this prolonged resistan nee
will be il is of course imDOsSible To