The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-01-28
lChristian Union.l
In Medias Res.
".some hare qreatness thrust upon Men

'Sonle hare greatness thrust upon men,
That is precisely what has happened to our
little city of Augusta. She awoke few morn
ings ago and found herself iR-famous AS we
Augustans sit at our coffee, the great New
York and Boston dailies before u.s. with their
flaming headlines and startling announce
ments. "Intense Excitement Prevailing, ""The
City Quiet To-Day" ETC., we wonder what city
+hey are "alluding to in their remarks" The
country ought to know that the people OF
Maine get mad, now and then, in decorous,
orthodox way, but excited-never. L have
walked the streets and conversed with the
omasses' quite as much as was becoming in a
"wicked Maine clergyman" and am bound to
depose that the aforementioned masses have
simply "got their grit up" and have sworn by
the gum on their great pine-tree, this hlng
shanf 40 through" 1t must be admitted that
this oath for confirmation was uttered with
firmly adjusted molars, and certain tiinty ex-
preston of the eye which, in Maine, signifies
that something or somebody is in eetrents, or
about to be. In this case it has proved to be
opr Fusion brethren At this moment, not
MANY rods from my study, is assembling for
lorn body of men to enact the one or two re-
traoedy. but. in violation of all rhetorical and
poetical rules, is ending in broad farce.
They are playing at Legislature, while we Re-
pubicans, "wicked clergymen' and all, stand
round about laughing at them. Without a
Quorum, without a treasury, without am eXeeu-
tive officer, there they sit, helpless, conscience
stricken, covered with ignominy, gazing
stock for gods and men.
It is an i'll wind that blows nobody any good,
accordingly, we "Maine clergymen" have been
casting about us to discover the good that TINS
"Sarsar wind of death" may have dispensed
First and foremost we have observed with JOY
the sweeping revival that has passed through
the editorial sanctums of our Democratic
brethren. What carefulness it has wrought in
them, what clearing of themselves, what in
dqnation. yea. what vehement desire, yea,
what zeal, yea what revenge! Who would
NOT he n country parson in Maine to be lectured
bv the Boston ''Post" and the "Globe"! We
innocent clergymen, seeing that poor ola Gar-
celon, his Council and his co-parceners, repre-
senting neither wealth, culture, social or point
ical influence, religion or common morals,
were engaged in huge villainy, did lift up
our voices. like faithful watchmon, as we sup
posed When, 10, gentlemen in Boston, New
York, the middle and the far west, even from
the Pacific coast, began to pour their sweet
ness and light upon us. We who were upon
the ground and knew our men Il speak where-
of do know were greatly perplexed to learn
that we were making war upon the very eject
These foreign protestations breathed such pl-
ous zeal for ''the purity of our clerical robes,
for mthe honor of Gods holy house" for the
dionitv of our sacred Calling" that our eyes
were opened to fact which this Ill whu, a
regular down-easter has cleared TO the Whole
country Whatever may be sald Oh ,he Dein-
ocratic marty, we 'Maine clergymen' are con-
vinced that Democratic editors, in the lump,
are very disinterested, Jealous, devout sous.
We ministers commit our little crusade 10 MS
tory backed by the decision OF the supreme
Court ,os tor, tho
wind alluded to above is that wickedneSs, al
ter all is not as smart as goodness. Wheh
we first set out to corner these WHY gehtieneh
it seemed very much as II we hau goiie 30 non,
hunting in a stage-coach. While we Were
numbering along the kings highway IN tne
good old Constitution, these nmDle SINNERS
went skipping away, cross lots, over Jaw anu @
GOSPEL We thought the decision OF the ou-
6reme Court would head them OIL, put they
Htook it, as lightly as a fox would take stohe
wall. But they were too smart tor each olner;
First "eminent counsel, collared the poor oLu
Governor on his way to Portland, DlouSnS n'hi'
,,j eft nrnlis, to the State House, compelled MN
to submit the subject to the Court. Ihen TINS
same poor old Governor thought he wouid try
his hand without eminent counsel, ana WIN
his expiring executive breath appointed as
comm mander-in-chief our brave orator-Warrlor,
President of Bowdoin, General Chamoerlaih;
thus, at one fell swoop, turning the conspiracy
bodily over to the grasp OF Law w as evsf
neater bit of poetical justice? 80, accoruIng
| to Carlyle, Garcelon "heing nonehtl.y van
| ishes into the great inane, and ChamDerla:in
| being a man takes the neck of this bogus legls-
| lature between his thumb and hnger, ana says,
| "Walk softly and circumspectly, gentlemen OF
| off goes your head. -,..,,, ;s no
| inc strangled by the slow and sure process OF
| law when YOU consider what men have had IL
| in hand Mr. Blaine, in perfect health, I'M
pressing YOU always as 'strong man 10 run
| race. fruitful in resources, relentless IN MS
grasp of Details patient, vigilant, 'lntlrins,
| from the beginning, has anticipated every
move of the conspirators, and by his masteriui
| leadership and inspiring magnetism mas hel
the Republicans steadily and courageousiy at
| their work Often in the councils is seen the
| Romanesaue head of ex-senator Lot M. Mor-
| rill that man of pure gold, who always stanus
| by ''the realities with Spartan hercism; 1lnle
| would fail me to tell of his broad-shouldereu,
ox-hearted brother, Gov. a. Z. Morrill,, OF our
| loval Congregationalist ex-Goy. Dlngiey, eA-
| Governors Connor and Chamberlain, and our
dashing leader of the House, Eugene hsie'
| and back of all these the "wlcked Name MN,
listers" ready to extend "the beneht OF Glergy'
| AUGUSTA, Me. D. H. I'0D'