The Portland daily press., 1880-01-26
Now that the design is foiled the Demo,

Now that the design is foiled the Demo-
Gratis will go about saying that there never
was any purpose On their part to attack and
some of them will believe it. The conspira-
tors Systematically deceive considerable
part of their own people as to their designs,
knowing that there are many, even OF the
Democrats, who would not consent to go to
the lengths contemplated by the desperate
managers They are leading the more de-
cent of their party along step by step until
by degrees they shall become committed 10
the EXTREMIST designs. Thus they call to-
gether the kid glove Democracy OF Portland
to conferences at the Falmouth Hotel and
ask Of them advice which they don't mean
to follow, simply for the purpose OF inter
esting and amusing these kid glove gentry
and keeping them i'll sympathy with the Au-
gusta performances. SO these dupes OF
wickeder and smarter men keep up the talk
against the State authorities and judiciary
and say, innocently enough, that no vio-
lence is meant by their people, and thus by
their very stupidity do immense harm to the
public conscience and bring great peril to
the public peace. And few Republicans
are found dull enough to echo their words;
there are very few, however, for the great
mass of our party is thoroughly reused to
the gravity of the situation and is not to be
put off with empty words of disclaimer
from men who don't know.
A grave feature of the outlook at the pres
ent time is the formation of a number of
the ''Brick Pomeroy Leagues" or assem-
blages of people of communistic
theories who are oathbound to agitate and
upturn until :he social fabric is remodeled
to conform to their peculiar views. One Of
these leagues, with many members, exists in
Portland and there are said to be several
others in Maine. They of course are eager
to take advantage of such condition of af-
fairs as Maine furnishes to-day. These men
are an impor ant factor in the present dis
turbances and exercise much more poten-
tial influence over the Fusionist councils
than do the men who rate as respectable
Democrats. When Col. Blood figures on
j. L. Smiths staff and Fogg and Stacy are
foremost actors IN the L uSlOn ufduld, IL uoeo
not require great wisdom or acuteness to
discover that something very wrong is going
on.
Some end of this bad business must be
made soon. 1t is not prudent to let it run
much longer 1t has been hoped that
after a few days of sulks the Fusion mem
bers of the legislature would take their seats
and attend to their business like men. A
traditional allowance of twenty-fonr hours
is made to defeated litigants in which to
curse the court. These men have had a
week for it and it is time that they should
behave themselves. If their silly perform
ance injured only themselves it might go
on, but it is entirely paralyzing business and
disturbing the public mind to very inJurl-
GUS extent 1t is certainly serious question
for Governor Davis and his councillors to
consider whether it is not their duty forth
with to arrest Smith, Sawyer and others
who are personating public officers and to
disperse the men who are playing at being a
legislature. The State is suffering greatly
by the continuance of their foolish action.
We may have confidence that the Governor
is conscious of this suffering and will at the
proper moment act with discretion, prompt
ness and resolution.