The Portland daily press., 1880-03-08
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE.
N. Y. Times
DR.. GarcelOn's Grief.

| The result of the late municipal elections in
Maine shows that the people of that State are
sunk in the mire of tyranny. This figure may
| be mixed one; but asst is taken from Demo-
| cratic newspaper, it is applicable to the occa-
| sion. 1t is well known that the late Governor
of the State, DR.. Alonzo Garcelon, SO Justly
famed for his crusade against gum-chewing,
was actuated by the highest and noblest i'm
pulses when he counted out majority of Re-
publisans who had been elected to the Legisla-
ture, and counted in majority of Democrats
and Greenbackers who had not been elected.
Devoted to tbs Constitution of our fathers, and
with his weather-eye serenely fixed upon the
office of Superintendent of the State Insane
Asylum, DIR. Garcelon proceeded to doctor the
election RETURNS according to the Con-
stitution and the laws" There was some
opposition to this statesmanlike course.
There were people who affirmed that the
failure to dot an or cross a should not be
used to defeat the will of the voters as ex-
pressed at the ballot-box. As if the technical
tiles of law were not of more account than the
political opinions and wishes of the people of
State When suspicious and misunderstanding
men, who were afraid that DIR. Garcelon would
cal friends waited on him to ask him what he
was to do, he smote his manly chest and said
that he would do right though the heavens
should fall. He would strictly obey the Con-
stitution and the laws. Chatting under the un-
deserved censure of Republican newspapers.
which charged him with conspiracy and theft,
and forgery, the excellent Garcelon wrote let
ters to the New York journals, defying his de-
iamers toshow where he had deviated one iota
from the law and the Constitution. According
to his view Of the case, the people of Maine
stood by him, and but for a few disappointed
offce-seekers, his course would not be called
in question by any man. His final decision.
which gave Legislative majority to a Demo
cratic and Greenback minority, he declared
was the p-oudest act of his life. Whereunon
some of the Democratic newspapers dubbej
him cold Hickory" and nominated him for
tie Presidency.
The Supreme Court, without the least re-
spect for Garcelon's opinions, brushed away
his reasons for giving the seats of Republican
members to Democratic non-members, and ac-
tualiy declared that his honest and patriotic
course was not much better than treason His
highest and holiest motives being thus brutal
ly assailed, DR.. Garcelon could only appeal to
the people. The Supreme Court had declared
that II would not recognize his ingeniously-
constructed Legislature, and would recognize
the Legislature which the people, in their
eeIindless, nad elected. So, with a solemn con-
fdence in the sacredness of technicalities. DIR.
Garcelon appealed to the people. Speaking to
the citizens OF Auburn, ON the eve of the late
election, the Doctor and Ex-Governor said
III you believe that have done right-have
Iearlessy performed my duty by following the
law and the Constitution--vote the Democratic
ticket" Furthermore, the Ex-Governor said.
III you do not believe this, vote the Republican,
tlcKet; vote for a revolutionary Government;
vote Tor an arstocracy; vote to make vour
selves slaves" With singular unanimitv
the people voted that they did not believe that
Garcelon and his late associates fearlessly per-
formed their duty, by strictly following the law
ana the CONSTITUTION. The citizens of Auburn
elected Republican Mayor by majority of
4f3 against majority of IL one wear ago.
And Lewiston, the home of this stainless pat
riot, responded by giving Republican ma
1orlty OF w, against AZ, which they gave for
the kepubllcan State ticket last September
With blind disregard for the ex-Governor's
feelings, which no Democrat can understand
the State at large rolled up tremendous Re-
publican maJorities, voting, according to DIR.
aristocracy, and slavery. Blindly rushing into
the arms OF despotism, Portland elected Re-
publican Mayor by majority of over 1000,
against Democratic majority 40 one year ago
The homes OF Garcolon's Councillors went for
revolutionary Government and slavery with a
rush. And in Bath, a city disfranchised by the
ex-Governor's devotion to the proper crossing
OF t and the legitimate dotting of an i. there
was no Democratic candidate for Mayor in the
field.
The papers left behind them by the Garce
lon camp seem to justify the verdict of the yot-
ers OF Maine. For example, Gov. Garcelon
informed the Republicans who waited upon
him, Nov. II, 1879, that no examination of the
returns, and no changes therein, would be per-
mltted. But it has been since discovered that
changes in the interests Of the Democrats were
made in the returns, and letters from Demo-
cratic election officers suggesting these changes,
and dated prior to Nov. II, 1879, are found
among the late Governors papers. And it is
also discovered that "a fatal defect in one
election return, by which a Republican
was counted out, was made in the return after
1t had reached the Governors hands, The
capital letter III in the candidates name was
lngeniously turned into an A; and, to show
that this happy thought was an afterthoupht.
this alteration appears inIthe tabulated returns,
as well as in the documents originally received
from the election officers. Undoubtedly, Gov
Garcelon, in his frenzied anxiety to perform
his duty fearlessly, by strictly following the
laws and the Constitution, accidentally, ard in
moment OF forgetfulness, changed that letter
and created one of those "fatal defects which
subsequently caused him so much grief In his
letter to the New York Sun Gov. Garcelon in
vited the people of the United States to show
where he had not exactly followed the Consti-
tuition and the law 1t was not known at that
time that there was any law in Maine author
izing the Governor to alter election returns to
suit himself. OF course, there must be such q
law, or the excellent Garcelon would not have
done this And now the people of Maine have
actually said that they do not like it. The ex-
Governor asked for a verdict on his course, and
he has got it.