New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-30
CONDENSED HISTORY.


For the past three months the newspapers
of the country have been occupied to an
unusual degree with the public affairs OF the
State of Maine That ordinarily quiet and
peaceful Commonwealth has never before
been so much the subject Of public in
terest. of conversation and discussion. This
interest will presently cease; the State will
lapse back into the rut of routine, and the Oc-
curiences which have given her such unusual
prominence will pass out OF mind. But before
thew are forgotten entirely it will not be out
of place to gather the salient features and
condense in a few sentences the history of "A
very remarkable transaction. They hardly
need comment, for to all thoughtful
minds they carry their own, but they
contain lesson in government which it would
be unwise to neglect. and offer revelations
concerning the splrlt and purpose of great
marty which aspires 10 direction and control
70 which we shall do well to give heed. The
chief interest that abdes now. after the con-
spirators have been baked and failure has
fallen on the plot, is in the light thrown
by it on the purposes of the party under
whose auspices the great fraud was at
TEMPTED. For it must be borne in mind
that the scheme was by no means merely local,
She desperate adventure OF few politicians
anxious to retain possession of the small
offices they held, but part of wider plan
that embraced the whole country in its scope
and had the Federal Government, with all Its
patronage and power, for Its objective point.
And the party that originated it-for whose
sole benefit it was cOncOcted and " hose lead
ers everywhere encouraged thrust be held
accountable for it.
After the election in September last the
counting of the votes showed beyond dues
ton the success of the Republicans in both
branches of the Legislature. There WAS no
doubt as to any important point except for
few DAYS as to the choice of q Governor by
the people The official returns disclosed the
fact that the Republican candidate, though
having handsome plurality over the rest
had a few hundred votes less than an
actual majority over all. This was not
considered a matter of any moment. as the
fact of an undisputed majority in both
branches of The Legislature made his election
certain. No man in or ont of the State
dreamed of disputing this state of facts.
There were no contests Of seats in specific
cases; but in a little while tile cOnspirators
began to pave the way for their plot
by circulating cock-and-bull stories about
wholesale bribery which they were unable
to verify. Then came The TRIBUNE's an
nouncement that wholesale counting ont
was contemplated which WOULD give the
Democrats the Legislature, anu Il consequence
the State officers 1t seemed 80 bald piece
of rascality that the public was incred-
ulous. and some Democratic newspapers
sneered at the unnecessary alarm Of
the Republicans. But the conspirators
went on in their shameless work.
They dsregarded Republican protests, estab-
lished custom, precedent, the rules OF official
courtesy, common justice and common de-
cency. The badge of fraud was on every step
of their proceedings. They made no claim