The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-11-25
THE GovERNORSHIP.
A Letter from the President OF Bates Col
leRe.
LEWISTON, Nov. a, 1880.

| LEWISTON, Nov. "a, 1880.
Mr.. EDITOR:
Your leader of Monday of this week in re-
gard to the duty of the Legislature to declare
| Gen. Plaisted elected Governor, reflects, as I
think, the general feeling of the Republican
party in this section of the State. The Lewis
ton Journal has also pointed out the right way
and presume other Republican papers have
done the same. 1t was on the Sabbath day
that I read the opinion of the Justices of the
Supreme Judicial Court of the State of Maine
on "The Counting Out" and after had read
them wrote the word golden before the word
| opinions, for in no better way could 1 express
my estimation of their value in protecting
the people of the State in their civil rights
Now, the people believe that Gen.
| Plaisted is as truly chosen Governor of Maine
| as that Gen. Garfield is chosen President of
| the United States and the great principles
| which the Republican party fought for last
winter, and which the Supreme Court (not as
partsans) sustained and established, must be
maintained by his Inauguration. There are
no two sides to this question. If the people
are not to be deprived of their county officers,
their Representatives and their Senators by
the blunders the rascalties of returning
boards, for stronger reason they are not to
be deprived of their. Governor in any such
way. The outrage would be greater as the
Office is higher.
Much as L desired the reelection of Gov.
Davis at the time voted for him. yet it seems
to me providential that we as Republicans are
so soon put to the test as to our sincerity in
the principles we have advocated.
As party we need this trial, the State
needs it, the nation needs it, and am proud
that we welcome it.
Senator Blaine expressed the feeling of the
party in his telegram Just after the election
aud when the result was doubtful. He said
that if General Plaisted had one vote more
than Gov. Davis, he should be inaugurated
Governor. Doing wrong is death to any
party in the end; but the death always comes
sooner to the Republican party, because of its
high professions.
The counting out of last year was crime,
because the whole proceeding was monstrousy
wicked; and many pulpits in our State were
out-spoken in condemning it, The ministers
of Maine did not speak as politicians, but
solely as those whose duty it is to cry aloud
against whatever is wrong.
Let Gen. Plaisted be deprived Of his seat in
the Governors chair on a mere technicality
only, any proceeding that shall look like
trickery, and the pulpits of this State would
speak again in solemn denunciation of the
whole thing. They but whispered truth
before; this time they would
Speak
AS tue tempest uotn, sterHer anu stronger.
The constitutional amendment has been
adopted in good faith, the Republican party
framing the resolution of adoption to suit it.
self; and for the party to question its author
ity now that it does not get the advantage OK
pected from it, would be disgraceful in the
highest degree.
1t is said that Gov. Davis takes this view of
the matter; and that under the circumstances
he would not take the Office of Governor for
the next two ayears, if rendered him. All
praise to him. 1t is just what might be ex-
pected of him; and this position he takes does
him more honor than to be Governor twenty
years!
Let, then, the proceedings of the Leg
islature go along as quietly as they would
90, had Gov. Davis received a plurality of the
votes cast for Governor. Let all errors in the
returning of votes be corrected. Let there be
no appeal to the court-certainly let no Repub-
lican have anything to do in taking an appeal.
The business interests of the state, to say moth
ing of the higher interests of education aud re.
ligion, proclaim in a loud voice: "Let US have
peace"
Gen. Plaisted is man of character as we'll
as ability, and he has splendid opportunity
before him as the Executive of free and
noble commonwealth. God give him wisdom
to see what is right and courage to do right
when it is seen. He thus ruling, he may ex-
pect the people of our state will give him what
will be justly his due-their united sympathy
and support o. B. CHENEY.