Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-01-19
AN ELEMENT OF DANGER.


Every rejecting man who takes an in
terest in current events and who is not
in sympathy with the controlling element
of the Democratic party, must have come
to the conclusion within the few past
weeks that the Democratic leaders, or
those who manage the party, are as much
an element of danger as they were in
1861 and during the war. At that pc
riod few men in the North believed that |
those leaders, who were defeated at the |
ballot-box. would revolt against that de.
cision. Six months ago there were few
intelligent Republicans who believed
that the Democratic leaders or any part
of them would unite in a conspiracy to
carry the next Presidential election by
fraud and outrage. Indeed, when the
fears of Senator Carpenter were made
public few weeks ago, there were many
intelligent Republicans who regarded
his predictions as something of politi-
cal scare or an attempt to consolidate
the Republicans ranks and to aid the
Grant movement. The development of
the past few weeks must have re-
duced the number of Republicans, or
even of independent men, who believe
that the leaders of the Democratic party
are not only an element of danger, but
that many of them are conspiring to car
ry the next Presidential election by force
and fraud, if resort to such means is
necessary.
The outrage which has been perpetra-
I-------S| OuOA Nv q Iva 7.
If any one had been so rash as to have
predicted three months ago that the
Democratic leaders in Maine would have
pursued the course they have, he would
have been pronounced an alarmist or a
knave. If it had been predicted at that
time that nine-tenths of the Democratic
journals in the country, including all
that have influence in the party, would
indOrse such an usurpation as has been
perpetrated in Maine, the person making
it would have been regarded a political
bigot. The fact that the dominant ele-
ment of the Democratic party in Maine,
embracing all of the old anti-war lead
ers, have united in a conspiracy which
involves the reversing of the will of the
people, the organizing of Legislature
not elected by the people, and plain vio-
lations of the constitution as interpreted
by the Supreme Court, has not only at
tracted the attention of all men of really
conservative tendencies, but has filled
their minds with feelings of alarm.
They ask. What is the significance Of
this overriding of the decision of the
people and violation of the Constitution
and the laws Is this revolutionary &C
: ton to be confined to Maine, or is it to be
b the policy of the party throughout the
t country and in Congress Why is il
t that the most prominent leaders in tn,
S Democratic party, and especially thos,
y who are in official position, have approx
n ed or refused to condemn that outrage !;
IS The action of Congress is not assur
is ing. The committee on Elections i
e hearing cases where the change of on
e representative will give a majority 0
j. members to the opposition. The pas
e week cases in Indiana and Minnesot
d have been considered-and why? Be
If cause the change of representative i
e each of these States will insure major
ity of Democratic Representatives, whicl
in the event that there is no choice q
81 President by the people, the House ma
n be Democratic by States, and thus il
n sure the election of the Democratic car
n didate. 1t is believed that one of til
a. designs of the present proceedings i
he Maine on the part of the Democrats
I'd to place that State in position whel
at the Democratic Senate and House woul
OF have a pretext for refusing to count i
in electoral vote. Nothing, therefore, woul
in have suited them better than for IL
81 Republicans to have taken possession
ut the State House and set up the legal
lie elected Legislature. 1t may be tn;
as present complications may afford such
be pretext.
I'D These things taken together-tl
at Democratic usurpation in Maine and Il
ne evident purpose of the Democrats in IL
al Greenbackers to get control of the m
10 jority of the State delegations-are t
in day the causes of widespread and tho
~ ough apprehension. In connection vii
Dr. these movements, the recklessness viii,
lit these leaders exhibit and their thoroue
nd disregard of the justice. equity. the forr
of law, presidents and even of constit