New-York tribune., 1880-01-12
TILE MINE TATRPERS.


Guns were needed at the Capital Of Maine
bv Governor Garcelon to sustain his usurpa-
ton. even for day But guns are not needed
by the military commaudant who undertakes
TO keen order in the absence Of any Legitimate
civil authority. Hence the arms are sent back
to Bangor. and the movement is hailed
with cheers by the people. Maine knows
that nothing has threatened its peace
except a mOnstrons and wicked usurpa-
ton. The assurance that this usurpaton no
longer has control OF the aims OF the army Is
welcomed, because its downfall cannot long
he DELAYED if it is compelled TO rely upon
the law, which ii began by deiying, and upon
pnbhc opinion, which it has outraged from
the outset. What are the usurpers TO
GoY If they appeal to the law, It has
already condemned and will certainly over
throw and punish them. If they appeal to
public opinion, it Tej0iceS at their defeat. As
FOR the armed force. that is under the com
mapd of General Chamberlain, who, until a
Governor has been legally elected, has no
superior in authority.
The ueuI1ng persons who form the bogus
LEGISLATURE begin 10 comprehend that they can
do nothing. For The moment, they are stopped
hv The lack of a quorum, even with ;he usIJg-
inc 'nersons in their seats. But if there were a
quorum. the pretended members included, the
case would not be altered. Nobody would pay
attention 10 any orders from the uSurpng
bodv: nobody will supply ii with money;
nobody will recognize persons chosen by 1t
as having any official authority The Treas
nrer already refuses TO pay money on requl-
sition by either of the bogus houses. ln
order to compel him to pay, an ap
peal must be made to the Courts, which
must Immediately decide that the so-called
Legislature is not organized in conformity
with the law, as laid down in the decision of
J the Supreme Court, and therefore is not
Legislature at all, If the pretended members
get into the State House single day more,
it Is by sufferance Of the military officer who
is keeping charge Of the public property. If
he should refuse then admission, as he
has 4 Ierfect right to do, to-day or tomorrow,
tine pretended members would have 10 recourse
but to appeal to the Courts, which would
Immediately decide that they are not lawfully
elected. and have no right to admission as
members.
Even if both so-caled houses should assem-
ble to-day with an apparent quorum, com
90 through the form of electing a sO-calied
Governor, that person could not get attention
to a single Executive order, nor could he even
get admission to the State House, without
appealing TO the Courts But the Courts,
bevond all doubt. would at once declare
that the person so chosen was not
legally elected Governor, because no legal
Legislature had yet been convened. In every
direction the blockade is perfect, ii those
who represent the will OF the honest voters Of
Maine are faithful and patient. Tie usurpa-
ton can get no foothold anywhere, without
appealing TO the Courts, and that is exactly
what the Republicans desire. The best
thing the usurpers can do, for their State, for
their party, or for themselves, is to abandon
their infamous plot at once and so home.
They disgrace the State every hour, by keep
ing up a rebellion against its laws. They are
damaging the Democratic party every hour,
by peisisting in fagrant fraud. AS for them
selves, they are likely to find out in due time