, 1880-01-22
the MAINE QUESTION SETTLED.

AAb AHSN VIZ PO''N'So'
Maiue has been brought to just
and equitable solution. The fusion
legislature, made up partially OF Ie'
gally elected members and partially
of those "counted in" organized it
self with less than a legal quorum
and proceeded to elect Governor
who in turn attempted to bulldoze
the state and federal authorities into
submission. I he republicans, how
ever, who had been legally elected,
met and organized a Legislature OF
their own-having legal quorum
and were recognized by the supreme
court of the state as being the law.
fully constituted government. This,
of course, is the highest state civil
authority, and sets the matter at
rest. The new legislature unani
mously elected Daniel F. DAVIS as
governor of the state. 1t will be re-
msmbered that Davis received about
a third more votes for the position at
the last election than did Smith, and
and almost a. majority Of the popular
vote of the state. Smith was the
man whom the fusionists elected as
governor and attempted to foist up
on the people. At last accounts, the
bogus legislature was holding a ses,
sion in the street, having been de-
MED admission to the state buildings.
Some of their members, however,
had become disheartened and gone
home. They are probably disbanded
by this time.
There are q few salutary lessons
in this bit of American history, which
the democratic party will do well to
profit by. Of course the great mass
of voters belonging to that party are
in no wise responsible for such rep
rehensible proceedings; but, that
some of their national leaders are, is
proved beyond a doubt. Garcelon,
the retiring democratic governor, and
his democratic state returning board,
"counted OUT" on mere legal techni,
calities, enough republican members
elect to give the fusion, democratic
and greenback members majority
in the lsgislature--although CON-
PEELED to admit they were subverting
the fairly expressed wish Of a large
majority of the legal voters in the
state. There is every indication that
they would have "counted out" more
republicans bad they deemed such
course necessary to the attainment
ol their object. They also, after dis
posing of the whole matter to their
own satisfaction, submitted the ques.
tion to tho supreme court Of the
state, allow ing that tribunal the ines
timable privilege OF either approving
of their findings or having its author.
ity set aside. The supreme court
decided unanimously against them,
yet they sought TO override popular
will even in the face OF this fact. An
exchange has well suggested that
they might as well have recognized
the defunct confederate government
and called it the legal government
Of the United States. Either move.
meut.would have been. a rebellion
againt constitutional authority. For.
tunatsly Maine was, during the
squabble, under military rule--Gen.
Chamberlain, the commanding off.
Ger, turning it over to Governor
Davis only after the latter had
been elected by legislature which
the supreme court pronounced legal
ly constituted.
We are not among those who
claim immaculate purity for either
political party. Doubtless in the
Maine election there were frauds per
petrated by the republicans as we'll