Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-01-06
MAINE: !!
A History Of the Maine
Complication.
How the State was Lost to the
Republicans Bri-
berry and Corruption--Course
of Gov. Garcelon and his
Council,

10 correctly understand just what ha
happened in Maine, il is necessary TO cal
attention to the peculiar state of the laws
of Maine in regard to Gubernatorial cleo
tions. Under the laws of Maine the
Governor Of that State is elected not Ey
the people directly but by the Legislature
and by provision of the law, the bust
ness of electing the Governor in the Leg,
islature is divided between the two hOu
ses. 1t is the province Of the Lower
House to select two names from the fOul
highest candidates voted for at the elec-
ton, and to send these names to the Sen
ate to elect the bearer of one of these
two names as Governor of the State fol
the ensuing year. Under these laws Il
very peculiar condition Of affairs arose a
year ago. The Republicans carried the
Senate In the election, but nevertheless
Il Democrat was elected Governor. II
happened in this way. There were three
candidates, u Democrat, Republican
and Il GreenbaCker. In the campaign
the Democrats and Greenbackers sup
ported their own Gubernatorial candi-
dates, but effected fusion in many of
the Legislative districts. The result was
that the Democrats and Greenbackers
together succeeded in electinga a major
| ity of the members Of the Lower House,
while the Republicans secured a major
ity in the Senate. Very naturally ma
jority of the Lower House, consisting OF
| Democrats and Greenbackers, selected
the names Of their two candidates, to-
wit, DR.. Garcelon, the Democratic, and
1 Mr.. Smith, the Greenback candidate,
and sent those two names to the Senate.
The Republican Senate therefore had no
choice but TO elect one of the two, and it
saw fit to elect DR.. Garcelon, the Demo-
crNt. BY the luws of Maine the Govern
or's Council is also elected by the Legis-
lHtuTe, and IL happened that Gov. Garcc-
Ion was given Il fusion Council, the ma
jorlty of which was comprised of Dem
orats and Greenbackers. In Maine, US
| in many other States, the Governor aud
his Council are made board of canvas
sers, whose duty it Is to canvass the re-
turns Of the votes at such election. This
is the duty which Gov. Garcelon and his
Council have just performed. That can
yass shows that the fllsionists-that is to
say, the Democrats and Grecnbnckels-
together have good working majority
IN both branches of the Legislature. The
! Importance of this fact Is largely increas-
! ed because the fusion between the Dem
oCrats aud Grccnbackcrs was much more
/ complete this year than 1t was year
ago, and because there was perfect un-
dcrslanding and harmony among the
| Democratic and Grcenback leaders
throughout the campaign, aud II fair and
square understanding and agreement rs
to what should be done in the event the
fusionlsts succeeded in carrying the Leg
islaturc. II was understood that If the
Legislature was carried, II should elect
Smith, the Grecnback candidate, this
year MS last, Us Governor, and In return
therefor combined effort should be
made next year to again carry the Lcgis-
mture, aud IL that attempt should be
successful, The Democrats should have
The seat In the Senate now occupied by
llnibal IINmlln, whose term expires In
1881 and whose successor must be- cleo
ted by the Legislature which will be
chosen next year,
The loss Of the Legislature Of Maine
TO the Republicans IL n very serious blow
to the Republican party of that state,
and may be matter Of very great I'M
portance to the Democratic party of the
nation, In the first place the absolute
control which The opposition win have
of The Legislature Of Maine puts 1t IN
their power TO make n thorough invcstl-
CATION of the manner IN which the Re-
publican party conducted the last elec
tlon. II Is notorious In Maine that
Wholesale bribery, fraud, intimidation
and corruption Of every kind were prac-
ticcd by the Republican leaders, and the
proof Of 1t all IL supcrabundant. If the
Republicans had carried the Legislature
there would, Of course, have been no IN
ycstlgatlon ia certain, aud there will be
disclosures which viii almost rival the
Infamous practice Of thc Republican par
~
The assertion that Gov. Gurcclon and
hls Council have violated The law and
committed crime by their action, IA ut
terry without foundation In fact From
the irst to The last they have followed
the letter Of the law strictly, aud no step
has been taken which was not strictly
authorized by the constitution and The
lava Of Maine, and sustained by repeat
cd Republican picccdcnts Gov Gntcc-
Ion Is very honorable man. lie would
not do a wrong thing even TO aid bis
own pariyi bui he ls O determined man,
and If lfconyineed- that he IA right, no
powtron earth could fflghcn hin out
Of 1le performance or what le conceived
to be his duty, Mr., Blaine aud his he-
publican friends have now learned this
fdct, That the Governor la simply per.
forming HE duty Under The lava, With
OFT fear and without favor nnd the Re-
pnblitaus nud ih,mselcesrid minority