Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-06
The Cot,ntfne-Out Fraud.


frauds of Garcelon and Council. Even
Fogg. the tabulator, goes no farther in
defence of the gigantic outrage than the
Argus does. The Argus says there was
no ..miscount,' it was all right.
In the first place, it contends that Gar
celon and Council were not ''fools enough
and knaves enough to have undertaken
such proceeding" As this is simply a
matter of opinion with the Argus, the as
sertion is not worthy Of serious notice,
for the Argus was co-eonspirator with
Garcelon. urged him on in his frauds and
sustained him after the work was done. and
to condemn Garcelon would be to con-
denim itself.
In the second place the childlike Argus,
innocent and unsophisticated as it is. says
the attempt to ''miscount," had it been
made, would have been certain to be de-
feated by the legislature-the Legislature
being the body that Garcelon and Council
counted in. Here is its language:
Any attempt al a miscount, or larceny, was
certain to be exposed by the legislature and
defeated. 1t could gain nothing in the end.
and failing, be of infinite damage to them
selves and party. The returns had all to go
before the legislature just as the Governor
and Council left them, with full power in the
legislature to reverse and overruie any
thing they found wrong, and with full
power to employ every means to dis
cover any wrong that had been done. After
the Governor and Council had completed
their duty they submitted the returns To the
legislature as the law required, thus inviting
that very scrutiny of their work which the
constitution comte mplates, which they had
reason to dread if they had done wrong, and
which it was the duty of the legislature to
examine and investigate.
What charming innocence, If there
was anything wrong in the count the leg
islature could correct it. The men who
had been counted into the legislature, sit
ting as jurors upon their own cases, could
be depended upon to do justice to the men
who had been robbed of their seats
Would the Argus be willing to risk its
chance OF obtaining justice OF an adver-
sary in the Courts by submitting its
cause to a jury packed and bribed to de-
eide against it? For the legislature counted
in by Garcelon was not only packed
but bribed. Every man traudulently given
seat would hold 1t if he but sustained
the Governor and Council. His price was
the seat he held. He was confederate
in the villainy. with stake to win if he
supported the fraud and one to lose if he
opposed it. Party, ambition and booty all
concurrcd to bring these men to decide
that there was no miscount. and only two
of the thirty had the courage and
honesty to resist the temptation. This
was the browning villainy, that the rob
beers were to decide between themselves
and the men robbed. This was the intended
shield of the Governor and Council, but
fortunately it did not avail to save them
from the intamy which they richly merit
ed.
Finally the Argus assails with
tremendous vehemence the SUI
preme Court tor its action in re.
gard to the count-out But the "plair
people, of Maine, yea of the whole coun.
try. know that the Court, as pure and able
body of men rs ever sat upon the Bench
in our State-one of them q lifelong dem
ocrat-decided the questions according
to the laws and the constitution and the
imnutable principles of justice and right
and the railing of the conspirators has nc
more effect upon public opinion in this
matter than the passing of the idle wind
The counting out fraud in Maine will be
long remembered against the democratic
party. Go into what State or Territory
you will and you hear it condemned, by
honest democrats as well as republicans
1t was not an outrage committed upon ig-
norant colored people of the South but
upon class of people as intelligent as
any people in the world, in a Northern
State noted for the freedom and purity oil
its elections. and the facts have gone
broadcast over the land and are faithfully
preserved in the archives of the State
Let the democratic organs defend the
great outrage if they like. The truth
will stand. The intamy of the Garcelon
count out will live as long as the State
has history.
II am told on all sides by most re.
spectacle persons that you uniformly
COUNT OUT by FRAUD THE MEN WHO ARE
HONESTLY CHOSEN. and install in of.
nee The CANDIDATES UhO are CONFEssEDLY
DEFEATED. THIS Is THE END OF
ALL FREE GOVERNMENT" - Genernl
Nearer at Montgomery. Alabama.