The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-01-05
GARCELON'S LAST.

A Defence that He Can Never Make
Again.
WATERvILLE, Jan. 3.-The town hall was
filled to it's utmost capacity at the Law and
Order" meeting held tonight Gov. Garcelon,
Councillors Brown and Moody were present.
John Ware was chosen President. Speeches
were made by Councillor Brown and Gov.
Garcelon. The following is an abstract of the
Governors remarks:
Fellow citizens:-After the exhausting
statements which have been made regarding
the matter which is brought before you this
evening. will only call your attention to
few points. l presume you are all loyal men,
ard propose to abide by the law and Constltu-
ton; that when you have elected men to office
YOU expect them to obey, and If in the course
of events that are of such character that there
are differences of opinions, should we not
stand by the Constitution and laws sanctioned
by the Supreme Court and all able men? L
stand before you the most abused man in the
United States. I am not here to apologize or
ask your pardon, but simply to call your atten-
ton to the Constitution and law, and if in any
respect or my Council have violated that
law, you have your remedy. You say that ma
iority rule is the central principle of our gov
ernmental system, but should not that ma
jority be expressed in a legal and Constitution
al manner? You are all aware that at the late
election every effort was made on both sides
to secure majority, and that the fusion party
had a majority of 1000 votes. l challenge any
man, do not care how ardent a Republican or
rabid Democrat, to take these returns, and,
if there is any instance where we have not APP
piled the same rule to friend or foe, then you
can condemn us. l find Jabulated returns
where GA towns have been rejected; 80 were
Republican, 80 Democratic and tie. Does this
look like conspiracy? Does it look as if the
rule had not been applied properly? Refer
ring to the city of Lewiston the Governor said
no one doubted the voice of the people, that he
knew his own city was largely Republican,
but it was question of law with them. 1t
does seem an outrage that those who appear to
be elected were rejected, but there are the law
and the Constitution on the other hand, which
must be respected. But you, my friends, con-
denim us because we do not think it right to go
behind the returns. / ask you to consider what
would become of our Republican form OF gov
eminent if the men you choose to office should
violate the laws and Constitution to suit their
own partisan feelings. He then proceeded to
criticise severely the Associated Press, which
he charged with sending forth false statements.
So great has been the excitement that have
called upon the Supreme Court to decide CUES
lions which have been decided for fifteen
years, and, when that decision is rendered, L
hope the people will be satisfied. The Cover
nor closed by advising his hearers to examine
the facts and look at the case calmly, and that
they would find that the Governor and Coun-
Gil were not such terrible men after ALL
Resolutions were then read ratifying and
sanctioning the course of the sGovernor and
Council, and the meeting adjourned