Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-08-31
Mr.. Weaver and the Democracy


Mr.. Weaver and his party lost the State
of Alabama by the fraud and violence OF
the democrats. With free election and
a fair C. unit the democrats would have
been beaten. The Republican State Com
mittee of that State have put forth an ad-
dress on the subject of the frauds COM
mitted OF this address the Nation, of
New York, which has before this time
been skeptical about Southern election
frauds and inclined to ridicule reports
Of Southern outrages as waving the
bloody Shirt" says: ut is in the main
well considered document, and its specifi-
cations call for categorical disproof by the
victorious party. 1t opens with state
ment of the democratic notifications of
the election law. made with view to the
greatest laxity in voting and counting and
then passes to details. The law still pro-
vi des that the board of inspectors shall
contain representatives of both parties,
but the republican nominations were dis
regarded at pleasure. and Il color d in
spector was generally chosen for his
stupidity and the consequent greater ease
of cheating. Some of the tricks de-
scribed, such as putting out the candle and
then stuiling the ballot-box, read like a
parlor amusement tor children, and in this
light the whites evidently regarded the
colored assistants and voters. When the
poll was overwhelmingly against the
democrats, sometimes the majority would
be announced to the expectant crowd and
then suppressed in the counting; some
times white militia company would be
sent for to disperse an alleged mob, be-
fore the count was undertaken; and again,
a trumped up charge of disorder would
be made by the democratic inspectors, the
polls closed, and the election declared in
valid. In short. neither conscience nor
bodily tear characterized the behavior of
the whites, and the report says, no doubt
with perfect truth, that the people are as
much opposed to negro suffrage now as
they ever were. and, while professedly
accepting the Constitutional Amendment.
do not regard it as an offence morally to
take advantage of the timidity and ig-
norance OF the negro to nullify his vote -
1t is said that Mr.. Weaver supports in
his speeches the fusion movement in this
State. If he does he supports the same
party which cheated him and his friends
out of the election in Alabama by such
frauds as are described above. He sup
ports also the attempt made to steal this
State last winter by the democratic lead
efs. Democracy is the same here as in
Alabama. as its fruits during the last year
have shown. We don't see how Mr.
Weaver can be indignant about his count
out in Alabama and then come to Maine
to help the northern wing of the democ-
racy obtain an endorsement from the peo-
pie for the Garcelon count-out. If this is
Mr.. Weaver's position he has neither
sense nor spirit. Getting beaten in Ala
bama was no discredit to him. but
to come from such field, with such
an experience as he had, and join hands
with the Garcelonian democracy OF Maine.
will he shame and disgrace which ought
to forever end his career as public man.
A Foul SIander Demolished.
The marline-spike slander against Capt
Charles A. Boutelle of the Bangor Wing
and Courier is completely demolished by
the article elsewhere in this paper copied
from the New York Tribune 1t appears
that the democrats have had detectives
employed in Liverpool to obtain some
thing, if possible. out of the circumstances
from which this SANDER grew. TO be used
against Mr.. Boutelle in his canvass as a
candidate for Congress. The detectives
entirely failed in their search, but unwit-
tinglv did enough to stir up seataring
friend of Capt. Boutelle. who happened to
be at Liverpool, to investigate the facts for
himself. with the result of showing the
complete innocence of Capt. Boutelle
as to the charge made against him in the
democratic papers. If there are any per-
sons who put any confidence in the foul
SANDER against Capt. Boutelle, they will
be convinced of their error by reading the
article to which we refer.
Wecongratulate Capt. Boutelle upon the
signal victory which has thus been vouch-
safed BIN over the base Vaccinations of
his political enemies, and trust the result
will make still more complete and en-
phatic the splendid victory which he will
achieve i'm the Fourth District on the 18th
of September.