Morning journal and courier., 1880-06-29


 This is the last year in which Maine will have it's State election in September, and the old custom will have a notable ending, for there has been no more important political contest in the history of the State than that which will then be decided It is a contest in which the good name of the State is in volved. What the desperate leaders of the coalition of Democrats and Greenbackers did last winter to escape the consequences of de- feat at the polls is still fresh in the minds of the people. The Governor and Council, constituting the canvassing board of the State by wicked partisan discrimination in the application of the law and by plain vio- lations of law, withheld certificates from duly elected Republicans, and issued certificates to fusionists. Subsequent Investigations fully revealed the deliberate and criminal quality of the proceedings of Governor Garcelon and his Council, and furnished ample evidence of as shameful an attack on popular rights as is known to our history. The two parties re- sponsible for this wrong show no disposition to shun the responsibility or do works meet for repentance. They have on the contrary, made this year new alliance, and are asking for something like popular vindication of themselves. It will be astonishing if they do not receive from the honest people of Maine g rebuke that they will feel, and that will be standing warning to others tempted to engage in or countenance similar nefarious enter. prises.
 The plan of the fusionists' campaign is shrewd one. H. M. Plaisted, their candidate for Governor, is a deserter from the Repub- ican party and is now Greenbacker. It is stated that the Democrats have agreed to vote and work for him on condition that the fusion shall extend to the electoral ticket, both parties supporting a common ticket which shall be composed of four Democrats and three Greenbackers, or four Greenbackers and three Democrats. Of course, neither party has any hope of being able to carry the State alone in the Presiden- tial, any more than the State election. But they have some hope of being able, by the means proposed, to deprive the Republican party of the seven electoral votes of Maine and if the share of those votes secured by the Democracy does not suffice, with the vote of Democratic States, to elect President, the three or four Greenback votes may defeat an election by the people and throw the cleo ton into the House of Representatives. As the Presidency is much more important to the Democratic party than the State govern ment, they are ready to vote for Plaisted, for the chance of defeating the Republican cleo toral ticket
 Though the fusionists are, profess to be, confident of the success of this scheme, there is good reason to think it will fail. correspondent of the Boston Advertiser who has been looking over the field gives an en- couraging report concerning the prospect of Republican success. At the meeting of the Republican State convention last week there was a full and free exchange of views about the situation, and the conviction was general that the State would be found in the Republican column both in September and November. The Republicans have strong advantage in their candidate. Gov ernor Davis has steadily advanced in public regard from the beginning of his public career, developing capacity equal to every responsibility, and winning friends by the simple sincerity and honorable uprightness of his personal and official conduct. He is stronger man this year than last year, and there is ground for the opinion expressed that his own canvass of the State will be good for large gain. For another favorable au- gury the greenback heresies are losing their hold on the people of Maine as well as on those of other States. The hard times are no more Every industry fourishes and all classes are prosperous. It is natural that under such circumstances many will give up allegiance to ideas which they adopted, not so much from conviction of their truth as from desperate purpose to try any offered remedy. There is also no doubt that many who voted with the fusionists last year will not do anything this year that will look like a sanction of last winters fraud. In view of these things it does not seem that the predic- tion careful and intelligent Republicans are making that Davis will beat P1aisted in Sep tember by at least 5000 majority is wild one Of course if the Republicans win the fight in September they will also be victori- ous in November.