River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-01-01

board to investigate fraud, bribery, il
legal proceedings at the polls, and the
thousand and one charges of corrup-
ton that are afoat, but have left this
whole matter to the action of the legis-
lature, where it properly belongs. The
governor and council have recogniz-
ed the fact that the people of Maine
have adopted q constitution and de-
clared it to be the supreme law of the
state. They have followed its require
ments with fidelity and impartiality,
and when an intelligent public have
brushed away the mists and false color
ings which enraged and discounted
politicians have thrown around our ac-
ton, and the vituperation and SANDER
that has been heaped upon us has given
place to reason and fair investigation,
any condemnation of our course, either
by the democracy of the nation or any
fair-minded and honorable politicians
of any party, will be acknowledged
with due submission.
AIoNzo GARCELoN.
Augusta, Dec. 20, 1879.
EXCITEMENT IN BANGOR.
Great excitement was caused IN
Bangor on Christmas, says dispatch
of December Goth, by reports OF
the intended removal of arms and
ammunition from the state arsenal to
the depot for transportation to Augusta.
About 5 P. NJ. two trucks loaded with
arms and ammunition were stopped on
Kenduskeag bridge by crowd which
rapidly increased, so that the streets
were filled with people, declaring the
arms should never be carried out OF
the city. Mayor Brown demanded of
the teamster the orders under which he
was acting. No satisfactory answer was
given at first, the man saying that
Thayer, landlord of the Penobscot Ex-
change, had sent word for teams to-
take the arms. A young man named
French then pushed through the throng
and said he was clerk III the adiutant
generals office, and was moving the
arms to Augusta under orders from the
governor. The excitement of the popu-
lace was greatly increased by this state
ment and the crowd attempted to I'M
harness the horses. The mayor told
French he had not force enough to
guarantee the safety Of the munitions
if the attempt to remove them was per
sisted in while the people were so ex-
cited. He said he would take no re-
sponsibility for the trouble that might
ensue. French decided it best to re-
turn the arms to the arsenal rather than
incur the hazard of q riot, and the
mayor furnished police to protect
them on their return. Public
excitement was increased by report
that j. H. Smith, greenback candidate
for governor, S. w. Haskins, fusion
Indian agent, and Major M. NJ. Folsom,
of Oldtown, were closeted at the Penob-
scot exchange during the day, and Maj.
Folsom appeared on the ground after
the team had turned back and told
Clerk French he made mistake in not
pushing through to the depot, and
urged him to change his orders for
their return to the arsenal. French,
however, was unwilling to resume the
responsibility of collision with the
populace. Excitement is at fever heat
throughout the city.
The following communication signed
by w. III. Brown, mayor, and number
of ex-mayors of this city, also receiv-
ing the signature of other prominent
citizens, will be forwarded to the goy-
ernor, to-day:
To HIS E1oelleTsoy, Aioa@o Gdrcelon,
Gouernor of the State Of Maine.-The
citizens of this city were much sur
prised on the afternoon OF Christmas
day to learn that arms and ammunition
were being removed from the state ar
senal located here to the railroad depot
The first actual knowledge Of the fact
was upon seeing teams loaded aud
passing through the principal streets.
Immediately there was a spon-
taneous uprising of our best citi-
zens, so filling the streets as to pre-
vent the passage of the teams. The
mayor, who had been sent for, having
no Knowledge of the authority under
which the arms were being moved, first
demanded who assumed the responslEI
bility of the movement. He was an
swered by Mr.. French, representing
himself to be clerk in the adjutant-
generals office, that he was acting I'M
der instructions from Gov. Garcelon to
remove arms and ammunition by rail-
road to Augusta. Mr.. French, seeing
the difficulties in the way, and being H.
formed by the mayor that ne might be
unable to detain the people with the
force at his command, decided to re-
turn the arms to the arsenal, and the
citizens quietly dispersed. While de-
ploring the act of the state authorities
in moving large quantities of deadly
weapons through the streets OF peace
full city in the present excited condition
OF the public mind, we shall endeavor
to the extent of our ability to prevent
any action which should impair our
good name as law-abiding citizens"
Although the most intense excite
ment exists, not the slightest disturb
ance has occurred beyond the stoppage
of the progress of the two teams, and as
soon as the arms were turned back
toward the arsenal, the throng quietly
dispersed.
Hon. Lot NJ. Morrill, addressed a
letter to Gov. Garcelon asking him to
consent to submitting all the disputed
points in the official canvass to the
supreme court. To this request Gov.
Garcelon replied as follows:
LEWISTON, Dec. %.
Hon. Lot ". Morrill,, Chairman, etc:
Your communication of the Oath
reached here yesterday, just as | was
leaving for Augusta, and / take this
early opportunity to reply. The ex-
element in the public mind is, In my
mind, wholly without excuse, and is
without question the result of a sys-
tematizsd attack of yituperation and
SANDER upon the executive department,
not only without parallel, but without
cause. Be that as it may, il is the duty
of every good citizen to use his best en-
beavers to allay public excitement,
however created, so far as he is able,
and to resort TO such measures as will
sIl2v civil strife and at the same time
secure the ends Of justice. You
intimated that it is in my power
tc restore peace. tranquility and good
feeling TO the state and ali its inhabi-
tants BY asking the opinion Of the SUI
preme judges on each law point, IN