The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-01-01
The Maine Steal .

iQ0 maine steal.
Just now the absorbing topic Of the
country is the MAINE steal" That a
party that has been shouting fraud and
corruption with such unparalleled vehe-
mence and persistency should resort to
the same measures they have condemned,
though open to the charge Of inconsist-
ency, will surprise no one who is famil-
lar with its history previous to, during
and ever since the war.
Apologizing for and defending slavery,
sympathising with and aiding the rebel
lion, opposing every measure undertaken
to make permanent the results for which
the war was fought, robbing the blacks
of the political and civil rights guaran-
teed to them by the most outrageous and
inhuman methods known to civilization;
endesvoring to secure the presidency by
stealing and purchasing electoral votes,
and finally attempting to secure by legis-
lation all that they lost by the war and
avowipg q determination not to cease
their efforts till this result was accom-
plished, give such an insight into the
true inwardness of their character and
motives that one ought not to Le sur
prised at any thing however base and
mean. There can be no question, how
ever. that all such dishonesty will recoil
upon their own heads, that their strength
will diminish from year to year while the
party of progress, Of civil equality Of all
men before the law, the party of justice
and humanity, will as certainly grow in
numbers and strength as that the world
continues to exist.
1t is not worth while to become dis
heartened by such exhibitions Of wick
edness and temporary reverses. We re-
member the slave power thought it had
secured Kansas for q slave state, it
thought it had made the success Of ee-
cession a certainty, the Democracy
thought that by fraud and bribery they
had provided for q Democratic Presi-
dent, and then when, by the shotgun
and murder they had made solid South,
that they had secured the means by
which they could undo the results of the
war, but in every instance though victo-
~ was apparently within their grasp,
they have met with signal defeat. We
will not be disheartened now. This
move made with view to securing the
next presidential election is sure to stim-
ulate Republicans to renewed activity,
ard as in the LAST fall election we shall
win glorious victory.
If, as is suspected, the intention is to
get control of the legislature SO as to
cast the electoral vote by it, instead Of
allowing the people to choose them by
ballet as has many years been practiced,
Republicans may take warning in time
to arrange for casting the electoral vote
of New York in the same manner, and
further the Republicans having the leg
islature of ever doubtful, Northern State
they can make the presidential vote Of
the North SO solid that the Democratic
SohoioutS VIII hot 6hoSs VI =
chance of getting inside Of the White
House. We advise NO crookedness or
dishonesty, but the plan Of casting the
electoral vote by the legislature having
been frequently practiced and there be-
ing no constitutional objection to it, we
would recommend to beat them by the
gamc they have themselves inaugurated.
We make no distinction between the
Democratic party, North or South, for
the Northern wing have, As party, new
er shown any unwillingness to profit by
the crimes of the South They either
pretend to disbelieve III them or ignore
them, and in every case fail 10 condemn
them. The methods of the two sections
are somewhat unlike, but equally con-
ceived in sin, for while one resorts to
force and violence, the other seeks to
accomplish its ends by bribery and cor
ruption These ere not very comforting
reflections for the contemplation Of the
Democracy, but nevertheless as true as
Gospel, and the force of them cannot be
turned aside by saying you're another"