Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-26
THE SITUATION IN MAIZE.

|
The situation in Maine is rapidly becom-
ing intolerable. The Fusonists have no
legal standing whatever. They are neither
more nor less than a seditious mob, and
they really owe such Fictitious Importance
as they possess TO the reluctance of the
Republicans to take stringent measures for
their dispersal When the Supreme Court
decided every point against them their
pretense of legitimacy vanished. They
oeuld no longer profess to believe that they
were justified in maintaining their organ
ization, and If they had not been controlled
by the very madness of faction they would
have abandoned their lost game and gone
home There is reason to believe, however,
that their subsequent action has been due,
in the MAN, to counsels from outside, and
| that they are being used by INSCRIPTIONS
| Democratic wire-pullers for the purpose of
manufacturing an excuse for throwing out
the electoral vote of Maine hereafter.
The Republicans, therefore, cannot af-
ford even to give the least color |
of recognition to their proceedings, |
and Governor Davis will doubtless |
find it necessary to put an end to |
the present anarchcal state of affairs by |
causing the arrest OF the Fusionist mem
bers. The desire to avoid a collision with !
the supporters of the conspiracy is no doubt
a commendable one, but it may easily
degenerate into uniustifable vacillation
There can be but one legal government in
Maine, and the Supreme Court of the State
has already declared the Republican gov
eminent and Legislature to be legitimate.
1t follows, therefore, that the Fusionists
are lawbreakers and seditionists that the
man who refuses to give up the great seal
of the State is in defiance of the law and
that it is the duty of the authorities to
suppress the sham Legislature, and TO take
measures for Furnishing those who uphold
it. And if this cannot be done without
bringing on civil war, it is none the
less necessary that it should be done,
for the present situation, is anarchy,
and there can be no security for
the people of Maine until it is
amended. The Republicans have law and
right on their side They cannot be held
responsible for the lawlessness of the Flu
sionists, but they will be held accountable
for the performance of their own duties.
, Governor Davis has sworn to administer
the laws of Maine faithfully and fearlessly,
and in order to do so he must put down all
who attempt to govern by illegal methods.
The case has now reached a point from
which there is only one way to advance.
The Fusionists cannot be allowed to hold
sham Legislature, to address orders and
prohibitions to the regular State officers,
to tamper with the power of taxation, to
set up a rival authority. To permit these
proceedings any longer would be to throw
doubt upon the status of the Republican
Government, and therefore, no matter what
the consequences may be, the rump Legis-
lature ought to be broken up.
1t is possible that resolute action on the
part of Governor Davis may convince the
malccntents of the futility of resistance.
Whether it does so or not, however, we
can see no other practicable course. Be-
publican institutions are on their trial in
Maine but the rightful wielders of author
ity must not forget that it is their function
to maintain the laws with all the power of
the State, in case of necessity, and that
there never can be more urgent situation
than the present The time for discussion
has passed. The Fusionists have delib-
erately chosen to defy the supreme legal
authority of the State. Divested by that
authority of the last shadow of excuse
for the maintenance of their position,
they nevertheless doggedly hold on,
as though they thought that per-
sistence in an untenable attitude would
somehow render it tenable. Every
day that they are left unmolested in this
situation adds to the prevalent danger.
The Republicans can have no further justi-
ication for inaction. Clearly no public
spirited or reasonable proceedings are to be
looked for from their opponents, and the
only course remaining is a prompt and
vigorous enforcement of the law. We do
not think it very probable that the sup
porters of the Fusionists would in any case
venture upon force, for by so doing they
would invite Federal interference, with the
certainty that it would be exerted
against them, while they have little or
nothing to hope from the Democrats in
Congress. But whether they decide that
discretion is the better part of valor,
or whether they attempt to meet force with
force, the duty of the Republican Govern
ment is equally plain. The question of the
legitimate government must be determined
without further delay, and the only way to
determine it is for those who hold the reins
of power, and who possess the indorse-
ment of the Court of last resort, to put the
law in operation unHinchingly If trouble
results the Maine Republicans will not
want for support and sympathy, and how
ever the country may deplore the necessity,
it will recognize the absolute impossibility
of evading the line of action to which the
Fusionist conspiracy has been steadily
leading up.
AN uNcoEcTITuTToNar prr7