The Portland daily press., 1880-01-14
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY Ia.
IN. Y. Tribune
The Maine Usurpers

Guns were needed at the Capital of Maine
by Governor Garcelon to sustain his usurpa-
ton even for day. But guns are not needed
by the military commandant who undertakes
to keep order in the absence of any legitimate
civil authority Hence the arms are sent back
to Bangor and the movement is hailed with
cheers by the people. Maine knows that moth
ing has threatened its peace except mon
strous and wicked usurpation. The assurance
that this usurpation no longer has control OF
the arms CT the army is welcomed, because It's
downfall cannot long be delayed II 1t is COM
PEELED to rely upon the law, which it began by
defying, and upon public opinion, which it has
outraged from the outset. What are the usurp-
ers to do? If they appeal to the law, 1t has
already condemned aid will certainly over
throw and punish them. If they appeal to
public opinion, it rejoices at their defeat. AS
for the armed force, that is under the COM
mand of General Chamberlain, who, until
Governor has been elected has no superior in
authority.
The usurpng persons who form the bogus
Legislature begin to comprehend that they can
do nothing. For the moment they are stopped
by the lack of quorum even with the usurp-
ing persons in their seats. But if there were
a quorum, the pretended members in
cluded the case would not be altered. No
body would pay attention to any orders from
the usurping body; nobody will supply it with
money; nobody willrecognize persons chosen
by it as having any official authority The
Treasurer already refuses to pay money on
requisition by either of the bogus houses. In
order to compel him to pay, an appeal must be
made to the Courts, which must immediately
decide that the so-called Legislature is not Or
ganized in conformity with the law, as laid
down in the decision of the Supreme Court
and therefore is not alegislature at all Ii the
pretended members get into the State House a
single day MORE it is by the sutferance of the
military officer who is keeping charge of the
public property. If he should refuse them adj
mission, as he has perfect right to do, to-day
or tomorrow, the pretended members would
have no recourse but to appeal to the Courts,
which would Immediately decide that they are
not lawfully elected and have no right to ad-
mission as members
Even if both so-called houses should assem-
BILE to-day, with an apparent quorum, composed
through the form of electing so-called Gov
ernor, that person could not get attention to a
single Executive order, nor could he even get
admission to the State House, without appeal
ing to the Courts. But the Courts, beyond all
doubt, would at once declare that the person so
chosen was not legally elected Governor, be-
cause no legal Legislature had been convened.
In every direction the blockade is perfect; if
those who represent the will of the honest vot-
ers of Maine are faithful and patient. The
usurpation can get no foothold anywhere, with
out appealing to the Courts, and that is exactly
what the Republicans desire The best thing
the usurpers can do, for their State, for their
party, or for themselves, is to abandon their
infamous plot at once and go home. They
disgrace the State every hour by keeping a re-
bellion against its laws. They are damaging
the Democratic party every hour, by persisting
in a fragrant fraud. AS for themselves, they
are likely to find out in due time that scoun-
drels cannot defy the laws and rob the people
of their rights with impunity.
The Republicans have been patient and ju-
dicious They have carefully avoided any re-
sort to force, though public feeling was ripe
for swift punishment of the usurpers. They
have succeeded in restraining every hot-headed
citizen and quenching every fiery suggestion,
and their calm reliance upon the majesty of
law and the might of public opinion will be re-
warded in the end. Maine is not going to be
governed by usurpers. 1t is not going to be
ruled by set of men who cannot go into the
courts of justice, and there establish their
right to exercise authority,