New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-11
IT, MAINE FOTERS.

To MAINE FO1ERS.
The voters Of Maine are to be congratulated
upon one thing, at least. There has seldom
been. if ever, campaign in which the duty
of citizens who believe in honesty III all
things was more clear. There can bo no
doubt on which side they should cast then
votes next Monday. As for those who are so
fcttered by party prejudices that they cannot
rise up and rebuke a hcinOus crime wher
if has been committed by one of their own
potica faith. there is just rs little doubt
where heir votes belong, and no doubt what
ever where their votes will 90. The TRIBUNE
addresses these few words, probably the last
from Us which can reach every part OF the
State before the ballots are cast. to those
voters who take conscience as well rs com
mon sense into their politics, and who have
not surrendered to party leaders the irecman's
right of individual judgment.
1t is a question which can be considered
calmly, and without appeals to political pas
sion. Where the facts are so plain and over
vhclmiug. there Is no need OF bittcrncss-no
need of any other spirit than Il deliberate and
firm intention to do justice as between
man and man. The home issue is the
in Maine Simply whether The acts Of Gov
ernor Garcelon and his Council, III counting
out the Republican majorties In the Legisla-
ture of last winter and counting III Demo-
cratic maiorities, shall he approved by the cit
liens of the State as lawful and honest acts.
Every one knows the story, and 1t need
not be repeated. There is the issue. What
shall the decision be9 1t is impossible to
shIk 1t. Democrats and Grccnhackers alike
will be told that the Garcelon iniamy
is not involved in this canvass. that
Hancock and Weaver must be helped
bv Fusion victory and that only
National issues are pending. This is false.
and the common sense OF every Maine voter
viii tell him So The Democratic and Green
back parties accepted all the responsibility
of those acts at the time they were
committed. and are now on trial
before the people upon that record.
Garcclon himself and his official accOmpliccs
in those acts are upon the stump, defending
their course and advocating, in the
same breath, the election of the Fusion
ticket. VIII Democrats who have been
bred in the principles of the Demo
cratic party but are honest men who
to cheat any man-wil they sustain and ap-
prove the criminaties OF Garcelon7 viii
Greenbackcrs, who. however mistaken their
opinions may be, often owe them to an almost
fanatical sincerity-wil they write. "Well
" done. good and faithful servants" upon
this shameful record of fraudP: There
is way that all sincere men, many of whom
NAV be confused by party clamOr, can settle
the morality of this matter Let each one
apply it practically to his own experience in
daily life. Suppose that the cashier of the
bank in which you are a depositor was found
TO be manipulating the books as Garcclon
mauipulated the election returns-wOuld
Won want to see him landed in a set of 'rcso-
lntions, or would you want to see him in jail
Suppose that You caught your partner in busl-
ness playing addition, subtraction and
multiplication with your joint accounts,
as Garceon did with the election re-
turns - would you want to stay in
business with hint Suppose that the
treasurer of company III which you held
stock had been dong the same thing-what
| would YOU think of the honesty of the trans
action Dishonesty in politics is just the
same as dishonesty anywhere else. VIII
| the Maine voter who practlses honesty In
other things approve theft and fraud in pol
tics That is the whole question.
| But this Is not the only issue, though it Is
vastly important. The result in Maine will
be interpreted as, in part, IN indication of
the sentiment of the country upon the Presl-
DENTAL issue to be decided in November. The
Maine voter will be asked to swell the silly
chorus of "a change for the sake Of
change" What reasons are there for
| change7 The Republican party, by
steadfast and courageous financial policy,
persisted in against unfaggIng Democratic OPP
position. has brought resumption and prosper
| ity. setting every loom in the land in motion,
and kindling the fires in every furnace.
The National debt has been reduced
| ut rate never seen in the world
before. and with every reduction the
burden of interest has grown lighter for the
people. American credit has been raised from
the debasemcnt in which Democratic Ad-
mlnistrations left it to the highest point
it has ever reached. BY remarkable
series of refunding operations and by the
| reduction of the debt, the annual interest has
been reduced by the great sum OF SIC, 900, 900.
| The rev snues are 20 honestly collected that