Ellsworth American., 1880-09-23

Senator Blaine on the Maine Election.

Senator Blaine on the Maine Election.
Senator Blaine. who was in Boston Mon
day. expressed in the following despatch,
as clearly and definitely as anyone can, at
present, the facts relative TO the Maine cleo
ton.
BosroS. Sept. 10.
To Hon. Marshall Jewell, Chairman Repub-
lican National Committee:
| left Maine on FRIDAY last. Intelligence
reaches me here TODAY indicating that the
telegraphic report OF votes as published by
the Associated Press is. in some cases. mod
flied by the clerks returns as they reach the
Office of Secretary Of State, where they are
open to the inspection of the public These
notifications are of such a character as TO
render the contest between DAVIS and Plais-
ted extremely close, possibly requiring the
official returns to determine which is elected
The official returns cannot be counted or
even opened until the meeting of the Legis-
lature in January.
THE CRY or FRAUD
in the count as put forth by Mr.. Chairman
Barnum is sufficiently answered by the fact
that both parties in Maine have recourse to
precisely the same authority tor their fig
urrs.
First, the kilograms of the Associated
Press. and, second, the clerks returns from
the several towns. The agent of the Asso-
ciated Press. at Portland. Mr. Stephen Ber-
ry is implicitly trusted by all parties and is
incapable of wilful mistatement or evasion
His experience in summarizing election re-
turns is as long and varied as tha. of any
man in the country. Up to this hour there
is not particle of dispute between the par
ties in Maine touching the returns from a
single town.
THE ONLY POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR
FRAUDS
in the election returns under our laws is in
the French plantations of Aroostook. where
the Assessors sign return expressed in
language with which they are entirely unac-
quain,ed. The Democratic English-speak-
ing agent who makes on, the returns has
abundant opportunity for missta,ing the
facts. | do not assert that the returns from
these plantations are fraudulent. for do not
know 1t; bu, | do assert, and do know.
that frauds have been committed there in
past wears by democratic agents and repeat
that nowhere else in Maine Is fraud practi-
cable.
THE FRAUD oF LAST YEAR
was not in the returns at all but consisted
wholly in Gov. Garcclon and hls Council re-
jccting returns that were honestly and reg
ularly made. Mr.. Chairman Barnum j.
also in palpahle error when he assumes that
all election returns should be- at Augusta
the day after election. He forgets ,ha,
Maine Is larger IN territory than the other
five New England States together and that
the southwestern most town in Maine j.
nearer TO any point in the State of Delaware,
nearer indeed 10 the city Of Baltimore. than
i; : 20 the French plantations in the upper
81 John BY any practicable route In thi.
statement ! speak of actual distance. In
point Of time the comparison would bc ,till
more striking and significant. for 4 man can
~ from Augusta TO Chicago a. quickly a,
he can 20 from Augusta TO Fort Kent The
talk of Mr Barnum about the Fus.oni,t. of
Maine being counted out i
MERE RANT
There is not Democrat or Grccnbackcr
in Maine who has the slightest fear OF such
4 result. The late Gen. Clifford. Of Mas>a-
chusctts, used to boast iha, the Wing part,
was the only one then in existence that
would count itself out OF power and sur
render 10 IT, opponents on an adverse ma
jori,, Of one vote, alluding to the case Of
Marcus Morton as Governor.
The Republicans Of Maine when beaten
in ''N could have retained power on two or
three technical points in the count. Those
who planned the Garcclon count out of
year later expected the Republicans 10 DO
it and suggested a fear OF 1t. but there uls
no, single member Of the party that ever
harbored such a thought. Ii Gen. pIaistri
shall have a single vote more than Cover
nor DAVIS the Executive chair of Maine for
the next two wear, i as well assured to him
a. though hls majority was 10000.
tS!guedl JAMS q. BLAINE.