Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-02-02

copcoc9eo soo whose ieaIefs every sD~fe ca
coursged thrust be held accountable for IL
After the election in September last the
counting Of the votes showed beEond quss-
tion the success Of the republicans in both
branches Of the Legislature. There was nc
doubt a. to any important point except fsr
few DAYS a. 70 the choice Of Governor b.
the people The Official returns disclosed
the fact that the republican candidate though
having handsome plurality over the rest.
Rad few hundred votes less than an actual
majority over all. This was not considered
a matter Of any moment. as the fact Of ar
undi.psted majority in both branches Of the
Legislature made his election certain No
man In or out Of the State dreamed of dis
putting this state of facts. There were no
contests Of seats in specific cases; but IN
little while the conspira,9rs began TO pave
the way for their plot by circulating cock
aod-buli stories about Wholesale bribery
which they were unable 10 verify. Then
came the announcement that a whole
sale contingent was contemplated which
should give the democrats the Legista-
ture, AMI in consequence the State officers.
II seemed 80 bald piece Of raseaiiiy that the
pabiic -sa- incredulous. and some democratic
new -papers sneersd at the unnecessary alarm
II the republicans. Bat the conspirators
vent on in their shameless work They dir
regarded republican protests. established Gus
tom. precedent. the rules Of official courtesy
! common Justice and common deceBcy. The
badge of fraud vas on every stepof their pro
cccdings. They made no claim whatever
except that upon the most frivolous techni-
calitie. and quibbling they could find JUST
fication for counting in a Legislature that they
| lid not dare To pretend vas elected. And the
| dishonest scamps-f0r That's exactly what
they were--wlp were coanted in consentedt"
act their part in the fraud.
| But they were NOT left even the justifica-
ton Of a quibble to stand their fraudulent
Government on. The Supreme Court of the
state, TO which the conspirat0rs, forced by
| public opinion, referred the questions in
volved, told them squarely that their pro-
ceed.ngs were fraudulent, and took from un-
der their feet their only pretext. Still they
vent on. They organized Il bogus legisla-
| tnrc, and elected bugus Governor. They
( kept il up even after the rightfnl Legislature
had organized, taken possession Of the State
| House and elected a real Governor. They
persisted in their sham after the Supreme
Court had fully recognized the Legitimacy
and legality Of the body in possession of the
/ House, and their bogus Government went so
! far as to issue orders to the militia and pro-
CARNATIONS to the people. And this utterly
hollow pretence Of a government without leg
/ timacy of birth, regularity of organization
or legality of existence, without a meeting
place and without quorum. had the braZcn
| impudence to hold itself together until slap
| ped fairly in the face and pronounced fraud
in answer to its own questions by the Su-
preme Court, when il tucked its tail and
broke for the woods. The history Of it is
easily condensed. 1t is short and disgrace
! ful. Never was anything mistakably and
! shamciulIv dishonest "a this whole perform
ance. From beginning to end there is not
an act in it that does not rcek with fraud 1t
began wirh Pilsbury's trap in the forms for
returns from the republican cites, it ends
| with the sneaking away of the last scamp
W ho undertook to steal an office 10 which he
knew he was never elected.
And all this under the auspices and for the
benefit Of party which has been bowling it
self red in the face for three years with the
Fraud cry. This was a Democratic cOnspir
acy. Let them be kept to the record