The Portland daily press., 1880-08-30
The Latest Dodge of the Tabula-
tors.

The communication in our local columns,
signed Republican" raises question of
veraclty between the Tabulators and we'll
known Democratic leaders. Our correspon-
dent, whose righteous indignation at the
steal has perhaps got the better of his iudg-
ment and wholly done away with his
charity, intimates that Garcelon and his
Council were urged on in their wicked work
by the chiefs of the Democratic party in this
State, and that those who let slip the hounds
and called the cry are now meanly and dis
honorably and hypocritically pretending
that they took no part in the chase. Our
correspondent has been msled by one of
the many excuses put out by the men of
biack-letter notoriety. The gifted Fogg
made the same assertion in effect, at Citv
Hall the other evening; and the rumor is
current on the street that Tabulator Chase
has in his possession proofs of the compiled
ty of Portland Democrats, hitherto of high
standing, in the cornt-out.
We must regard this rumor as utterly
without foundation; as adesperate device of
the Tabulators to shift the blame of their
misdeeds to other and innocent shoulders.
We cannot bring ourselves to believe that
high-toned Democrats like Bion Bradbury.
George Walker, and Nathan Cleaves. ever
approved the count-out, or were for a
moment in sympathy with men like
Frank Fogg. Those gentlemen, SO un-
justly assailed, owe it to themselves to
meet and Immediately refute the aspersion,
upon their honor and honesty made by the
Fusion candidate for Congress in the Second
District and the ex-Councillor from Port
land. That they will do so the PRESS can
have no doubt; and in their behalf, and in
the defense of reputable public men against
slander so vile and insinuation so con-
temptible, it challenges their detractors to
the proof. They have repeatedly denounced
the Garcelon iniquity, and said again and
again that they had no lot or part in it. and
held their skirts up to even the height of
indecent exposure for fear of the contain
ination of it's mud. They cannot now suffer
charges so grave topass ssuncontradicted. 1T was
a great and objectionable crime to make the
false count the Tabulators did. 1t is even
meaner and more vile to attempt to throw
the responsibility for that dishonesty upon
gentlemen Of character who frowned on
the outrage at the start. Garcelon and
his staff need not try to hide themselves be-
hind reputable Democrats like Bradbury and
Walker and Cleaves. Those gentlemen are
and generous; but. naturally
enough, their generosity will not lead them
to do vicarious penance in the pillory of pub
Lie opinion. They will not put their ankles
in the stocks and their necks in the collar
just to shield the gifted Fogg.
There is point beyond which partisan.
ship, however eager and Jealous and sincere.
cannot properly go. 1t has no right to call
in question the personal statements of re-
putably honorable men, unless it has con
vincing evidence for it's disbelief. The
PRESS certainly will not lend itself to the
circulation of dishonest and malicious at
tacks upon honest political opponents. 1t
gladly leaves that dirty business to the Dem
ocratic organ in this city, 1t regrets to hear
and cannot believe, that the Democrats
whom the Tabulators now seek to make ac-
cessories to the count-out, had anything to |
40 with that crime. 1t is glad to be able to |
say this, especially in heatsd term of
party strife when suspicion is SO readily en-
+ertained and proof so lightly weighed. 1t |
s thoroughly and unalterablY. .opposed. .to.
NE - - NE \
.he difference between hon est ard si-ln.>se+.
and those who do the misleading. For the
men who instigated, or achieved, or eoun--
the miscount, it has no char
ity. But it does not charge that offence on
any Democrat who is not clearly compro-
missed in the matter; and will not hold any
one responsible who does not approve the
outrage by his vote on the 18th of Septem-