Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-02-10
New York Daily Tribune
CONDENSED HISTORY.

For the ps.t three months the newSpa-
,ers of the country have been occupied 20
an unusual degree with the public afAirS
of the State OF Maine. That ordinarily
ouiet and peaceful Commonwealth has
meyer before been 20 much the subject OF
public interest, " conversation ana dis-
cussion. This interest will presently
cease. the state viii lapse back Into the
Eut OF routine, and the occurrences which
have given her such unusual prominence
will pas. out Of mind. But before they
ARE forgotten entirely IL will not be out oi
place 10 gather the salient features and con
dense. I'M a few sentences the history Of
very remarkable transaction They hardly
us..i comment. for 10 all thoughtful minds
thex carry their own, but they contain a
lesson la government which IL would be
unwiSe 10 neglect, and Oder revelations
concerning the spirit and purpose OF
great party which aspires TO direction and
control 20 which we shall DO we'll 20 give
heed. The chief interest that abide> now,
sfter the CouspiraiOrS have been baked
and failure has fallen on the plot, II IN the
light thrown by il on the purposes OF the
party under whose auspices the great maud
was attempted. For IL must De borne IN
mind that the scheme WAS by no means
merely local, the desperate adventure 81 a
few politicians anxious 10 obtain posses
sion OF the small Offices they held, but part
OF a wider plan that embraced the whole
country In it, scope and had the Federal
Government with all it, patronage and
power for its objective point. And the
party that originated it-fOr whose sole
benefit il was cOncocted and whose leaders
everywhere encouraged it-mUst be held
accountable for IL.
Afler the election in September last The
counting Of the votes showed beyond
question the success Of the Republicans IN
both branches OF the Legislature. There
was no doubt a 20 any important point
except for few days a. 10 the choice OF
Governor by The people. The official IT,
turns disclosed the fact that The Republican
candidate. though having a handsome plu-
yalirV over the rest, had few hundred
votes less than an actual majority over all
This Was not considered 4 matter of any
moment, as the fact of an undiSputed ma
iority in both branches OF the Legislature
made his election certain. No man IA or
out Of the State dreamed Of diSpIt!ng this
state OF facts. There were no contests OF
seats IN specific cases; but IN little while
the cOnSpiratOrS began 20 pave The way Tor
their plot by circulating cock-and-oul
stories about wholesale bribery which they
were unable 10 verify Then came The
TrijBHs's announcement that wholesale
counting OGt was contemplated which
should give the Democrats the Legislature,
AMI in consequence the State officers. 10
seemed 30 bald a piece OF rascality that
the public wss incredulOus. and some Dem
ocrstic newspapers Sneered at the unnec-
-. 4 fffss4f lFFH
the cOnSpiratOrs went on in their shameless
work. They disregarded Republican pro-
sests. established custom, precedent, the
rules OF official courtesy, common justice
and common decency. The badge OF fraud
was on every step Of their proceedings.
They made no claim whatever, except that
upon the most frivolous technicalities and
auibbliDg they could End a justification for
counting in \ Legislature that they did not
dare 10 pretend was elected. And the dis
honest scamps-fcr that's exactly what
they were-who were counted a. consented
20 set their part in the fraud.
But they were not left even the juStinca-
ton of bubble % stand their fraudulent
Government on The Supreme Court Of
The State, 20 which the cOnSpiratOrS,
forced by public opinion, referred the
questions involved. told them squaTe.y
that their proceedings were fraudulent,
and took from under their feet their only
pretext. Still they went on. They organ
lied a bogus Legislature, and elected q
bogus Governor. They kept il up even
after the rightful Legislature had organ
sZed, taken possession OF the State House
and elected a real Governor. They per
sisted in their sham after the Supreme
Court had fully recognized the Legitimacy
and legality % the body in possession OF
thu House, and their bogus Government
went so far as TO issue orders 10 tie militia
and proclamations TO the people. And this
utterly hollow pretence or government
without legitimacy of birth, regularity OF
organization or legality OF existence, with
ont : meeting place and without quorum,
had the brazen impudence 10 hold Itself TO
gether until slapped fairly in the face and
pronounced Maud in answer TO its own
questions by the supreme Court, when 1t
tucked its tail and broke for The woods.
The history OF IL is easily condensed. it
is short and disgracefui. Never was any
thing so Enthusiastically and shsDelessly dis
honest as this whole performance. From
beginning to end there Is not an act IN II
that does not reek with fraud. IL began
with Pilisbury's trap in the forms for re
turns nom the Republican cities. il ends
with the sneaking away Of the last scamp
who undertook 10 steal an office % which
be was never elected.
aad all this under the auspices aud Tor
She benSft of q party which has been howl
ing itself red in the face for three years
With the Fraaa cry. This was Demo-
cratic conspiracy. Lei them De kept to