Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-16
Course of the COnspiratOrs.

The course Of the conspiracy against the
liberties aud rights Of the people has been
from bad to worse. The counting ont
scheme was begun in the expectation tina,
II would bc only feebly resisted by the re-
publicans. Having been commenced. how
that 1t was n greater job than they hid
bargained for. For time they ran quite
smoothly along. with scarcely a ripple of
opposition. but now they atc in n political
maelstrom. rapidly approaching the point
where destruction awaits them.
Two months ago they We're manipulate
ing the returns in the Council Chamber.
aud covering up their work With fair prom.
iscs t" the people that the count should be
honest But suspicion grew in the State
that all was not right and a demand was
made to see the returns This fair re-
quest was ref. Sod Then the demand he
came more earnest and clamorous. and
the conspirators began to realize that they
were in trouble. Still they kept to their
purpose OF stealing the government out
of the hands of the republicans. although
they had To wade deeper aud deeper every
day into the tide OF guilt and intamy upon
which they had entered
At last the count was declared and sum
monscs issued Then the indignation of
the people broke forth in condemnation of
the outrage. Garcolon and his Council
became a kissing and by-word all over
the country. The pulpit rosounded
with the severeSt dcuunciation of their
infamous work. Respectable people east
them of as thieves and scoundrcls and be-
trayers of the sacred trust which had been
reposed in them. Finally. after urgent
petitioning. Garcclon was prevailed upon
To submit questions in dispute to the Su-
premc Judicial Court The answers of
the Court were overwhelmingly against
the conspiracy. leaving the count made b,
the Governor aud Council not an inch of
solid ground to stand upon. But even the
opinion OF the Court did not deter the viii
lsius who had their hands upon the threats
Of the people. They treated it with con
tempt. and went forward to the completion
ct their job--the organization of fraud
ulen, Legislature.
Behold now the fruits ot their grea,
crime in the scenes which have taken
place in this city during the last week and
this. They have organized a mock legi>-
lature. Illegal throughout, while the MEM
hers who were legally elected bv the peo-
pie have formed another and a legal
legislature. The State Treasury i closed
To the ,ymeut Of demands The depart
mcnts. the mos, of them. are being run hv
men whose terms OF office have expired
There is no Governor. no Council. The
public property and the Institutions Of the
State. also the peace and order of the
community. are alone protected and main
tanned by Major General Chamberlain.
In this condition Of public affairs the
Peoples Legislature has called upon the
Supreme Judicial Court for its opinion on
questions submitted involving the legality
Of the mock legislature. But before any
opinion has been uttered by the Court. the
conspirators have determined TO pay no
attention to its decision. Exposed. baiiled.
beaten =, every point thus tar. clingiac to
rump Legislature and 4 bogus Governor.
stripped of every disguise tina, concealed
the crime intended. having neither
power 10 make nor enforce laws
they refuse to change their mad
course, and rush blindly forward into
deeper shame and disgrace
What the Court will decide no one
knows. To condemn it in advance is no;
to discredit the Court. but rather to con.
fess the weakness OF the fusion cause. lie.