Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-01-23
Truth iu Y Nutshell.

The Seattle Dispatch in an able
article on The Maine Middle,
closes with the following truthful
statement of the case aud logical
conclusions:
1t is not true that the State Board
of canvasseis reversed the "a, ressed
popular will, rs is claimed ..L'' made
til. main ground of compliant; tue
Republicans have not had u popular
majority in that State at the last two
State elections; they but represent q
plurality Of the voters, the Fusionists
representing the popular majority,
which, if united at the elections as
it was subsequently,, would have ex-
pressed popular sentiment adversely
to the Republicans. Under The con-
stitution OF Maine a plurali;.' only is
necessary to the election of At member
of the Legislature; it takes MAORI
tv to elect q State officer; hence
there were no State officers elected,
as there were no majority for either
of the candidates. There was II
large maj ority of Republican mem.
bers of the Legislature, represent
ing minority of the popular vote,
returned to the State canvassers
from their respective districts as
elected. 1t was asserted by the OPP
position that many of these were
elected by intimidation and bribery.
Every intelligent man who has ever
resided for length of time in tLat
State will bear witness that such
practices are common according to
common report. The late Senator
Chandler publicly declared that it
was tho most expensive State IN the
Union to carry an election in; bas-
ing the remark upon the experience
of his son-in-law. The report, how
ever, cut no figure in the final
canvass unless it suggested to the
canvasseres the propriety OF scanning
the returns With greater scrutiny.
The canvassers, with Gov. Garcelon
as President Of the Board, were men
of heretofore unimpeached integrity,
represen ting two of the three political
parties in that State, and none of
them prominent as managing pol
iticians; Garcelon himself having
always acted with the Republican
party until within short time be-
fore he was elected Governor.
There is no evidence that their
action in the premises-which was
unanimous-is not strictly in accord
ance with law and sustained by
abundant precedents, without the
exercise of any discretionary power
or committing any illegal act. II
they transcribed their powers in any
particular, surely the laws of the
State provide for the punishment of
crimes and misdemeanors in Office.
If not, why are they assailed
throughout the length and breadth
of the land in viriuperative language
which is only employed to character
ize the most heinous crimes? In
doubtful cases, is it conclusive of
criminal intent for any man to con-
strue the law favorable to his own
party? If so, how often have
Eugene Hale, Mr.. Blaine and Nor
rell offended? In the many con-
tested seats in Congress-. upon which
they have severally set as Judges,
can the name of either of them be
found recorded in favor of q political
opponent? Under what uniform
rule of law does Mr.. Blaine chal-
lenge the legality of the Legislature
OF Maine returned by the duly quail
fed State canvassers, and at the
same time vote to retain Kellogg
in seat in the Senate to which LIE
was elected by Legislature COM
posed in precisely the same manner;
and that, too, after the Legislature
which elected Kellogg had been set
aside by State authorities, concurred
in by the General Government, as in
competent and destitute of legisla-
tive functions.
We do not propose to blindly de-
lend one party and condemn the
the other, but fairly and impartially
to consider facts as we find them.
without party bias.