Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-01-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., /

WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.,
Dec. 20, 1879.
The all absorbing topic OF discussion for
the past week at the hotels Of this city and
by nearly this entire community, has been
the mammoth fraud perpetrated by the
Governor and Council of Maine and what
seems most wonderful at this distance, Is
that the people OF the State are not thor
oughly aroused to dangers that threaten
them, and their institutions. 1t seems
that they do not comprehend the effect OF
this crime of crimes upon republican gov
ernment, or that its magnitude so nearly
overwhelms them that they are paralyzed.
That 1t has been in contemplation for nearly
year there is no doubt, and that it is the
first step toward seizing the Presidency
there Is no room for doubt. Ii does not
seem possible that the people of Maine are
TO submit to such usurpation. II q state
with all the advantages that Maine pos
sesses and with all its boasted intelligence
can be thus easily subjugated, why longer
talk Of outrages in the South, or wonder
that republican government has been en-
tirely wiped out where its only supporters
norant freedman? Better far that the blood
OF her citizens run in her streets than that
her people submit, and allow the consum-
nation Of such a crime,--a crime before
which all others pale into utter insignifl-
cance-and become the servile and abject
| slaves that submission will make Of them.
After all the self-denial and sacrifices that
have been endured by her people to pre-
serve unto Us n nation, are they to sit
tamely by and see their State government
usurped by the enemies OF her free institu-
tions? We hear the talk that, II they do
this thing, We will bury them next year. I
would like to ask, if they are to be per-
mitted TO consummate the crime this year,
where is the assurance that they will not
do the same next year, or that the will OF
the people will ever again be asserted and
respected. No intelligent person will for
q moment attempt to maintain that the
Democratic party In Maine is not a unit in
its approval Of the course OF Garcelon and
his colleagues. What II the telegraph
does announce to the world that L. ID. NJ
SWEET and ex-Mayor Putnam deprecate the
fact that Portland Is TO be dsfranchlsed
when they have sat idly by with the full
knowledge that the gigantic crime was
being consummated.
template changing the mode Of choosing
presidential electors, or that they intend tc
elect United States Senator this winter
They reason that the democracy are SURE
Of majority in the Senate after March 4
1881, and under the Constitution the Sen
ate is the judge Of the election Of its owl
members, the man thus elected Is certain
OF admission, and would in fact have a:
much right to seat as at least dozen o
tnOSe now SlttlHS.
II Garcelon and his eight colleague.
with their masters, Pillsbury, Ladd, Brad
bury & Co. can walk the streets Of he
towns and cities and breathe the free al
God has given her in safety, then he
people have more Of the spirit Of forbear
ance or less Of that Of freemen than ha
been generally credited to them.
Congress has adjourned for the holidays
They have taken an unusually long time,-
nineteen days, which consider q goo,
omen. II they would adjourn themselve
out Of existence as a body, the cOuntr
could breathe freer, as they would then b
lpowerless to disturb the present prosper
Gus times. One thing seems quite certain
that few restless spirits are, determine
to agitate the financial question. 1 thin
the President and Secretary Sherman vii
find it mistake to urge the opening O
that question at this time. What tn
country now wants is rest.
The action OF the Republican Nations
Committee In electing Senator Camera
chairman Is being canvassed thoroughly
and is very generally commended, thoug
there is however NO denying that it was
concession to the money power Of tn
country, and In this re spect 1t is to be n
GREETED. The selection, to my mind, Is
be very much preferred to that OF McCo,
mick, which seemed probable at on
time. All appearances seem to point I
the fact that the friends of Blaine are /
the majority in the committee though II
selection Of the Chairman and Secretar
do not present any significance as to tt
candidates: The Chairman Is an outspoke
Grant man, but Is unde rstood to be She
man man, as between the lstter and Blain'
while the Secretary, Keogh, is an uncon