Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-01-10
rnouRLE IN NAME.


1t is so long since our last number
was published that our readers, un-
less otherwise informed, are igno-
rant of events in Maine which have
produced considerable excitement
even outside the limits of that State
and something approaching alarm
among the people of Maine ITSELF.
It had already become known be-
fore our last appearance that the
Board of Canvassers was engaged
in revising the returns Of the recent
election held in the State of Maine,
and after a prolonged sitting they
gave decisions as to the iIlegality Of
a number of returns, which so far
changed the result of the election as
to give a majority in both Houses
of the Legislature TO the Fusionist
party over the Republicans, who
were in a majority according to the
uncanvassed returns. The Fusion
lists are a coalition made up of Dem
Ocrats and National Greenbackers.
This action has naturally pro-
duced great animosity on the part
of the Maine Republicans, and the
evaporation between them and the
FusiOnists has for some time threat
ened to break out in aets of vio-
lence. This Irritation, we said, has
to certain extent spread beyond
the State of Maine, but it must not
be supposed that the Democratic
party has generally taken sides
with the Fusionists; on the contra
~, some of the most prominent
Democratic journals have from the
first condemned the action of the
Governorand the Canyassing Board.
We did not do so at first, considering
it a question of law between the
Governor and canvassers on the
one side and the Republican claim
ants of seats on the other, and being
decisively of the opinion that the
controversy ought to be left to the
people of Maine alone, and not al
lowed to become a question between
parties in Federal politics.
Events have occurred since, how
ever, which entirely change our
position. Gov. Garcelon was in
duced to refer questions at issue to
the Supreme Court of the State, and
that court decided against every
one of his positions, and the Gov
ernOr announces his intention of
seating the Fusionist candidates in
spite of the decisions he himself
asked for.
This will insure his cOndemna-
ton by reasonable and just men of
all parties. 1t is true that it is al
legged that the decision is a partisan
decision, a sort of repetition of the
eight by ten decision of the ElectO-
raj Commission of 1876. We think
it not unlikely that it is so, but it is
law until reversed by a superior
cOur., which is a thing very un-
likely to occur, and if the Governor
persists in his purpose, and if riot
and bloodshed should arise, he will
be responsible for il all.
The consideration which gives
interest to politicians outside of
Maine, is that the elected will des-
ignate United States Senator to
succeed Mr.. Blaine If the Legisla-
ture recognized by the Governor
and eanvassers is seated, they will
elect National Greenbacker, but if
that elected according to the origi-
nal uncanvassed returns, then Sena-
tor Blaine will be his own successor.
In the former event we have no
doubt that large number of Dem
ocratic Senators will vote with the
Republicans against his admission,
and, were we United States Sem
ator, that is exactly what we should
do. We have nothing further to
say in reference to a matter which
is exclusively a Maine affair until
gentleman from Maine applies for
admission into the United States
Senate.