Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-09-14
THE ISSUE.

THE ISSUE.
The three paramount issues
that are To be fought out In the
campaign iu Maine this year nre.
first. whether the revOlutiOntxcd
State Government shall stand or
fall, second, whether the banks
must 20 or stay .nnd. third. wheth-
err the bonds shall be paid, or
nade over into n pcrpctuai
debt.---F0gg'S ChroHicle.
The issue of most Importance to the
people of Maine is to be settled next
Monday. The issue is not only OF great
Importance 70 the people of Maine. but In
its bearings involves all questions that re-
late to a Republican form of government
A republic is distinguished from other
governments BY the fact that a majority
of the people administer its atfairs-where
the will OF the people is the highest law
The people express their will and issue
their mandates by means of the ballot.
To disregard this expression of popular
will is revolution against our rulers IL
men who have been elected to office re-
fuse to retire and yield up their trusts at
such bidding. they are traitors to the re-
public. snd should suffer the heaviest
penalties.
We are all agreed that a revolutionary
State Government should not stand and
that those who inaugurate such should
feel the full weight of an outraged pub
lie opinion and of an offended law. Yet
both fusion and Republican orators are
arguing this point as if it were an issue.
Its not. The issue is, who inaugurated
revolutionary government II any, and
who now suStains the same.
When this question is raised Repubh-
cans Immediately take the offensive, while
their opponents take the defensive, and
nv to excuse their action. To person
unacouainted With the facts at issue, this
would alone be strong argument IN
favor of the Republicans.
We claim tina, the following eight men
sought 70 perpetuate their power after the
people of Maine had ordered them to re-
tire 70 private life; and thus inaugerate a
revolutionary state government;
Alou.o Garc,iop, Gorcrnor.
John 3. Foster,
SIMON :. Br0,p,
Frank w. Fogg,
Charles H. ChdSe, Councillors.
Ed,riH &. Noody,
Hlisey H. Monroe,
Fr,deTck a. Parker,
Al the September election, IN 1879,
Alonzo Garcelon, as candidate tor Gov
ernor. was defeated BY over 10000 votes
In both branches Of the Legislature ms
friends and political associates were IN
The minority. Everywhere, by all men
Of ever, parts, i was admitted that the
Republicans had majority Of 80 on
ioirt ballo, in the Legislature.
Notwithstanding these facts, Alone
Garcelon and his seven associates rrNrF-ed
Phi, majority. The excuse they Offered
sor the change was simply that they acted
IN accordanee ~in. re provisions OF the
constitution and the laws. So. sryu'
..er,'s sake. let US admit that they II
acted They would not then be Justi'
fed IN Their acton. The constitution
and the laws are to eRaUia he people &c
&C. express their views clearly, ana IL Pc
vent fraDI In the count. No law OF
constitutional cis~-- was ever framed tC
alter the expressed will ot The people
bu, 20 give 1t more full expression. Il
Governor Garcelon found that his inter
pretation of the laws was changing the
result Of an election, ne should hay,
known that his Interpretation SsS eros
ncous. If BIZ Councillors advised him
10 follow a course which would alter the
yesul, of an election, he should have
known that they were false men. II hi
found that following the constitution anc
the laws was 20 O>ertLro~ tle result o.
AN election. he should have Appealed iC
That power higher than the constitution
lie should have given the true result o.
the peoples vii. Is expressed at th'
pons. and then throEa himself upon
their hands for pardon. sueh 4 manly
course would have made q popular herC
and a patriot. Instead OF this, ne know
indy adhered to course that deprived
our large cities OF representation anc
totally changed the result Of an annua
election throughout the STATE.
This much il he did follow the consu.
ton and the laws. But he did not
Finding that MS Interpretation Of the
laws was working such a change, and
that the people were revolving, he ap
pealed to the Supreme Court OF Maine
This Is the only tribunal which can au-
thoritatiyely interpret the constitution anc
laws. The Court told him that he had
done wrong, but he refused to correct the
error already made, and committed
groser by such refusal u was Xix,
breaking the ten commandments at ont
blow as Moses did when he threw th'
stone tablets from the holy noun
tain. II be had wished to follow the
constitution and the laws, he should no
have set up his own judgment, bu
should have followed the Instructions c
the Court.
Armed with certificates thus Illegal!
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