Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-30

The Strong Man argument"

(From the Bangor Wing and Courier.l
II 10 now a matter of history that the
conspiracy TO steal the State Of Maine was
m important part of the organized plan
OF the democracy to grasp the next Pres
idency by fraud, and the exposure has
shown it 70 have been the most startling
and monstrous crime ever attempted
against the suffrage rights Of the people.
The conspirators had the advantage Of be-
ing entrenched in power a. a coordinate
branch Of the State Government, and the
fact that the Chief Executive and his Coun-
cillors prostituted their powers and immu-
mites to the preparation OF the great
crime Of setting up. by fraudulent count
and fraudulent certificates. another cs-or-
proceeded In turn TO set up fraudulent Ex-
ecutive, rendered the task Of exposing and
overthrowing the gigantic conspiracy an
almost superhuman task.
When Senator Blaine returned 10 Maine
in the middle Of November, after his ar'iu-
Gus campaigning in the west, he found
himself confronted with plot Of villainy
unparalleled and almost Incredible. The
conspirators had prepared tor grand
coup a. e,s by the issuing OF certificates To
q fraudulent majority in both branches Of
the Legislature. and not moment was to
be lost From that moment Senator Blaine
closed upon the conspirators in a graphic
that never ceased to tighten until by meth
DDS Of law and under the powers of the
constitution the attempt to set up gov
eminent in Maine by fraud was strangled
70 death.
From the first day. on which nearly two
hundred of the most eminent republican
citizens of the State were summoned by
telegraph for consultation at the State
Capital, the residence Of Senator Blaine
was the headquarters Of the most memo
rable and triumphant campaign ever CON
Quoted in New England. and throughout
the whole contest he bore the heat and the
brunt Of the battle by day and by night
True. he was cordially and ably assisted
by many Of the foremost men OF the State
and none would be mere generous than
himself in awarding credit to others; but
his rare faculty Of bringing together the
men who could throw the most light upon
troublesome problems and who couldmost
al liz 10 in mo E,r Al
feating the conspiracy, is one OF the chief
elements of strength in political lead
er under our form of popular government.
Therefore. while all recognize the impor-
tant advisory service rendered by several
of our distinguished ex-Governors, by our
Congressional delegation, by leading law
yers and other citizens. also the invaluable
aid that Gen Chamberlain was enabled to
give by preserving the peace until the law
full government was established. and above
all. the magnificent protection of the peo-
pies rights by our glorious Supreme
Court. it is still as thoroughly understood,
that during the whole eventful and criti-
cal contest. the control and responsibility
Of conducting the peoples cause and baf-
fling the conspiraters rested constantly
upon Senator Blaine.
Those who went through the contest
with him know he stood like tower of
strength through weeks on weeks of most
exhausting and sometimes diseouraging
lAbors. His fertility of resources never
failed. his courage never ialtered, his en-
ergy never abated. his industry was I'M
ceasing Every detail of the struggle
with the conspirators passed under his in
spection, aud nearly every important doe
ument on the republican side was fur
.nished by his trcnchant pen.
lie never ceased to have confidence in a
constitutional method of overthrowing
the usurpation. and while Augusta was
thronged with excited people. and his res
idencc was threatened with attack. he
calmly aided in arranging for the organ-
ration of the rightful Legislature and for
the submission of the case to the Supreme
Court.
From the beginning to the end of the
desperate struggle with organized and en-
trcnchcd fraud. the eyes of the people of
the United States were fixed upon Senator
Blaine. and from first to last he never for
. moment shirked his responsibility.
Working from the outset with a profound
confidence in the ultimate triumph of law
over fraud. of right over wrong. Mr..
Blaine devoted himself with = zeal that
was incessSnt and with peerless abilities
to the task Of breaking through the deten-
ees Of the conspirators. and massing
against them every potency Of constitu-
tional redress.
The splendid triumph that was won has
been hailed with enthusiastic admiration
by the whole country, 1t is recognized
far and wide that the greatest battle ever
waged with political fraud in this country
has been gained by strictly legal and or
DERBY methods in the State Of Maine; and
there IS unmistakable evidence that the