Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-08
THE MAINE BRIBERY,

THE MAINE BRIBERY,
Another feature of the Maine con-
spiracy to defeat the execution of the
constitution and the laws has Just
como to light. 1t is nothing more nor. less
than an attempt to bride the fusion mem
bers of the Legislature to turn traitors to
their party, and to assist the Republicans in
gaining control of both branches. There is
ample proof that these tactics have proved
successful in a few instances, but two men
were approached who were too honest to sell
their principles and at the same time shrewd
enough to set trap for the bribers in which
they were easily caught. The exposure was
made late on Tuesday night, and very ma
turally threw the Republican camp into con-
sternation. The affidavits of the persons
interested were printed in full in the GLOBE
of yesterday, and tell their own story.
1t is in brief that they were offered and
received a thousand dollars each for copying
and signing statement repudiating the &C.
ton of the governor and council AMI re-
signing their seats, so as to leave the legisla-
ture without quorum when it should have
met yesterday at noon.
This action on the part Ct the Republicans
is entirely characteristic. The same policy
was pursued in Louisiana, South Carolina
and Florida during the electoral canvass of
1876. Wherever it was found impossible to
defraud the Democrats of their rights, resort
has been had to that powerful lever, money,
TO accomplish their purpose. The best mem
bers of the party seem to have no compunc-
tions of conscience as to employing this
agency to maintain the dominance of the
party in both State ana nation, but Justify
and uphold it on the theory that tie end JUS
titles the means.
This exposure shows to what extremities
the party has come. Defeated at the cleo.
ton by a majority vote of the people, they
sought to retrieve their losses by sending
to the governor and council false and i'm
perfect returns for members of the legisla-
ture. The returning officers frustrated
them in this, when a great hue and cry was
raised about revolution and fraud. Finding
that the governor and his council would be
sustained in their action by the people,
they Gained down sufficiently to make one
more attempt to redeem their cause. With
an effrontery almost unparalleled they pro-
posed that the questions in dispute be refer
red to the supreme Judicial court for arbitra-
ton. Those who lose in fair game are always
ready to arbitrate. Gov. Garcelon was weak
enough to consent to submission of some
OF the questions involved for an opinion
but not for decision, he seeming to have
forgotten that he was placing his case in the
hands of tribunal composed of bitter par
tisan enemies who would violate their oath
of Office if by SO doing they could
secure a partisan advantage. The
result was what might have
been expected. The court con-
strued the mandates of the constitution
and the laws precisely as the Republican
managers wished and had arranged that il
should, in direct contravention of all previ-
Gus decisions. The governor saw his mistake
when it was too late to rectify it, but wisely
determined to pay no attention to the opin-
ion, but to refer all matters in dispute to the
legislature, where they properly bslong.
The last resort to bribery, as we have re-
marked, is wholly characteristic. With the
constitution and the laws, backed by the State
officials and the people, against, them, they
have sought to corrupt those who are legally
entitled to seats in the legislature to give up
their rights, and thus hamper the business of
that body, if not prevent altogether the enact
ment of laws necessary for the government of
the people and the maintenance of the State
institutions. Unfortunately the names of
the persons actively engaged in this scheme
of bribery, as well as of those back of
them, are for the present concealed,
but all the facts will no doubt be brought to
light through an investigation that will be
ordered. If the facts prove to be as stated
and there appears to be no reason to ques-
ton the veracity of the afiants-these acts
will ALLEVIATE whatever of public sympathy
the Republicans may have retained through
this disgraceful middle, and in law will de-
bar them from any recovery Of what they
claim to consider their rights. It will also,
in all probability, consign some of the mis-
creants implicated to the sphere for which
they are best fitted-service for the State be-
hind prison bars.
At this writing there is little danger to
fear for results. The legislature has been
organized by the certi6cated members and
will at once proceed to business. Whether
it will overturn the work of the governor and
council or not cannot now be determined,
but its action will be watched with great in
terest by all defenders of constitutional law
in every part Of the country.