Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-04-13
Bangor whig.
Bangor wing.
NEWSPAPER SCoUNDRELISM.

NEWSPAPER SCOUNDRELISM
There are no milder words that can with
any propriety be applied 20 the scsndalous
etroutery with which such unserapalous
Fusion organs a. the Boston Globe ana
Rapgor Commercial hasten 90 echo the
stupid and selfexposing falsehoods put
forth by Fogg rs a reply" 10 the proofs
OF the frauds perpetrated by the Gsrcelon
Council.
We hardly have patience to refute state
meuts at once so absurd and so wickedly
and designedly false The Fusion town
clerk OF Somerville having been induced
by the Fusion officials at Augusta 10 make
out a second senatorial rstarR, upon which
he. by direction. purposely inserted erro-
neous initials TO the name or the Republl-
can candidate FOR senator, and 10 which
he signed or forged the names OF three
selectmen, the Fusion Governor and Coun-
ell used that fraudulent and forged return
10 count OAf lAs Republican, Senator.
Now come rogg, the Globe and the Coma
,aercial 10 declare that the Republicans in
some way obtained that fraudulent return;
that In some way they got Il into the hands
of Fogg Co; and that they thus sue
ceeded through some unexplained motive
a
ont and Fusion Senator counted in
Now what is the prete1t FOR this maui
testify ridiculous charge: Here II l. stated
by the Globe
II appears from the committee inyostiys-
tions that 4 blank returns. exact tic-Similrs
OF those Ia the Secretary 81 states Office. ~er.
sent out 20 ~ many town clerks l1st foil. IN
the case OF somerville ~ has been saoNn tii'
the blanks came frotS prominent kcpuOiic.n-
How many more had n like un6 ficial origin
and " hat WAS the object OF this irregular pro
eeeding are questions which Tue voters OF
Maine better carefully consider before they
again give their surraycs % The Republican
party.
And this monstrous aud deliberate false
hood Is echoed by the Commercial, which
says;
This clears the case from all doubt. and set
ties the fact that the Republicans sent the
blank return 10 Mr.. Bowler, and that he nlled
OF the selectnen's names BY himself although
innocentfy and as he thought rightfully done,
destroyed il legality, and the Governor and
Council were compelled 70 reject H.
IL would be hard 10 crowd more lying
within the compass OF 20 few words.
!. The statement that the Republicans
lent out i0n or aUy other number OF Iiank
rstHrAS Or iac->imile> Or returns, II an
absolute falsehOot.
=. The documents sent out by the Re-
publicans late in November were simply
blanks for certified copies Of the entire
record OF the election in each town, with a
printed form for attestation before JUS
tice OF the Peace, and were obtained for
use before the Governor and Council TO
correct errors in returns as provided by
law.
8. There is no more similarity between
one OF those certified copies of town
record and an official Senatorial or other
return, than there is between mortgage
and one OF the notes Of hand that may be
specified therein.
4. The certified copy OF the record OF
Someryille obtained by Mr.. Lacy, just as
Mr.. Boutelle obtained certified copies Of
the records or towns in his county, never
went out OF the hands OF the Republican
counsel until IL was used by committee
OF the legal Legislature for the canvassing
OF the vote for Governor, long AFTER the
''tabulation" OF the Someryille vote by
Garcelon & Co., 20 count out Senator
Smith.
5. The Governor and Council did not
reject this false return, but counted Il and
tGbHlated it for The express purpose Cf count
ing ont Senator Snih.
s. The original return from Somerville
had the name OF Andrew X. G. Smith cor
rectly and the Councils tabulation shows
that the ~ votes were originally entered
for him. When il was found necessary TO
get rid Of some Of his majority the second
return was obtained from Bowler, with
the name entered Andrew A. X. Smith,
and the - votes were then erased from the
column under the true name and put in
another column under the latter, thus tax
Ing y votes away from Andrew X. G.
Smith and counting him OUT
:. The villainy Of this transaction Is
rendered more glaring by the fact that the
same Council which counted this fraudu-
lent return on which the forgery OF the
names OF all the selectmen by one persons
hand was obvious AZ glance, rejected the
return from New Sharon and counted out
4 Republican Representative on the ground
of resemblance OF signatures, although the
town officers forwarded affidavits estab-
fishing the fact that each had written his
own signature.
With all these facts accessible 20 the
public, the braZen attempt Of the Fusion
organs 10 defend the great yillainy and
confuse the public mind by reckless false
hood, is enough TO make any man blush
for shame who is in any way connected
with party whose opponents have become
the boastful perpetrators and champions
OF infamous fraud.