The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-02

Surely, lightning striking in the same place
thirty seven times consecutively in the same
storm wouldn't have been such marvel!
Before the election Eben F. Pillsbury, the
State Printer, printed blank returns for the
cities with three spaces for the signatures OF
aldermen. Saco, Lewiston, Bath and Rock
land were cast out because only three alder
men signed. Eben f. Pillsbury, the State
Printer, as soon as the State House came into
the hands of the State authorities left the
State.
Before and after Nov. 18th, the date when
the reinforced committee on elections reported
that they had made the tabuations Attorney
General Mcclellan proclaimed what was to be
done and how. Councillor f. q. Parker told
Benson how to correct "for precedent the
returns from Dixmont, and Congressman Ladd
was writing to Washington that the Fusion
legislature would be counted in.
On Nov Sth E. X. Smart, Fusion candidate
for County Attorney, and Geo. w. Orlsko
travelled over Washington county, 3. Emery
Pratt in Franklin and A. s. Kimball in OX-
ford each with blank returns or taking am
davits. All this time not Republican was al
lowed sight at the returns.
Oliver p. Bragdon was first put on the list OF
elected and then scratched out and Flye SUD-
stituted The reason given was that one town
returned his name Oliver B. AS you will see
by the fac Simile in the report, the T had been
altered to B, the lower end scratched. When
do you think this was done? Could it have
been done at any other time than when his
name was scratched off the list?
In Berwick George III. Wakefeld's middle
initial was changed to an A. How, you can
see by the fac smile. Compare it carefully
with the three other AS in Danl. A. Hill,
Josiah A. Slower aud D. A. Hill on the same
paper. When John H. Stillings, the clerk,
says that he wrote it H. how can you help be-
lieving him?
Look at Exhibit Is and see how they put in
an "A' for Josiah Slower, Fusion candi-
date for Senator, so as to save him 3l5 votes.
Mr.. Reed commented ON other cases of like
character and commended to the attention of
every voter the reproductions of the original
papers which are printed as exhibits to the
committees report. These things proved the
case beyond oral testimony, and left no room
for dispute He then answered the taunt
about Louisiana by the facts and figures which
he presented to the State Convention, very
much as printed in our issue of June oath.
He then addressed himself to the national
issues. He pointed out the difference between
the two candidates for the Presidency, Gar
field and Hancock. To become President of
100000 people was not a light business.
We needed man with opinions and convic.
tions framed in the arena of discussion, and
not in the closet. What Garfield believed and
would believe on all the great questions to be
met and solved during the next Presidency,
every body knew. They were the result of
practical study. Garfield knew the business
VI otdtCol1duohp phdCbiCdilys w uou WOAO
Hancock's opinions ON finance, on the relations
of the Nation and the States? What occasion
had he ever had to turn these things over in
his mind? The inevitable result of Hancock's
election would be that he would be totally
under the influence of the most active men of
his party. What these men had for principles
the history of the past twenty years was am
pie answer. Even great men do not learn
things by intuition. 1t takes time and study
and practice to make a statesman as it does to
make shipwright What would the great
intellect of Washington have been worth in a
ship-yard? Even the sturdy common sense of
Grant with his great knowledge of affairs re-
sulting from years of independent command,
could not save his earlier years of administra-
ton from mistakes. Training as a statesman
would have done even him good Garfield Isl
tried statesman of high character and of wide
experience. What he will do we know.
What Hancock will do we cannot conjecture.
The business interests of this country need
ing stability, on the principles in which Gar
field believes, will never jeopardize its future
by aiding in the election of man whose be-
liefs and principles are as unknown as his
hackers are we'll known.