Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-01-01
THE EXCITEMENT IN MAINE.

Our colo natureQ cOuSlnS, way up III
Maine, despite the low temperature and snow
mantled cliffs of their chilly cline, seem to
have warmed up in the winter of their discon-
tent over the question of the recent election
in that State, and the alleged game of "count.
ing i'm Davis, Democrat, for Governor,
and counting out" number of Republicans,
whom, it is claimed, were elected to the
Legislature.
There were several contested cases, which,
for final aljudiction, went up to the Govern
or and his council, and in making their re-
port, they decided in such manner as to
count the Republican members down from
80 to So, and the Democrats up from 81 to
7S This report was reached, it is claimed,
on technicalities and informalities of returns,
and Democrats were rejected in some in
stances. as we'll as Republicans; though the
somewhat sweeping rejection of Republicans
was sufficient cause to excite the wrath of
that party, and to such extent did the feeling
run, that at one time bloodshed was imminent.
As soon as the report of Governor Gar
; celon-who is Democrat and was elected
by coalition of the Democratic and Green.
back vote-was promulgated, an indignation
meeting was held in Bangor, condemning
the action of the Governor and council. Sew.
eral bloodthirsty speeches were made. One
speaker declared that if this great wrong
were allowed to 60 on it would result in
bloodshed, and that he believed that gen.
eral uprising of the people throughout the
State would secure their seats to their candi-
dates who received the majority of votes.
Similar meetings were held in other cities
and towns, and the inAammatory character of
the utterances of the speakers induced Gov
ernor Garcelon to adopt precautionary meas
ures, one of which was to attempt the reno.
val of State arms and ammunition from the
State arsenal in Bangor to Augusta. A Ban
gor dispatch of December 25th, describes the
occurrence as follows:
Great excitement was created here to-day by
reports of the intended removal of arms and
ammunition from the State Arsenal to the depot,
for transportation to Augusta. About o'clock,
p. M. two truck teams, loaded with arms and
ammunition, were stopped on Kenduskeag bridge
by crowd, which rapidly increased to throng
that filled the streets, declaring that the arms
should never be carried out of the city. Mayor
Brown demanded of the teamster the order under
which he was acting No satisfactory answer
was given at first, but finally young man
named French appeared, who said he was clerk
in the Adjutant- Generals Office and was moving
the arms to Augusta under orders from the Gov
ernor. The excitement Of the populace was
greatly increased by this statement and the crowd
attempted to unharness the horses. The Mayor
told French he had not force enough to guarantee
the safety Of the munitions if the attempt to re-
move them was persisted in while the people
were excited He would take no responsibility
for the trouble that might ensue. French dec-
ded it best to return the to the arsenal than
incur the hazard of riot, and the Mayor fur
nshed police to protect them on their return.
Public excitement was increased by report that
J. L. Smith, Greenback candidate for Governor; {;
S. w. Haskins Fusion Indian Agent, and Maj.
NJ. NJ. Folsom, of Oldtown, were closeted at the
Penobscot Exchange during the day, and that
Major Folsom appeared on the ground after the
team had turned back and told the clerk (French)
that he had made mistake in not pushing
through to the depot, and urged him to change
his orders for their return to the arsenal. Mr..
French however, was unwilling to assume the
responsibility of a collision with the popuace
A communication, signed by Mayor Brown, a
number OF ex-Mayors of the city, and other
prominent citizens, expressing surprise at the
attempt to move the arms and ammunition from
act Of the State authorities in moving large guam
titles of deadly weapons through the streets of
peaceful city in the present excited condition Of
the public mind, was sent to Governor Garcelon
to-day. The escape from bloodshed was very
narrow. 1t is we'll known the Republicans are
forming secret military associations, and they
threaten to seize the arms in the arsenal
AS recently as Saturday last, the excite.
ment was still unsubsiding. At Lewiston
5000 people attended an Indignation meeting.
Ex-Governor Dingley, Congressman Frye
and others addressed the meeting. Frye
characterized the action of the Governor and
Council as palpable and unequivocal steal.
He met but one Democrat in Congress who
attempted to defend the action of the Fusion
lists. The plot was hatched week ago. The
Republicans, he said, will never see Daniel
F. Davis Governor of Maine.
A dispatch from Bangor of the same date,
says that though the feeling in that city was
very intense. ordinary quiet prevailed and all
business proceeded as regularly as usual.