The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-05-11
The Political Outlook.
GOVERNOR PLAISTED'S REASONS FOR NOT
GAIIING An ENTPA SESSION


has not expired by limitation; that the Legisla-
turc even has not power to repeal the appor-
tonmcnt until new one is made, because they
would thereby take away the right of suffrage.
which is inalicnabe. He cites several decisions
of the Supreme Court to sustain his views.
lie says the constitution provides for the
enumeration and apportionment, and does not
directly require apportionment at stated years.
but at periods of making enumeration. No such
enumeration has been made or provided for.
This enumeration must be made exclusive of
foreigners not naturalized and Indians not tax
ed, and he cannot see how the State can have Il
constitutional apportionment while disregarding
so plain a provision. 1t is no answer that it has
been disrcgarded in the past.
nth recently the foreign population was not
large enough to affect the basis of representa-
ton, but now is. A census is not required for
this purpose, but a simple aScertaining, at trif-
ling expense. of the number of the excluded
class. lie is satisfied that the people do not re-
quire exclusions on the ground of eXpediency,
and thinks people will suffer no Inconvenience
by voting once more in old familiar districts.
ltWOud be agreeable to elect congressman in
districts rather than on general ticket. but this
Is not important enough to warrant the expense.
But the most important consideration is that
The people have Just decided in favor of biennial
sessions and the decision should be respected
by the executive.
Those interested in the annual sessions would
raise the cry that biennial sessions had proved a
failure. and most likely the defeat and repeal Of
reform without fair trial.
He admits the gravity of the danger. points ont
If towns should elect representatives not accor-
ding to the old apportionment, and they should
claim seats, but Governor and Council would
summon those who appeared elected, according
TO the last apportlonment. still they might in
>ist on the right to seats, and such issue might
end in anarchy. but this is not due to want of
apportionment, but to the pernicious view which
makes a man Judge III his own case and invites
a double Legislature.
No new apportionment can exempt from that
aIn@er. Truly the executive might gainsav such
a right, but then he would be denounced bv one
side as a usurper, and if treated as SUCH force
would be required to settle the issue, unless the
executive should think best not to allow the
government to be MeNicaniZed.
From such danger no apportionmcnt can pro-
trct and the only remedy he sees is the rc-enact-
mcn of the repealed statute of 1869 or he rcpudi-
alton of the doctrine that a member without sum-
mons who appears to claim a seat is p.in0 tocce
entitled to equal consideration with member
who has summons. In other words, that a
man can Judge his own case even if the decision
involves the peace of the state.
THE GREENBACK PARTY IN WALDO COUNTY.
The Progressive Age objects to our statement
that the Democratic party of Waldo has Swal-
lowed the Greenback party of that county 1t
says: THE anti-Rcpubcan ticket in 1850 was
moi Democratic ticket 1t was divided: four
Of the electors We're for Hancock, and three for
weaver What has really happened in Waldo
is. that the Democratic and Grecnback parties
have united IN their conventions As well as at
the polls. and have made common cause against
the Republicans; nothing more nor less We
lind The vote of lSSOput down in the Year Book
a> follows: Garfield, 214S: Hancock. 3S4~
Weaver 22l. If this classification of the com
pliers Of the Year Book be correct as it I'M
doubleday is. the Greenback strength as shown
Inv tt1,4
had not been swallowed by the Democrats it
had met with 4 wocful >hrinkage since 1873 in
winch year 1t mounted i'll Waldo to 1920 votes
But We notice in connection with this great de
crease of the Greenback VOt" that the Demo-
cratic vote ut the same time met with large
increase. In 1873 it east but ga votes and in
1880 IT Is credited by the Year Book with cast
ng Sis The reasonable conclusion from these
facts i that what the Greenback party lost the
Democratic party gained, or. in other words.
ihe Democratic party swallowed almost the en-
tire Greenback party of the county.
There doubtless We're three men on the Ham
cock electoral ticket who had been Grcenback-
rr>, but they were pledged to Hancock lust as
surely A. were the four Democrats on the ticket.
Had that ticket been elected in November 1850.
every vote would have been cast for Hancock.
none for Weaver.
Possibly the Age may convince the Green
hackers OF Waldo that their party still ha> a
name and an existence separate from the Dem
ocratic party. but if there is such party in
ado county, It i composed of those who
voted for Weaver in 1880 Those were the ONLY
'reenbackerS who stuck to their flag and
organization. They are the only ones entitled
t. be called GrcenbackcrS TODAY. The rest
have been dccoycd into the Democratic party.
Thousands of Republicans We're caught in the
fusion trap spread for Them but whether they
intend 10 remain in the Democratic camp or re-
turn to the old Republican party. which has
generously invited them in the call for the State
Convention ut Portland to unite again with
their former Republican associates remains to
be seen.
Some Of them. we are assured. will consent no
longer TO be cheated by the tricks hitherto play-
cd upon them blythe bourbon Democracy and it
Is highly probable that the number will lie
>Wcllod to thousands before election comes
hcnnebet journal.
TIE GEEENBACk PLATFORM
The call for a Greenback State Conventions
to be held at Bangor. June Isl, has been issued
me Portland Advertiser says: The Green
barA State committee. like the Republican com
mIttce. has taken the liberty to make a platform
for the convention which is soon to meet The
platform. 50 far IL it relates TO the currency
demands free coinage Of gold and silver and
paper currency issued by the government The
lIee coinage OF sllver-that is, Of Gveryaucd
silver dolaIs-mcans the substitution of the
silver dollar for the gold dollar as IA standard of
value: II means that the man who contracts to
work Tor dollar day shall receive ONLY IS
cents. The people Of the United States will not
consent to that arrangement. The perpptuatiou
CT paper currency to be issuedby the treasury
at thr order Of Congress, opens the way to reck-
hNN extravaganza in public expenses. and the
penalty of such waste must ultimately fall upon
tlIr people. Ms Is not a good platform: ii is
not It policy which this country will ever adopt.
HE PROHIBITIoNIsTs.
The prohibitionist, of Maine have GOT enough
OF me Republicans and have called State con
Ncntlon. June l>t 10 nominate IA candidate for
governor. Democratic Exchange
our Democratic contemporary is taking colr-
aSt without cause. IT Is the ''prohibitory par
". party organization which casts about 200
votes. that has called this State convention.
There are from 1000 to 100000 prohibitionists
in Maine probably 10000 in the Republican
pArtN.-tnd ii is hardly correct to say that the
wv" or three hundred who formed a prohibitorv
party two or three wears ago. and who nominal
fd Il candidate for Congress against Governor
llngley. last fall are 1.-THE prohibitonists of
Maine we venture to say that nearly every
prominent temperance man who has been en-
gagged IN the contest for prohibition during the
past Twenty-Five years. will be found SUSTAINING
the Republican party of Maine. in the approarL17
ing state election Lewiston journal
MENTIoNINGs.
Hon. f. y. Pike of Calais. saws there is no
possible reason why the Republicans should not
carry Maine this fall. If they do not it will be
clearly their own fault.
The Portland (Me.) Argus which is really in
favor Of license, is urging the Observation-Disclosures
ISIS IN Maine TO run an independent candidate
Tor Governor. Boston Journal
llle Repubilcan State committee of which
Hon f. \. Dow is secretary, have taken step,
to insure thorough canvass of the State. The
result Of the spring elections was decidedly in
favor OF the Republicans, and the reports receiy
cd by the State committee are very encourage
ing.
For candidates for Representatives to Con-
@ress on the Fusion ticket in Maine we hear
mentioned the Demo-Greenback, congressman
Iufch and l-add. Hon. Frank W. Hill. of
!. cter Gov. Plaisted's father-n-law). Hon.
Nathan Cleaves and General Samuel J. Andcr-
son. Of Portland.
Petitions are being circulated throughout the
state requesting Mr.. Blaine to again become A
candidate for the House. 1t is understood that
Mr.. Blaine will consent if there is general de-
sire to have him run and if he can assist the
party more III that manner than any other. 1t
IS predicted that Mr.. Blaine will be one of the
candidates for Congress for Maine, in Septem-
Der.
The Progressive Age of Belfast, the fusion
organ OF Waldo county reads the Portland Argus
the 10liOWInT lecture 's'Thp rU,IS hos FOR