The Republican journal., 1882-09-14
Mondays Victory.

NlCtoly ~ was d uIluIlpu vi IlSuG over
wrong, victory for good government, a
rebuke to dishonest practices and usurp-
ations OF authority, and an endorsement
of principles which have brought pros
perity to the State and nation The re-
turns elsewhere given justify those who
had pinned their faith to the intelligence,
| integrity, and law abiding spirit of the
people of this State. Our people have
| been deceived and misled-more sinned
| against than shining their eyes are
Ions and Plaisteds, and the lesser trick
sters and demagogues, are ended. Green
backism died out long ago, and Fusion
was etfectualy killed or Monday last.
That the fair fame of Maine has been
furnished in the past few years it would
be vain to deny. The odium brought
upon the State has been source of NOR
titication and regret alike to our patri
otic citizens at home and abroad. Maine,
where Republican principles early took
root and hourished, the State of the
"Mane law" a State whose population
sprung from the best stock, has been ex-
hbited before the world as a convert to
fiat money hereSieS and as reSOrtng to
political methods quite as iniquitous as
the tissue ballot frauds and the bulldoZ-
ing in the South. But the estimate of
the world outside has, not wilfuly,
however, done injustice to the people Of
Maine. They never did believe in fiat
money. The Greenback movement was
started when times were hard, when every
body was pinched and cramped, and when
many were quite ready to believe that
change Of any kind must be for the bet
Ter. Republicans like Piaisted and Rust,
whose demands for office could not be
satisfied where they We're, FASTENED to
join the new party, and to promote its
growth to farther their own selfish aims
and certain Democrats of the same stamp
took a like course. When the Grecnback
party had attained considerable proper
tiuns, the Democratic party Of Maine, the
party whose bed rock principle was hard
money, sought an alliance with it, 1t is
but fair to say that a good many Demo
Gratis refused to sacrifice their principles,
and others We're ashamed, but justified
themselves by saying that they had been
lighting the Republicans for years in
vain, and now thought they saw Il chance
Of defeating them Thus Fusion was
brought about. 1t has been a mGotcd
question whether the Greenback party
swallowed the Democratic party, or vice
versa; but there was Il sacrifice Of prin-
cipes on both sides, until in the last cam
paign the Fusion platform had but one
plank, and that was "Anything to beat
the Republicans. And it is an indisput-
able fact that severally, or in partnership,
the so-called Greenback and Democratic
parties of Maine were controlled abso
lutely by one set Of men, composing a
ring organized for political power and
plnnder. The only persons deceived
were their followers, whose eyes are
now opened. The day Of reckoning has
come.
The State steal is less easily explained
away. 1t is foul blot upon the escutch-
con of the State, and must ever remain
an unpleasant page in our history. But
it was crime against, and not of, our
people. 1t was the work Of few men,
whom We regret to have to acknowledge
as citizens Of Maine That this ubiquitous
proceeding had theapproval Of any consid
cradle number of our people we deny.
Inmost States Of the Union instead of APP
pealng to the courts, such conspiracy
would have been summary dealt with
The bogus legislature would never have
been allowed to assemble. But them as
before and since, our people manifested
their law abiding spirit. The questions
at issue were judicialIy settled, and
without bloodshed or disturbance the
lawful government assumed its functions,
and the creation of fraud and dishonesty
went out of existence. Had outside opin-
ion been taken into consideration, the
conspirators would have paid the legal
penalty for their crimes: but it is per
haps us well that they should simply
have been left to bear during their
life time the disgrace that they brought
upon themselves, and the contempt Of
all honorable men. The claim Of the Flu
sion organs that the election of Plaisted
two years ago was an endorsement of the
State steal is not justified 10y the facts,
and only reflects Gscredt upon those
making it. 1t was the year Of Presden-
tial election, and local issues were il sub
servient to national questions. Then,
it should not be forgotten that had the
Republicans chosen to avail themselves
of technical questions and strict CON
struction Of the laws, Gen. Plaisted would
never have misiuled Maine for two wears,
but instead, the Legislature would have
elected a Republican Governor.
A review of these matters is essential
to complete understanding of Mondays
victory, and to fully Illustrate the final
redemption of the State from misrule and
disgrace. Two years hence, Maine will
come to the front in the Presidential con
test with an old fashioned Republican
majority.
We believe that a State election every
other year is often enough, but it seems
almost pity we could not have an cleo
ton next year just to wipe out what Is
left of the Fusion party in Waldo county
| Two years hence it will have become eX-
| tinct.