Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-08-05

On TIE IssuEs Involved IN OUR STATE
CAMPArCS.
AUGUSTA, Me-, August 4, 1882.

AUGUSTA, Me-, August I. 1852.
To Hon. J. 8. wHEELwRIGHr. Hon. LEWIS
BARKER, Hon. JoRS l.. CUTLER, and others
Of Bangor.
Gsntlemen:-Accept my sincere thanks for
your invitation TO address public meet
ing In Bangor on the issues involved in the
pending election. Much as ! desire to com
ply with ysur wishes, so kindly expressed, ]
] should be able to visit your city and speak
70 your people. will venture however at
some length, in this familiar and informal way,
70 present the questions of Importance which
in my judgment are involved in this election
and are soon TO be submitted to the voters of
Maine for authoritative decision.
And hrst let me say that it was in many re-
specss great misfortune that the election
following directly after the nefarious attempt
10 steal State Government, was one pri-
msrily involving national issues in the choice
of President and Vice President believe
there were many honest Democrats and hon
est Greenbackers in the State who sincerely
desired to record their disapprobation of that
ubiquitous proceeding. but they found that
70 do 30 in 1880 involved separa-
tiOn from their party in national
campaign and the abandonment of issues
In no way connected with the local
politics Of Maine. They felt that
they could not afford to turn their
backs on their honorable and gallant stan
dard bearer in the nation, to punish the
miadeeds Of State officials at home. The
time has now arrived, however, when no
such embarrassment surrounds the plain
question Of duty, and it SO happens by the
perverse designs Of those who sought to i'm
pose . fraudulent Government on Maine that
the issue If that evil conspiracy is thrust
upon the people in the pending election,
whether they be willing or unwilling.
Every intelligent man In the State recol-
iects that thirty seven members Ofthe Legisla-
sure were fraudulently counted out by Gov
Garcelon and his Council, and would have
been deprived of the seats to which they were
chosen by the people and spurious members
installed in their places, if it had not been
for the Interpolation Of the Judiciary. The
opinion of the Supreme Court was asked in
. perfectly regular and constitutional
manner and the answer given by
that tribunal destroyed the conspiracy
against the rights of the people. The
opinion Of the Court was SO strong, its
discussion of the elementary principles of
Republican government so able. and so
comprehensive, that It secured the ad-
miration Of a much wider circle than those
directly interested in its conclusions.
Among the members Of that Court was one
always connected with the Democratic party.
He was appointed as Democrat and is identi
fed with his party to-day. He stood with
his distinguished brethren on the Bench
In favor of unfolding honest government, in
favor Of seating the Legislature chosen by
the people, and against the usurpa-
sion Of the Governor and Council in their
attempt to change and defy the popular ver-
dict
For this act Of judicial fairness, for this
upright course which does him so much honor,
Artemas Libbey has fallen under the dis
pleasure. and has earned the venomous i'll
will Of Gov. Plaisted and his associates.
Though ranking rs lawyer at the very front
VI our bar, with a personal character above
reproach. and with every attribute "which
doth beseem q judge" Gov. Plaisted has
refused to reappoint him at the close of his
hrst term on the bench. And he has re-
fused because Judge Libbey gave judgment
againt the conspirators who sought to destroy
the life Of the State. by destroying the in
tegrity Of its government. The present
Executive Council refused most properly
to confirm any one of the respectable gen
slemen nominated by the Governor TO fill
Judge Libbey's place. If they had done
otherwise they would have made themselves
partakers Of the crime by which just judge
10 to be punished for resolutely doing his
duty against conspirstors who belong to his
own party.
In the lending election therefore the most
important local question is that of sustaining
an honest and independent Judiciary. That
great blessing-priceless to the people has
always been enjo, ed in Maine. Our Su-
preme Court, never more eminent than to-
day, has always been distinguished for great
legal ability, for high personal character, for
purity and for impartiality. Every man who
votes for Governor Plaisted, votes to en-
power him to punish just judge for doing
his duty conscientiouslv and fesrlessly.
There 10 not voter in the state who does not
know that Judge Libbey will be honorably re-
stored to the Bench il Colonel ROBBIE is elect
ted, and that Gov. Plaisted will refuse to ap-
point him. and refuse because Of Judge Lib
bey's most honorable course in \ crisis
which threatened the peace and good order Of
the state.
II there we're no other issue pending before
the people Of Maine, the question involved in
this attack upon an independent and fearless
Judiciary 10 enough to arouse every man in
the State to activity and zeal. The Demo-
cratic party Loss power In the nation more than
twenty years ago, and one of the potent causes
Of their defeat was the attempt made by Mr.
Duchanan's Administration to impose spu.
rious government upon the people of Kansas.