Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-08-05
Gov Plnisted's "Cheap'' and Incendiary
Talk.

Editor KenneJec Joprhdt:
I'VE all know how cheap our opinions are
when we are not responsible for them" This
is the language of Gov. PlaiSted touching the
opinions and decisions of our Supreme Judi
cial Court rendered under the most solemn
forms of law known to our constitution-the
language of one department of our govern
ment towards another and a coordinate de
partment-a declaration. which. it applied to
the opinions of our court by private citizen,
would place his name in the blackguard's list.
But it was not an opinion, buta decision OF our
court, as to the trde intent and meaning OF
the law, that the Governor calls CHEAP.
The court is the tribunal constituted by our
State constitution TO decide what the law Is,
and, when its decision is rendered, 1t Is thu
duty of all good men to be governed by 1t, to
conform their acts to it. The wise forecast
and sagacity Of the trainers of our general
law is shown in this provision. They saw
that there might be conflicts of opinions that
might endanger the rights of the people and
the peace of the State, and so provided rem
edy against personal conflicts and appeal to
force: not for a single moment thinking thar
any man or any body of men. acting under
the solemnity of an oath. would for moment
refuse to conform their acts to the law a
riv. n hv the court But the Governor in his
first address announces this most dangerous
dor,rine. that any set or body Of men
ma, by fraud, perjury and usurpation
, ,rample upon the law, usurp the rights OF tht
neople, and there is No redress but by force
and bloodshed; that there is no safety In our
commonwealth for property rights or the
RIGHTS of the individuals virtually saying to
the lawless and vicious, that the court and its
DEGREES are cheap and not to be needed. But
! II. 81, TINS Nuf of his
| to assault and insult coordinate branch OF
the government? Clearly TO defend great
| wrong tina, had been attempted against the
rights and liberties of the people, which at
| tempted wrong the DEGREES of the court
crushed. Let us consider what must. if nee
essary. be the influence of such course on
| the part of our Chief Executive on the moral.
.ocial and material interests of our people
and State.
| Certainly the most serious, if the Governor.
standing in his great Office, in the presence OF
| the people's representatives, and under the
solemuity of his oath, may say of the
opinions and DEGREES of the Supreme
Judicial Court, that they are ''cheap'
and of no more consequence than the
opinions of any other seven men. Of course
the vicious and the lawless will say the same.
and the respect for law and authority will be
| a thing unknown among US.
| What our State needs, in order that Its
large natural resources and vast water power
NAV be utilizing, is capital. But capital is
ever shy and coy, and retreats at the Tery
naming Of civil strife and conflict. 1t de-
mands order and stability, as does every
other interest of free people. And sub
nit that when the Governor Of large COM
monw ealth, in his official oath. in the pres
euce of the peoples representatives, declares