Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-08-22
LETTER FROM Mr.. BLAINE.
IN rHE ISSUES INVOLVED N OUR STATE
CAMPAIGN.
AUGUSTA. Ms. Aug. 3, 1882.

us -f'tt'
GENTLEMEN; Accept my sincere thanks
Tor your invitation to address a public
meeting in Bangor on the issues involved
in the pending election. Much as de-
sire to comply with your wishes, 50 kind
" expressed, | am not at present able &c
as,i-n dav when should be able to
visit YOUR city and speak 10 your people.
I will venture, however, at some length,
in this familiar and informal way, to pre-
sent the questions of Importance which
! n my Judgment are involved in this cleo
tion and are soon to be submitted TO the
voters Of Maine for authoritative decision.
And first let me say that it was in
many respects great misfortune that
the election following directly after the
uefarious attempt to Steal State Gov
eminent, was one primarily involving ma
,.onal issues in the choice of President
and Vice President believe there were
MANY honest Democrats and honest Green
hackers in the State who sincerely de-
sired to record their disePPrObatiOn Of
,ha; iaiqui,ous proceeding, but they found
TIA, TO DO 50 in 1850 involved a separa-
lion from their party in national cam
p4.cu and the abandonment Of issues in
no way connected with the local politics
o. Maine. They felt tina; they could not
afford TO turn their backs on their hon
cradle and gallan, standard bearer IN the
nation, 70 punish the mi>deeds Of State
officials at home. The time has now al
r.yel. however. when no such embsrrass-
men; surrounds the plain question Of du-
", and it 50 happens 10y the peryerse de
signs of those who sought to impose
fraudulent Government on Maine, that
the issue Of that evil conspiracy is thrust
upon the people in the pending election,
whether they be willing or unwilling.
Every in,ellisen, man in the State rec
elects that thirty-seyen members of the
Legislature were fraudulentlycO counted out
bv Governor Garcelon ard his Council,
and would have been deprived Of the
seats to which they were chosen by the
people and spurious members installed in
,Leir places, if /; had no, been FOR the in
terp5si,ion Of the Judiciary. The opin-
ion Of the Supreme Cour, was asked IN
perfectly regular and constitutional man
1er and the answer given by that tribun-
al destroyed the conspiracy against the
rights oc the people. The opinion Of the
Coar, was 50 strong, is discussion Of the
elementary principles Of Republican gov
eminent so able, and so comprehensive,
TIA: !, secured the admiration Of a much
wider circle than those directly interested
in il, conclusions.
Among the members Of that Court was
one always connected with the Democrat
ie party. He was appointed as Demo
era; and is identified with his party to-
DAY lie stood with his distinguished
brethren on the Bench in favor Of uphold
.lg honest government, in favor Of seat
.ls The Legislature chosen by the people,
and asa;ns; the usarpa,ion Of the Gov
ernor and Council in their attempt to
change and defy the popular verdict.
For this &C; OF Judicial fairness, for
tbs upright course which does him so
much honor, ARENAS Libbey has fallen
under the displeasure, and has earned the
yeaomoas i'll will Of Gov Plais,ed and
Is associates. Though ranking as law
ye; a, the very front Of our bar, with
personal character above reproach, and
with every attribute (which doth beseem
Judge" Gov. Plaisted has refused to re-
aPpoin; him at the close Of his frs, term
on the bench. And he has refused be-
cause Judge Libbey gave judgment
asa.nS: the conspirators who sought to
destroy the life Of the State, by destroy
iHg the integrity of its government. The
Present Executive Council refused most
properly to confirm any one of the respec-
table gentlemen nominated by the Gov
e'n1r TO FL Judge Libbey's place If
they had done otherwise they would have
made themselves partakers Of the crime
by which just Judge is to be punished
Tor resolutely doing his duty against con-
sPirators who belong to his own party.
In the pending election therefore the
most important local question is that OF
sustaining an honest and independent
Judiciary. That great blessing-price-
less TO the people-has always been en-
Joyed in Maine. Our Supreme Court,
never more eminent than to-day, has al
ways been distinguished for great legal
ability, for high personal character, for
purity and for impaItiali,y. Every man
who votes for Governor Plaisted, votes to
empower him to punish just judge for
aohg his duty conscientiously and fear
'sssly. There is not a voter in the State