Daily Kennebec journal., 1882-09-11
70 cast their fortune. With the republican

played . selection. DIR. Brickett then intro
duced - the second speaker Walker Blaine
OF Augusta, Who received splendid ovation
irom his tOwnsmen as he came forward to ad
dress them He spoke only on State issues
and substantially Is follows:
One year ago At this time the President Of
the United States lay lowering between life
and death. Tel days later he died, after an
illness of 30 days, struck down for no cause
His murderer was brought to judgment and
after . long trial convicted. Leading papers in
England and other countries sharply criti-
cised the extraordinary latitude given the
assassin. But this long trial demonstrated the
grand idea that under this government the
life of one man is worth no more than that
OF another; and that one mans vote is worth
no more than that of another; and that, over
all and above all, hangs the protecting majes-
ty of the law.
Mr.. Blaine then referred at some length TO
the shameless violation of law in some of the
Southern States, where the will of the voters
is defeated by the Vaccinations of demo-
cratic politicians, narrating the frauds prac-
ticed upon the blacks. But can we in Maine
say much about fraud in the South? Our
house is too crystal to allow US to throw
many stones. We cannot forget that in 1879
the fusion Governor and Council counted out
81 republican senators and representatives
who were elected members of the Maine
Legislature, and that not one democrat or
greenbacker was thrown out. More than
that, it afterwards happened that when a
legal investigation was made bv committee
of the legislature-an investigation under
oath and summoning witnesses-it was clear
ly demonstrated that returns had been manip.
ulated and dishonesty suppressed Dy
members of the Council. Here the
speaker briefly reviewed some of the
most fragrant villaines of the Garcelon count
out, telling how the returns had been tam
pered with and thrown out on himsy pretexts.
1t is a story too fresh in our memories to
need repetition. But for all this wrong the
State has never made apology. We had
three decisions of the Supreme Court, which
we refused to abide by at the polls. and as a
punishment we have had Gov. Plaisted as
chief magistrate.
We have strange party in this State. 1t
is made up of two diverse elements-demo-
Gratis and greenbackers-which the managers
are trying to unite in fusion party. The
platforms of the two parties have only one
plank in common-that Plaisted is an admi-
rable Governor. That is platform which
Plaisted can stand on. If he addresses a
greenback audience he has to make a differ
audience of democrats.
But Gov Plaisted has made his own issues.
He asks election upon the ground that the
Council has arrOgated to itself the functions
of the Governor, and he wants to be vindi-
Gated Now in Maine we have four great
executive departments-the Governor. Coun-
Gil. Senate and House of Representatives.
Gov Plaisted comes forward and says that
the Council is no part of the Executive.
Where did we get our Council? 1t came
from q provision in the charter of 1891,
granted by William and Mary to the colony
of Massachusetts Bay, which says that a
council shall be selected to advise the COVER
nor selected by the crown. Maine, you
know, was a part of Massachusetts, until 1920.
Now in all the years from 1851 down there
have been but two conflicts between the gov
ernor and his council-one between the
governor appointed by the crown and his
advisors and the other between Gov Plaisted
and his Council.
Gov. Plaisted came into power by mar
row plurality of 1863 votes. The Council was
elected by the republican legislature. They
said to the Governor: "We will lay down
principle. When a term of Office expires
we will confirm any man of good character
whom you may appoint to fill the vacancy.
When man is unfaithful to his office you
can remove him but when he is faithful we
will not cons ent to his being removed to make
room for your party friends" That is as good
civil service doctrine as was ever preached.
But did Gov. Plaisted abide by this principle? !?
In March, 1881, he attempted to remove
Col. J. w. Spaulding of Richmond, Reporter
of Decisions, who was appointed by Gov.
Davis, under a law which says that the
Reporter of Decisions shall hold his tenure
of office for four years, but can be removed
at the pleasure of the Executive" Now the
question at issue is this: Who composes
the Executive? Gov. Plaisted attempts to
saw that the term of Office is within his
pleasure, and the Council have nothing to do
with it. The Council offered to submit the
questions to the Supreme Court. if the Gov
ernor would unite with them; but upon his
refusal submitted the questions themselves.
Back came the decision that the Reporter of
Decisions is not removable without the con
sent of the Governor and Council. Gov.
Plaisted attempts to extrlcate klmself from
his dilemma by saying that he did not ask
the opinion of the Supreme Court and that
he does not propose to abide by it; and
further that an opinion had no binding, force
upon him. Is his position tenable? The
Supreme Court of Maine, when called upon
by the House of Representatives, January
10th, 1880, said:
"The Governor and Council examined the returns.
and undertook to declare the result as appeared by
the returns. Various questions involving the
statutes relating thereto arose and the Gov
ernor, by virtue Of his constitutional pre-
rogatve called upon this court for its opiniJn upon
the questions propounded. By the provisions of the
constitution, the court was required TO expound
and cousrue the provisions Of the constitution and
statutes involved. 1t gave full answer to these
questions. The opinion of the court was thus OBJ
tanned in of the modes provided in the constiu
ton for authoritative determination of important
questions of law. The law thus determined is the
conclusive guide of the Governor and Council in the
performance of their ministerial duties. Any action
on their part in determining the vote as it appears
by the in violation of the provisions of the
constitution and law, thus declared, is usurpatiOn
of authority and must be held void"
say that Gov. Plaistcd stands in reb ,llion
against the constitution and laws of the State
of Maine, and leave it with him to reconcile
his actions with the solemn oath he took to
support the constitution and the laws. Ap
plause1 This is one of the issues which the
fusionists have made in this campaign.
One other issue is involved Including the
seat formerly occupied by Judge Libbey, five
Judges are to be given their commissions by
the Governor you select on Monday. Why
does Governor Plaisted refuse to reappoint
Judge Libbey? Is it on the ground of want
of learning or capacity or because he has
given offence to the bar of the State? No
Petitions havs been circulated, signed bv the
majority of the bar in 10 counties of the State