Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-05
AT THE FAIR GRoUNps-Gov. PLaIsTED
AND Hon. Gro. +. EMERY THE SPEAK
ERs-SrArE ISSUES FROM THE Fusion
SIDE.

1
with statement in regard to his inaugur-
al and its reception. He defended his
communistic uttersnce that ''large landed
estates and universal suffrage could not
long exist together, for either the estates
would restrict the ballot or the ballot
would divide the estates" He said that
Webster used almost Identical language.
Then he proceeded to lengthy discussion
Of his doings since he became Governor.
The whole ground has been gone over so
onen that it is scarcely necessary to re-
peat his claims again. lie did make one
new charge, this time, viz, that he
Greenback Governor vetoed 81 bills for
the establishment of State Banks, passed
by Republican Legislature. This is true,
but like most fusion arguments it is only
half the truth. He failed 10 state that the
charters OF most OF the Maine National
Banks were TO expire before another seSs-
ion OF the State Legislature; that the ques-
ton OF 4 renewal OF their charters had been
made doubtful by the opposition Of Dem
OcratS and GrcenbackerS, that no new sys-
TEN had been presented. and that there
was nothing TO DO but to 50 back to the
old State Banking system, in case the eN-
tension law failed. Gov. PlaiSted takes
great credit 20 himself and 10 his party for
this act. IL the National Bank renewal
bill had not passed. his action would have
left the State OF Maine without any bank
ing system, and our merchants and bust
ness men would have been at the mercy of
note shavers aud usurerS. He is not en-
titled to any credit for that. His charge
that the Republicans wished To return 10
the old State bank system, because Re
publican Legislature passed these bills is
4 cheap piece OF demagogism. Gov. Plais-
ted made a fair presentation Of his side OF
The controversy, and he did Il with all the
ardor ola man with grievance, but he
plainly showed himself 70 be 4 stubborn,
wilfui man who would not yield his opin-
ions to any authority. lie plainly stated
that Col. Spaulding and Col. OSgood were
removed from their positions, and that he
should not approve any warrants for their
pay, because they were removed, although
the Court distinctly said he had no power
20 80 remove such officers except by the
consent OF the Council. lie openly de-
clarcd that he was not bound by such
opinion of the Court because he had not
asked for H. His position Is that Of 4
criminal who declines TO submit TO the
sentence OF a Judge because he has not
asked for it, and the position is as unteu-
able He must be bound by the same laws
that bind the plain people OF the back
lots who elected him. He has no right 10
interpret the laws for himself That is
the special province OF the Court. He
made great deal Of cheap talk about one
chief executive elected by the people and
seven others elected by the Legislature.
He assumed that all executive power was
vested in him and that the Council had no
duties 20 perform. His little story about
the Reform school did not produce much
impression and 1t was told with half
heart. He said he had told this story 10 the
Council, and the Councillors say he never
mentioned the matter to them. Seven TO
one they told the truth. Three rousiug
cheers were given for PlaiSted at the close
Of his speech, and he led of with three
more for victory.
AMER Plaisted had spoken for two hours
Hon. Geo. F. Emery, who is good Geal
more of man and better lawyer than
Gov. Plaisted. had 4 hard chance to speak.
However he did heartily endorse Plaisted
aud PlaiSted'S legal positions in regard TO
the Court and the Council. He devoted
some time TO Mr. Blaine and undertook to
show that Republican management had in
jured the farming towns of Maine. He
cited Waterford, and made Mr.. kimball
feel rather unhappy by remarkiDg that the
valuation of Waterford had fallen OFF half
in the last twenty years. He said the
SAINT Was IT VI lONu VI ilS
could not have made more unfortunate Sc
lections, for both of those towns have |
been under Democratic administration for |
many years, and have thrown heavy Dem
ocratic and Fusion majorities. When he
said that farms could be bought in Paris |
for one-half Of what they brought twenty
years ago he was met by an indignant cho-
rus Of "No's" that greatly disconnected
him, and proved that he had been misin-
formed. We have noticed in the discus
sions that this portion of his address in
voked, it has been proved that the poor
districts and poor towns are invariably
those which throw Fusion msjorities. Mr..
Emery closed with denunciation of the
Of the Insane Hospital. Over
come by the heat and the length of the dis
cuSSion, the audience had discourteously
scattered before he closed, so that but few
listened TO the whole OF his address.
SO. Paris band was in attendance.