Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-01-09

the late election, that the Governor must
not ignore the Executive Council. by re-
moving officers without that advice and
consent which Is necessary to create
them. Moreover, the people by decided
majority have declared that the Executive
branch OF the government is as much
bound to conform its action to the opin-
ION of the Supreme Court, when promul-
gated In obedience to the constitution, as
private citizens are to obey It's mandates.
This decree OF the people Is In harmony
with the letter and spirit OF the constitu-
ton, and the precedent since the fouuda-
ton of the State. Such supreme Court
as Maine has had from the beginning, men
OF integrity aud purity OF character, aud
learned In the law, Is not tribunal which
will transcend Its constitutional limits.
The late election In which differences OF
opinion upon this question were promi-
nent issues, ought to settle them for all
time. The condition OF the State Is eleva-
ted and universal society protected when
the decisions OF upright and conscientious
judges are acknowledged by honorable
treatment, when intended to give consti-
tutional Justice to a State and constitu-
tional expression to the will Of sovereign
people. The repeated lesson OF history
should not be disregarded. The times
are perilous aud fraught with mischief
when the public mind becomes Influenced
and debauched by purely personal aggran-
dizrment. nv the appeals of the selfish,
however eloquent and talented.
To be In fact, as in name, government
or the people, elections should not only he
free and fair, but the votes should be hon
estly counted. All strained interpreta-
tions or law, all legal hair splitting by
which a different result may be secured
than that which the ballots cast aud count
ed show, or appear To have been Intended
tn show. by those who deposited them,
are crimes against popular government OF
the magnitude oftreason, for such that OF
fence must be held by which the will of
the majority i set aside aud that OF the
minority substituted The people Of a
State aud natiou will cordially acqulesce
in the result OF a free election, aud an hon
est count. Ga the other hand, any re-
straint upon the freedom OF the citizen 10
vote a. he chooses. the tamperlng with
ballot boxes, fraudulent counts aud re-
turns, aud tricky POPULATIONS supprcssing
or changing results In elections, will be
followed nv further abuses and II long
continued will end In anarchy.
CONCLUSION.
Fellow citizens OF the Legislatures Up
on IL has been conferred the highest hon
or. aud - Us have been conaied the most
sScred trusts To Us has been conhied
the care OF State that has m,de an Illus
trous record We are proud to De her
oh i.h har hi.sA 81 n
her institutions and achievements; we
have the fullest faith in her future. In ev-
cry other part Of the country her sons rise
up 10 call her blessed. Two score OF shot
torn battle figS In the hall below tell u
or the hcroisn aud devotion OF her sons.
She has never been without true patriots
aud wise statesmen u serve her. Her cs-
cutchetn comes % u without stain.
THIS goodly heritage we owe % fathers
who founded our free schools aud our civ
Il aud religious Institutions by patriotic
,fprt aui sacrifice. II i not only high
privilege but a sacred duty % serve such Il
State. Forgetting that we are partiZanS,
or that W. represent this or that section.
let u show ourselves worthy OF our an-
cestor-, and mindful OF the glorious past
OF the Drigo State, by devotiug ourselves
with siugleness of purpose 10 promoting
the welfare OF the whole State and all her
people. la such an exalted endeayor |
pledge YOU my hearty cooperation. We
meet At a time when the departure OF
the old and the beginning OF the new
year warns W. OF the flight Of time
and the decreasing opportunities for pun.
lie and private usefulness; let u, then,
make use Of present opportunities aud meet
present responsibility
For the truer life draws higher
Every year,
And It's morning. star climbs higher
Every year,
EIrth'- hold ON uS grows .lighter,
And tire heavy burden lighter,
And the dawn immortal brighter,
Every year"
May the blessing OF God attend the Leg
islature or 1888.
FREDERICK Robe.