The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-11-19
Politics and Morals.

How great fire little spark will kindle
has been shown again. After the death of
DR.. Parker, of Presque Isle, Hon. D. ii.
Chamberlain, of New York, wrote letter,
which was published, expressing his person
al appreciation of Dr. Parkers character as
a soldier and man. We have not seen the
letter in full, but one sentence in it has been
sedulousiy disseminated by the Democratic
press, as if it were balm to the consciences
of those who participated in, or supported,
the wicked attempt of Governor Garcelon
and council to overturn the election of 1879.
DR.. Parker was a member of that council. In
his tribute, Governor Chamberlain, in referr-
ing to the political complications" of that
period, says: ''Any criticism of DIR. Parker,
which went beyond the expression of fair
difference of opinion, may be set down to
ignorance Of his character, or TO the mis-
guided influence of party rancor.'
Probably what Governor Chamberlain
meant by this, was an expression of his con-
fidence, that DR. Parker actly honestly &C
cording to his understanding of his duty,
that he did not consciously and deliberately
commit a crime against the people of Maine
There is perhaps room for difference of
opinion about the motives of individuals,
where there is little room for difference
about the essential quality of the act Per-
haps Governor Chamberlain would be will
ing to say as much in behalf OF the motives
of some of the men who rode in the red
CHI tad IS n.
or of those Southern gentlemen who carry
elections against the majority by stuffing
ballot boxes or counting the returns falsely
But willing as he may be to believe that DR..
Perker must have had an honest motive for
his responsible and unprotesting consent to
the dishonest scheme Of the leaders of the
fusion party, we have no idea that he re-
CARDS the scheme itself with anything but
adherence.
But the Bangor Wing referring to this letter
says that Governor Chamberlain sspermitted
his personal attachment to former comrade
of the war to lead him into an uncalled-for
and most mischievous championing of
what is indefensible, and most gratuitous
reflection upon the intelligence and honesty
of those who condemned the counting out
iniquities.o Is not this inference rather
far-fetched? What there may be in other
parts of Governor Chamberlain's letter we
do not know, but we do not discover in the
sentence we have quoted anything which can
be considered 'championing" of the wrong
attempted by the fusionists, or any refec-
ton on the intelligence of those who con-
demned the wrong. The most that can
fairly be said is that he reflects on the judg-
ment Of those, if there are any, who have
accused DIR. Parker of dishonest motives in
his personal action. We admit that it is
not an easy matter to see how anyone could
have at the same time sufficient intelligence
for the Office of councillor and believe it was
right to do what that council did. But this
is such puzzle as continually confronts
everybody. Men whose personal rectitude
cannot reasonably be suspected do what 9TH
er honest men think indefensibly wrong.
However, this is not the matter of chief
public interest that has developed from the
publication of Governor Chamberlin's letter.
@-Ae' VIVA
several interesting letters written by the late
Ex-Governor Israel Washburn, Jr., on the
subject of the fusion conspiracy. cores
pondent of the New Age took Mr.. Boutelle
to task for assuming that there could not be
two opinions on the morality of that pro-
ceeding. (All the fusionists appropriate
whas Governor Cnampertain says Of Dr.
Parker as applicable to each of them, anG
wish it to be thought that he has excused
the whole crowd, and indeed sanctioned
their proceeding,) This New Age contribu
tor thought he would confound the editor Of
the Wing by publishing letter alleged t.
have been written by Governor Washburr
In February, 1880, which commented will
some bitterness of language on Mr.. Blaine'l
methods of defeating the fusion scheme. Blu
the editor of the Wing had not said ther,
could not be two opinions about the bes
way of counteracting the plot There wa
not sentence or word in the letter init
mating in the remotest manner that Gov
ernor Washburn did not consider everybod,
who was responsible for, or who support
ed, the conspiracy as worse than a thief Blu
fusionist whether a Democrat or a Green
hacker, is apt to confused about the logica
relation of things.
The Age and the Argus fairly gloated ov
er this letter. They appeared to think tina
somehow Governor Washburn's disagree
ment with Mr.. b iaine about the means OF
thwarting the fusionists was an approval OF
the infamy they were parties to. But the
editor of the Wing has cruelty interfered
with their jollity by publishing several let
tiers written by Governor Washburn to him
self which show beyond doubt that what
ever opinion he entsrtained of Mr.. Blaine.
judgment, he regarded the conspiracy of the
Garcelon administration as plot of rascals
monstrous crime against law and popular
rights
After this there will be an end of compli
ments in the Age and the Argus to 'our re
nowned war Governor" and if Governo
Chamberlain should express his mind freel
about the morality of that business per s
and of those who were chiefly responsible,
for it we have suspicion that their new re
spect for him would suffer eclipse. In an
other column we republish the letters o.
Governor Washburn which relate to The
point in question. 1t is no news that he die
not appreciate Mr.. Blaine's character and ser
vices as highly as some others do, but the ed
tor of the Wing doubts that he ever wrote
such letter as was published in the Age.
Connecticut has sent her lawyers to the
rear. OF the 273 members of her legislature
only twelve are members Of the legal profes-