The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-08-25

They are bound by the action of the con-
vsntion, unless they ara prepared to violate
the same principle which they allege
was violated by Mr. Reed in not needing the
wishes of the majority.
ALL of these gentlemen believe Ia the
principle of free ballot and an honest count
The practice Of the Democratic party in the
South and the history of Copiah and Danville
are well known to all; but we in Maine have
learned from experience what to expect in this
particular from the Democratic party.
Can it be that Gen Chamberlain has forgot
ten those few days of peril in which he bore so
prominent and SO honorable part9
Has Judge Barrows forgotten the occasion
which called for the action OF the court of
which he was an honored member, nd in all
OF whose opinions he concurred?
What was the position of Judge Cleaves in
that controversy? He received and accepted
the certificate of election to the ctfics of Judge
of Probate when he knew that he was not
elected, and for that alleged reason resigned
an office which was never his to resign an act
which, as the law then stood, afforded the
greatest embarrassment to Judge Peabody, be-
cause there was NJ person against whom quo
aodrrdnto writs could be brought.
By his acceptance of the certificate he en-
dorSed the act of his friend, Tabulator Chase,
and his advisers; BY qualifying as Judge of
Probate upon that certificate, although follow
ed BY resignation, he ratified the larceny of the
goods of which he became the receiver The
only excuse which he gave for his act was that
the pablic business required that there should
be no vacancy il SO important an Office.
Yet, If death should remove an incumb bent,
no serious injury would result from the tenn
porary Interruption of business.
Ample provision for the emergency was
made by section 8, of chapter 63 of the Revis-
ed Statutes of 1881, and his refusal tc recsive
the stolen goods could have had no more ssri-
GUS effect than death.
Do these gentlemen. and especially Judge
Barrows, forget the torrent of abuse heaped
upon the Supreme Court by the Democratic
party of this State during the year 1880? Did
Judge Cleaves ever lift his voice, as lawyer,
in support of that court daring that period CT
vituperation?
There are also some facts and circumstances
which seem to lead irresistibly to the conclu-
sion that Judge Cleaves himself countananced
and advised the action by which he was ille-
gally declared elected By "Tabulator" Chase;
especially the fact that when the hearing took
place before the Governor and Council upon
the petition Of Jadge Peabody and other
county officers, Mr.. Swasey, personal friend
of Judge Cleaves, appeared there in opposi-
ton to the prayer of the petitioners.
1T but just to Mr.. Cleaves to say that Mr..
STdsey, at the time, denied that he appeared
at the request, or in behalf of Mr.. Cleaves;
aud it is also but just to tho other gentlemen
who had been cited to appear, to say that they
all denied that they authorized or had any
knowledge of such appearance.
The facts as to thu State steal need not be
recalled to mind Like slavery, the issue of
greenbacks, che war, reconstruction, and tho
resumption of specia payments, it is Row "a
dead ISSUE" which means that the errors of
tbs Democratic party are now admitted by its
leaders, and the party now approve what they
have heretofors opposed, aud now condemn
what they have in the past approved.
These gentlemen are "goters in the First
Congressional District" and 1t would be well
for them to read carefully the following which
is part of their address:
1t is for the voters of this district to say whether
they will adhere to the principles of civil service
reform and the preference of faithful soldiers
(other thugs being equaD declared in the Repub-
lican platform.
To this should be added two other principles,
viz: fair ballet and honest count; and the
right Of the majority to rule.
In order to show their adherence to the prin-
ciples above enumerated they must vote for Mr.
Reed who on account of his experience comes
within the spirit of the principles of civil SER
vice reform; who on account of his service as
a soldier comes within the spirit of the princi-
pie of preference Of the soldiers in selection of
officials; who represents the party which de-
clares for free ballot and an honest count.
ard practices that which it processes in this re-
gard and who is entitled to the support OF
those who educate the principle that the ma
jority shall rule
Unless they thus support Mr.. Reed it will be
apparent that they prefer the defeat of their
party nominee to the success OF the principles
| which they profess; and they will not "paTt
agitb one or the other bat with both their nom.
| inee and their principles. REPUBLICAN