Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-15
HOW MAINE WAS CARRIED.
Votes Listed In B1aine'g Exchange and
the Prices Publicly Quoted.


Evidences of bribery on the part of the
Republicans throughout the State last
Monday, says an Augusta special to the
( n. " World, continue to accumulate.
A letter from Mr.. Everett Harrington, of
Lincoln county, to friend, says: 81 never
saw such reckless buying of votes as we
had here Monday. 1t was as well under
stood that it was So for Marble (Republi-
can candidate fer State Senator and $40
for the Republican ticket as it was that
corn was 70 cents bushel. They were
bought and sold with equal impunity.
The only wonder to me is that we got any
votes at all.r
/ hear this sort of testimony from every
section of the State. The buying was not
confined to the cities, but extended to the
country districts. Ny estimate of $4,000
purchased votes in the State was too low;
10000 would be nearer right. 1t is as
clear case of purchased majority as
ever went on record. This accounts for
the lack Of enthusiasm that was COM
planned of by Judge Foraker, Gen. Haw-
ley and other Republican orators who
came up here to make speeches for Robie
and Blaine. If there could be an honest
expression of the vote of this State to-day
it would not be for Blaine, and if Cleve-
land should be elected in November
Maine will be almost certain to go Demo-
cratic two years hence. AS it is now, the
State is absolutely in the power of
corrupt, infamous, office-holding oligar-
chy. In this city, for instance, govern
ment, State and county officials all COM
bine when an election is to be held. There
are 200 office holders in Augusta, count
ing clerks in the post office. All these
people are expected to do political duty.
The maintenance of Mr.. Blaine is to them
an absolute necessity. When he goes
down they all go down with him and to
save him is to save themselves. They stop
at'no prostitution Of their official position.
Although they are almost universally
PrOhibitionists they made a combination
at the late election with the prescribed
liquor sellers, who in return for clemency
agreed to support the Republican ticket.
Nine tenths of the whisky element
voted that way. Indictments against
liquor sellers found by the grand jury
and reported to the court last Saturday
were not made public till after the cleo
ton, so that no offense might be given to
an element whose support was desired.
Happy cOmbinatiOn-the whisky seller
and the PrOhibitiOnist! 1t way anything
to uphold Blaine. If through the honest
people of the United States Gov. Cleve-
land should be elected President, the
worst smash up in the country would take
place in this city of Augusta, county of
Kennebec, State Of Maine. Here is the
robbers rOOst of the United States.
There is hardly Democrat in the city
who has not been in some way approached
to join in the corrupt ring that holds sway.
Sometimes it is the offer of direct bribe
in dollars and cents, as it was in the case
of liquor dealer who was offered $100 to
stay at home on election day. Sometimes
it is an offer Of place in that receptacle
that is never filled, the Augusta post
office. 1t is a continual struggle, by
fair means or foul, to extend the life
of the ring and make it more secure,
just as it always has been in the
history of every other ring. The resigna-
tion of Postmaster Manley ought to be
demanded by President Arthur or Post
master General Gresham. He has en-
plOyed men in the Augusta post office
who under the laws of Maine ought to be
in State prison. He permits these men to
leave their official work to go out at the
elections and commit the crimes for
which that punishment would be none too
severe. The proof is at hand that these
are not Idle assertions, and it shall be
forthcoming at the proper time.