The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-04-27
Capt. Chase Rnd lhe Count-out.
Portland, April 23d, 1886

To the Editor of the Press:
President Cleveland has nominated Hon.
Charles FL. Chase for Collector of Internal
Revenue. The nomination has from the Re-
publican, and some of the Mugwump Press,
brought down upon the head of Mr.. Chase
perfect tempest of abuse. Politically am
and always have been opposed to Mr.. Chase,
but must confess I fail to see any justiica-
ton of the attacks which for the last two days
have been made upon him.
For over quarter of century Mr.. Chase
has been prominent and successful business
man of Portland, commencing the race of life
poor he has by strict integrity, by industrious
and temperate habits, and by the exercise of
business talents of high order accumulated
considerable property and won for himself
reputation as business man second TO none in
the community. have yet to hear man
question his honesty or integrity. His course
in this city justifes the assertion that no men,
ber of the Democratic party in Maine can per-
form the duties Of collector OF internal reye-
nue. better than he.
But it is said that Mr.. Chase was a member
OF the now famous or rather infamous Star
Chamber Of 1879 which by the most damnable
methods attempted to destroy popular govern
ment in Maine by counting out a legislature
elected by the people and substituting one Of
their own. Now no man condemns that con-
spiracy at the life of our State more than l.
But il is outrageously unfair to say that Mr..
Chase was the head and front of that conspi-
racy. Other Democratic leaders OF Maine,
not he, were the authors of the attempted
State steal. Mr.. Chase is not lawyer, nor is
he versed ia the subleties and technicalities Of
the law. Before he became a member of Gov.
Garcelon's council he had never held public
office. AS business man he was always ac.
customed in legal matters to be governed by
the advice and counsel Of men learned in the
law. If as member Of the council of 1879 he
acted in accordance with the suggestions of
leading Democratic lawyers of the State, why
condemn him and not them? Is it right to de-
nounce man for following the advice OF mon
upon matters concerning which they presuma-
bly, know more than he2 II MIR. Chase as q
member of the Garcelon coancil did what
prominent Democratic lawyers urged him to
do, they and not he are morally guilty OF the
iniquity OF 1879.
Now it is a notorious fact that with possibly
one or two exceptions the most prominent
Democratic attorneys of the State not only en-
dorsed and approved the attempted State lar
ceny OF 1879. but advised and urged the mem
bers OF the council to attempt it, am inform
ed that Mr. Chase has letters from Democratic
| lawyers eminent in the profession sustaining
| his acts as a member of the Garcelon council.
| Again the Democratic party of Maine almost
| to man, and the Democratic press with pos
sibly one exception approved the acts OF the
| Garcelon conspirators. In the campaign of
1880 the attempted State steal was made a
| prominent issue. The election in September,
| 1880, was the first popular election in Maine
after the dastardly attempt to destroy suffrage
| by GareeloR and his counsellors. 1t was we'll
known that vote for Plaisted was a vote to
sustain the action of Gov. Garcelon and his
| counsel. And yet the Democratic party elect
| ed Gen. Plaisted Governor in 1880, thus put
ting itself squarely on record as approving
| each and every act Of the Garcelon conspira-
| tors in 1879. Such being the facts every prom
| inent Democrat in Maine is equally guilty
with Mr.. hase. There is however this differ