The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-02-02


OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENcrSEEEs,)
WASHINGTON, ID. C., Jan. IA, 1883.
Hon. S L. MILLlKEN, U. S. House of Representa-
sir;-Your letter of the 9Th inst, requesting
that a survey be made of Belfast Ilarbor, Maine,
was duly received and referred to Major J. A.
smith, Corps of Engineers who reports that he has
good map of Belfast lIarbor, which is sufficient
FOR use In devisng any Improvement that vii!
probably be required. He will be instructed,
however, to make such additional examinations
of the harbor as will enable him to report apon its
necessities, ana to submit plan for improvement
with estimate of cost.
Very Respectfully Your Obcdient Servant,
J. &. DUANE.
Brig. Cen, Chief of Engineers.
TO TIE EDITOR OF TIE JOURNAL: The above
letter explains itself and is sent to you because
think some of your readers may be Interested in
the subject. The Improvement asked for is TIE
clearing ont of the channel from Lewis wharf to
deep water, so as to give the same depth
all the distance as at Lewis wharf Mr..
Miliken has replied to the department saying
that the instruction given Major Smith expresses
what is desired, and urging that the survey he
completed and the plan and estimate submitted as
soon as possible that it may be received sufficient
ly early to get an appropriation for the work into
the river and harbor bill now being formulated by
the Committee of Congress upon that subject.
There has been quite an unexpected turn taken
IN the. House upon the Carlise-Tho.hG election
case. The majority of the Committee on Elections
reported i'll favor of Carlisle holding Ills seat,
without making any investigation except of some
eN parte afidavits. The minority of the Committee
make report in which they say they were not al
lowed time even TO read these aftidavits, but the
case was rushed through in the most summary
way. This they stated in their speeches on the
floor of the House, and il was not denied bv the
majority. And now Thube appears and claims,
not his seat, but an opportunity to show by evil
dcncc that he was fairly elected and that tie seat
belongs to him. OF course if lie docs that he viii
take his seat, if he can get it. He admitted to
the floor of the House and made quite respecta-
bic speech in his own behalf
ThUbe is not Republican hut 4 Knight of Lab
~, and ran as such in his District but has gcner-
ally the Republican support lie is il mechanic
but thinks that because of the disparity of position
between himself and his distinguished rival, he
should not therefore lose his rights and that his
district should not lose its right to choose by a
plurality of votes its representative in Con
sress This was the burden of much of his
speech. His appearance that of an honest
fairly intelligent mechanic who would have a
vote-counters and returning boards of some of the
southern States. He claims that there was great
corruption in making the returns; that they first
appeared with fraud their face; that the origin
al poll books altered, and that his first attor
ney was bought up by his opponcnts-;ll of which
he offers to show if he can be granted an inyessa
ton This the majority of the committee purpose
to summarily shut him out of, though there are
request, one of which was favored and supported
by Carlisle himself in the case of Ben Butter
worth, Republican representative from the Cincin-
natl District of Ohio.
The Republicans with three CT four exceptions
voted In the House for n full and fair investga-
ton. The Democrats, with about as many excep-
tons, opposed it, and the Republicans were beaten
When Immediately thereafter resolution was
presented, declaring that Carlisle was and Thube
was not elected, the Republicans refused to vote
on the ground that there having been 10 investga-
ton and no facts in the case presented to the
House they did not know to whom the seat belong
ell and could therefore not vote ntelligentlv upon
the question. without the Republicans voting the
Democrats could not muster quorum, and there
the matter stands at present.
good many people here other than Republicans
think Carlislcs friends have placed him in an I'M
fortunate position. If he has a good case, an in
Vestgation would show it and lift all the cloud
that rests upon his title to his seat If his case will
not bear examination, then the purpose in covering
1t up is easily understood
Hal Th1be been Republican the case would
not look so badly, as it has become SO common to
defraud Republicans of their elections in the
South that the most horrible murders and out
RACES in accomplishing such results have been too
often excused and applauded in the NORTH until
the contagion has infected the Democracy of New
York and many other of our great northern cities
and whoever1has protested against them has been
answered and silenced by the cry of ''hloody
Shirt But to perpetrate such fraud upon a fell
low Democrat, who is guilty of no worse sin than
beinga mechanic and Knight of Labor, is coming Il
little too near home to some of our Democratic
brethren 1t is only another of the already over
whelmng proofs that election frauds have become
as much part of the bourbon Democratic method
of carrying their points as holding ca,icllscs and
conventions. 1t is to-day part Of their political
machinery upon which they rely-to control Con-
gress, State and municipal governments and elect
Presidents.
*Ihls letter should have reached lis in time for
publication last week, and although we gave in
that Issue the ending of this case, publish what
our correspondent has to say striking illustra
ton of the methods resorted to by the Democrats
10 OBTAIN and retain power. Ed Journal