Year: 1879

THE MAINE TROUBLE


TIE Governor and Council of Maine have
changed the result of the late election in that
State upon certain technical grounds in rela-
tion to the returns. 1t is not denied that the
people of Maine cast their votes in such way
as to make the Legislature Republican in both
branches, and this they did after q vrisk and
thorough campaign, which brought the ques-
tions involved homo to every voter. The Gov
ernor and Council, taking advantage of their
position and power over the returns, have SO
manipulated them as to reverse the will Of the
people. This is the real point, as it will be
considered and judged in the public mind.
Supposing that the technical grounds are legal
ly correet-of which there are grave doubts
that we need not discuss-this by no means
weakens the appeal to the tribunal of last re-
sort in a republic. Local officers may have
been culpably negligent, but the essential ques-
ton is: What did the people sag 6y their uotesF
1t is well known what they said, and change
of their verdict, because certain officers neg
lected to sign the returns, or the returns were
sent in one day late, or certain names were
Jumped as scattering" is grave offence
which the law may not be able to reach, but
which makes the best ground OF appeal to the
people.


because we have denounced with equal severi-
ty similar proceedings in other States. And,
carefully considering what we say about 1T, we
unhesitatingly declare that the Governor and
Council in Maine, in doing this, have far ex-
ceeded the infamy of the Louisiana returning
board, inasmuch as they were not so strongly
tempted to commit an outrage against the
rights of the people,


We can scarcely conceive that the Governor
and Council of Maine have done this thing OF
their own accord. We fear that they have lis
tened to very bad advice, and that their advis-
ers are looking forward to the PRESIDENTIAL
election We believe, however, that the re-
suit will be exactly the reverse of what is in
tended. and that it will help to make a solid
North next year. The height OF Democratic
wisdom seems to be to follow the worst prece-
dents of their opponents, and improve upon
them, thereby losing the assistance OF public
sympathy.


One phase of the Maine trouble deserves par
ticular attention. Here is case where the
will of the people is reversed, and popular gov
ernment seems to have temporarily broken
down. Does anybody think OF an appeal TO
the national government, to bring its superior
force to bear to set the State right and put the
defrauded voters in possession of the machinery
of the government? We have not seen q sug-
gestion of anything of the sort. 1t is believed
that the people of Maine can settle the matter
for themselves If wrong has been committed
they can and will right it-if not next year the
wear after or later. AT the worst, though the
people are cheated for year or more, the ell
feet will be greater care the part OF officials
who supervise the returns, and a more rlgld
scrutiny by the people generally OF tickets pre-
sented for their support. When we can feel
exactly about any Southern State as we feel
about Maine, we shall recognize the true ma
ture of our complex government, under whlch
the right of self-government is secured as the
very jewel of our system.