The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-04-16
Ciiqses.

We propose to say q word about eliques, po-
litical clqucs Of course. or as they are more
cOmmOlny called. political "ringS" Every
body has heard Of rings, and almost everybody
has talked about them At some time or other.
The subject is favorite one with Disappointed pol
Rieians. They never tire Of declaiming against
the corruptiOns Of rings. Gentlemen attending
caucusos which result in nominations different
from what they hoped and wrought for. gener-
ally attribute their discontinue and defeat TO
the existence and activity Of ring" Cen
tlemen too lazy to attend caucuses. and dissatis-
fei with the choice Of those who do attend, agree
that the whole thing was brought about through
the malign influence Of the "ring."
The rias is an institution in American poll
tics. II all reports are true they exist in both
parties, and in every town and school district In
the land. The members Of q ring are generally
erelitsi with shrcwlness and skill, and charged
with being unscrupulous, and supremely selfish.
II Is said they look out mostly for themselves
and fricn,is, and do not fight very vigorously
for those who are opposed to them. We sup
pose this is the reason they are called wicked
and corrupt But IL is charged that rings do
not confinc their efforts to the making Of NOM
mat ions, hut attempt and actually succeed
sO'ns'a" ~ VT. -,
anu l0ae'A '''"O'
Washington anu '"o 's'', ''p,NA a -,
'ssar'es NJ every p'Nn' ""sN '''e'' =
Of se'urins P'anusr' , - =. .,o..
So ,s..'...,r,u..- nron r,r,. c,r;-
'"'P1 , An -. - n.n.h,v Mans. and
y, " o'" - 49,, ,ho~ rverv uus,
'P''.'~ "N r~,.,., 1. 49,, ~
h''l''na''On "uu Oe' 'PP 80 -.
I" the r"s' Ds' W ~ ~ ,'-.N~.,..,., = &c
erei''d WIN "a's wv"
curing go"' mountainous a1u "ppo ",-.
i"''0 !" D " 800 -.
IN 'n's u"i'e's" '"''''' 49,
honah'y there arc O0o's'O"" 'O''O aa'., y
corrupt men Tor corrupt pnrpoSeS' a. '"e "nNA
ring and PSeihe rsiiroaa rins' cu' INC s'e''
majority OF what are called rings' IN our local
politics are the most innocent anu 'nOnen'''s
..conspiraeies'' which ever existed among men.
The rer,.,ns who belong 10 such organizations,
~ .,ch thew can nrorsrly be called, are inyol-
up,,rv members. We never heard OF person
o"s " vs y, , - :, .n, r.r-
tcular ring Is ascertained only by inquiring OF
people who don't belong to IT, The inventive
genius and fertile brains Of outsiders determine
first how many rings there are In any given
community. who belongs to them, and the par
ticular deyiltry which each proposes to accom-
r,;.h II |, safe 10 say that every influential
man in either marty Is, in the estimation Of
somebody. connected with ring, and the more
successful he happens to be and the greater fol-
lowing he secures, by reason Of tact or ability,
the more certain it is that he has cOnfederated
with others for the purpose Of controlling affairs
generally, or, in other words, Of running the
machine. II is equally safe to say that only
unsuccessful politicians complain Of the exist
cnce and doings Of rings. For eloquent inyec-
tive against the Vaccinations and nlanipulations
Of the ring, nothing can quite equal the efforts
Of a man who has been defeated in a square fight
in caucus.
According TO our idea of the matter, there is
no,biny very formidable about a ring, neither
do the individuals composing i, possess any mys
,orion. now.r No, youeb.,ssi to ordinary NOR
,,,s 7, !. .imn,v n coneer, of action to secure
, lc.;rcl r..nIt. A think. II usculiarly well
qualified To represent the town in the Legisla-