Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-06-10
..Ihe merit U. S. Senator."

answer to which beg leave to say few
words. Equally impressed with due
sense of the magnitude and importance
ofthe duties aud responsibilities devolving
upon the man whom the people, through
| their repre- sentatives, are soon ID elevate
to that honorable position. l fully concur
with the writer of that article that we
should not "elect men to OIL our most I'M
portant offices who have nothing 10
recommend them for our suf'ragcs only
their peculiar tact in political wirepulling
or wonderful faculty in taking cate of the
| loaycs and fishes, and therefore aftercare-
| fully considering the writer's arguments,
and deducirg therelrom all the reasons he
advances, | am inclined 10 believe il
proper To refrain from any decided ex.
preston in favor or againStthe candidates
for that honorable and important position
ill the people have sufficient opportunity
of Judging for themselves of the merits or
demerits of those whom they would thus
honor. For one, am willing TO investi-
gate after truth, and Judging from the
future by the past, am unwilling TO vote
for any man who has pledged himself to
the support of this or that candidate till
such time rs proper opportunities have
been presented to Judge the record of the
1 hon, tfr,
the medium OF interested political as
piranlS, or Jealous and enthusiastic de-
pendants that more frequently are found
in the train of the successful candidate,
than becomes the true welfare of the
party. or tho real wish of the people.
The argument of the writer discloses II
llbored effort To- torestall the public senti-
ment of this County in favor OF Mr..
WaShburn, to whom, have no doubts,
he is under great personal obligation;
and, though am not blessed with the
spirit OF prophesy, and decline making
"prvdction" rs 10 the successful candidate
with which the writer SO generously
favored Us, vet 90 not hesitate TO offer
one prediction At this time. and that is,
that had the writer favored the public
with little more light, which presume
after due consideration he considered tor
the "beSt interest" TO remain in darkness,
the signature to the article would have
read thus, Il Republican, with salary
in the Custom House AT Portland or one
in expectancy"
Ii the people are not To heStow honors
upon those whose consummatc tact 1T
wire pulling and taking care OF the
loayes and fishes, has been the study NIL
their life, why. then. may ask the writer,
does Israel Washburn. Jr., stand less pre-.
eminent in that respect than any other
man whose name IS. or nav be. offered
70 the public Tor the position the writer
SO warmly espouscs in his behalf Is his
candidate the same ubiquitous parsonage
that has filled 50 many lucrative and
nations councils enumerated by him from
the eastern part of our State? The same
who. without any of those qualities, OF
course. which the writer SO gravcly warns
us against, 50 deNtrously managed for the
past six years TO retain position which
lac still holds rs Collector oil Customs at
Portland at the snug little salary of =, 900.
a ycar-four years OF which were under
IN administration that mystcriously sealed
the lips OF many public men when 1.-The
loaves and fishes" were = greater tempta-
ton To them than the honor of retirement
which men like Hannibal llamlin. con-
sidered not inconsistent with their views
and duties, when he resigned similar
position in the Boston Custom House?
The duty of office should never be So
great Is not sometimes To yield to the
duties owed 70 the public good. | fail to
perceive any great or magnanimouS dis
ulercs;edness in such profound reticence
and tenacity to public position and private
duties at time when the nations ear
was trcmulous to catch the sound Of every
patriotic voice
believe the voters OF Oxford County
capable of approaching the merits and
relative worth OF men who hold positions,
whether of responsibility, honor, or
pecuuiary advantages, as well rs those
who owe their own particular candidate
Tor iavors received. and would thereby
endeayor to render 4 proper compensation
for the same by attempting to lorestall the
public mind through the medium of the
press. However laudable this may be to
the individual credit, it is injustice to the
public.
| am not unmndful, however. after
having read the article of which l have
spoken, that in il there appears very
opportune and sympathetic appeal to the
people that in rs much Is our State and
County conventions are near at hand,
theirresults will have an important bearing
upon the question Of L. 5. Senator. Now
it is apparent that the main purpose for
which the article WAS written was to ac-
complish. though in small degree, |
trust. The very purposes of that wire
pulling" which the writer has so solemnly
warned Us against in the beginning. But
iuasmuch rs feel disposed to concur in
the sentiment OF the writer before his zeal
become go apparent for his favorite can
didate, shall abide his first counsel and