Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-09-13
FEDERAL PATRONAGE AND STATE
ELECTIONS,

FEDERAL PATRONAGE AND STATE
ELECTIONS.
Because We have heretofore and Of
ten advocated the following doctrines,
called attention to the same abuses
and endeayored to show their corrupt
Ing tendency and the imminent peril
to self government growing out Of the
interference OF Federal officers, and
the use OF Federal patronage In State
elections. we publish extracts from an
editorial which appeared a few days
since in the Boston Advertiser. That
paper has been 4 strictly Republican
Journal, and ls now. Not over a month
ago 1t denied that the Administration
was supporting Ben Butler. The ex.
tracts following show, that not only 1t
has changed Its opinion, but realizes
fully the dangers Of Butlerism In
American politics:
The present condition of the Repub-
lican party Is not a matter Of congrat-
ulation-
There Is a wide spread decentralization
In party sentiment and we do not hes
itste to say It Is, at least here In Mass
achusetts, chiefly caused by the very
conditions which misguided partlzans
rely upon to strengthen the organiza-
ton. The Republican party cannot
forever endure the strain to which 1t Is
now put, and the reason 1t cannot en-
dure 1t Is because Ii ought not to be
endured. When q party becomes an
| organization OF ofice-holders, and Is
held together by the profits Of Its ad-
mlnistration Of public affairs, 1t Is
near Its end. 10 that condition the
Republican party Is tending, and the
self-complacent gentlemen who hold
Its places OF honor may thank them
selves for the ruin they are diligently
inviting and doing nothing to prevent.
We mean the gentlemen Of the Presi-
dents Cabinet the members Of the
Senate and House Of Representatives,,
and the army Of thrifty Custom.house,
Revenue, and Post-ofics officials, who
think they serve the country by keep
Ing themselve warm.
What does It mean that a ring Of
national office holders Is this year
daring to do what was before never
undertaken In such shamelsssness and
confidence In this State? How does IL
happen that the recipients Of salaries
from the National Government almost
without exception are devoting them
selves to the task Of controlling our
local affairsp 1t Is something to which
the people Of Massachusetts are quite
unaccustomed. and something which
three years ago any politician scquain-
ted with the spirit and traditions OF
our population would have declared
would not BE- borne. Who are these
men? The creatures Of a patron aud
dependent upon his favor. They were
never elected to their offices by the
people. they are under no immediate
obligations to the people, but by some
strange and monstrouS delusion they
seem to imagine that the people are
under obligations to them, that they
arc the constituted official advisers Of
the great body Of citizens In their po-
litical duties. We venture. to say
the spectacle OF the Collector, Post
master and Marshal leagued together
and exerting all the patronage OF their
offices and using the time which be-
longs to the public service to force
upon a party a candidate obnoxious to
the majority was never before seen In
the Bay State. 1t Is an Invasion OF
the independence Of tho people Of the
State. heinous aud intolerable.
What crime has Massachusetts, COM
United against the Union that she
should have a Collector Casey and a
Marshal Packard set v Q her TO see
that a certain wing Of the Adminis-
tration party trlumphs? Already u
~caucuses are crowded with Democrats
to defeat the expression Of our wills.
How does 1t hap
pen that n ring has been formed which
not content with the immense advan-
tage of Federal patronage, aims to
grasp also the State patronage, so that
Massachusetts may be to Gen. Butler
what Pennsylvania Is to Simon Cam
eron, his captive bound hand and foot,
his possession and his footstool.
We are experiencing In this State
what other States have experienced
where the attempt has been made to
control State politics In Washington.
The people have endured 1t long
because Of their patriotic desire not to
embarrass the settlement OF issues
having vital relations to the nations
welfare, but they will not endure 1t
forever; the national authority, through
Il, hundreds OF thousands OF officials,
Is n tremendous power, but 1t Is no.
omnipotent. The Bay State from end
to end Is thoroughly In sympathy with
the fundamental principles Of the re-
publican policy; 1t appreciates and Is
thoroughly In sympathy with the
great leading measures Of the Admin
istration, and will not willingly break
from Its personal allegiance, but 1t will
not submit to the management of Its
local affairs by national officials.
Nothing Is more perilous to the liber-
ty Of the citizen, nothing more certain
to undermine the structure OF our In
situations. The State will not hesitate
to cry .'hsnds OFF, to the Administra-
ton that insists or Interference, no
matter what its laurels Or lts prestige.
or the Republican party 1t will say.
''rhe past Is s~ecnre;" but when the
party begins living for itself alone.
making It's chief cart to provide it's
Buckinghams with %sinecures, the peo-
pie Of this state will abandon It with
no excessive regret, and seek new In.
strumentalities for the expression OF
their purpose In public affairs. The
party Is yet capable OF noble uses, but
those who should be proud to lead 1t
in honorable ways appear blind to
their duty and intent only OH the
blazonry OF their shields.
WHAT can be the matter with the
Iowa campaign? Only q short time
ago IL wal announced that tho list Of
Republican speakers would include
Senators Logan and Harlan, and Rep
resentative Wright and Orr. Yester-
day the withdrawal Of Mr.. Logan was