Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-12-23
Mr.. George ". Curtis Cant.


sonal friends naval officer OF he po,t OF
New York. he has lett no means untried
u bring the Administration and the ke'
publican party Into contempt. lie began
MS maneuvers with the assertions that
The people are tar less indignant with the
members OF Congress who voted them
selves back pay than with the President,
who signed the bill. though In his case
the increase WAS entirely prospective.
and the calling Of special session oil
Congress, which would have cost at least
a million OF dollars. in case he vetoed the
measure, would have been necessary.
In fact, since The Constitution OF tho
United States places, the determination
of salaries 10 be paid Senators and Mem
bers exclusively in The hands oil Con-
srcss, it would have been O most ungra'
cious il not unconstitutional act on the
part OF the President 10 intervene veto,
instead Of renanding the case TO the tri
buual OF the people, where it properly
belongs.
Since the late elections, Mr.. Curtis,
continuing the same jesuiticsl warfare,
in accounting for their results. remarks
that the chief causes OF the defeat oil the
party were that the civil service rules
we're not properly enforced. aud that
Federal officers had the temerity to APP
pear at the polls and take m active part
in the canvass.
The wholesale Observation-Disclosures OF
the Republicans in Virginia; the e1pendi.
lures of thousands oil dollars assessed
upon State officers and upon railway and
other great eorporations--SSO,OO 600 being
raised II Wisconsin by the liquor interest
alone; the deialcaton of Phelps, in the
State of New York; the combination oil
all anti Republican elements, full OF ~
norauce and preiudice'. which always
constitute the ready tools OF all manner
of corruption, have no terrors for MIR.
Curtis. His guns are not pointed to the
enemy. His post is in the lear OF the
army with the bummers ADD grumblers'
who lind fault with the officers and pre-
dict disaster.
To him il seems remarkably strange
that in the face OF these Impending dam
gers and the unjust charges OF corrup'
lion. Government officers should identity
themselves with the Administration and
proclaim their faith in its righteousness
before The people. Should Mr.. Gurus
succeed in emaucipatiug these officers
lrom every instinct OF patriotism and ol
gratitude; should he induce them TO he
come indiff, rent To the good fame and
success OF the Government OF which they
are part and its responsible agents. the
death knell not merely OF the Republican
party, but of republicAnism itself will
have been sounded.
It's precisely f.ullfnding like this.
this hype.crilicsl and lackadaisical spirit.
which reminds us OF the boTes we met at
Munich. when in the att gallery We nj
mired one OF Rubens' magnificent pro
ductions. who pointed out. with evident
delight, the diseoloralion Of toe nail.
that has caused Republicans TO become
Indifferent 10 the success OF The party,
and the temporary triumphs Of the OPP
position. Should this uniriendly spirit
of criticism be continued. and the com
biued Opposition obtain possession otihe
Government at Washington, the refund
ing of the cotton.tax of s64. 900. GOO; The
resumption Of the Southern State debts
of $500. 900, 900; the payment. under ali
manner of pretexls. for property lies
lroyed during the wal OF hundreds OF
millions OF dollars, will be used as the
cohesive means Of welding that party to.
ge;her. What restraining influences
will HarperS's Weekly, or the Springfield
Republican,. or the Nation have upon
these, Probably no more than the tea
party of exclusives had At the Cincinnati
| Convention, when the raScals hlched both
their platform and their candidate.
II the Republican party is struck down
| il will be by elements one third OF which
is diSloyal. and the other two thirds are
composed OF the most ignorant elements
in our larger cities, and of persons who
have purely foreign or monarchical ten
denotes and aspirations. Far be 1t from
Us 10 say that the masses OF these are dis
honest. or that they desire corruption III
itself. bu, ,helr educational and political
disadvantages are such that dishones,
men can rule them with the rod OF power,
and thus no less than thousand million
OF dollars will be the penalty which we
will be forced 10 pay for the indulgence
in that lack adaisical spirit of Indifference
to the welfare Of the Republic.
1t the great Republican party, with all
It's glorious memories aud achievements
is 10 90 down. let il be laid low by the
blows of its enemies in the front, but pre-
serve il from assassination by the poisons
or the siileito OF Curtis pretended friends.
Mr.. Curtis tactics are thoroughly under
stood at the Capital, and we warn the
local press not 20 be imposed upon by
canting pretensions of man who is no
better than his peers. Notwithstanding
his lofty assumptions Of superiority.
If the dilettante politicians are to in