The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-02-19

simmons. FcrnapS
made to believe these statements but he GER
tainly cannot hav. forgotten that through
the shameful conduct of Simmons in con-
nection with the Gubernatorial contest in
Massachusetts last year, his administration
was censured for an insolent participation in
local affairs.
Who is this man Simmons? The question
can best be answered by saying that he is a
creature of Butler, who has won the admira-
ton of his master by his INSCRIPTIONS devo-
ton to his interests and the practice Of that
chicanery in politics that only scoundrels re-
sort to. William A. Simmons is the man
who gave Butler the Boston delegation
to the State Convention by DISTINGUISHING
thousands of republicans by springirg pre-.
mature and unprecedented call for the caucus
IS chairman of the city committee. He is a
y,ung man of thirty-five years of age, who
has been schooled in managing the caucuses
OF the slums of Boston-an INSCRIPTIONS
wire-puller, a political scullion.
1t is said that Simmons has proved an
efficient Supervisor of the Internal revenue
that he has faithfully and economically dis
charged his duty, This may be true though
we confess decided preference for men
differently educated and having other asso-
Citations. We object to man for any posi-
ton who has, in contempt of public opinion,
perpetrated unblushing frauds in caucuses.
Such man cannot be patriotic, high
minded, or above temptation.
Besides the personal objections to Super
visor Simmons, it is not too much to say that
the Republican party have had enough of
Butlerism. They will not stand any more of
the RACES of this bad man, and will no
longer countenance the men who aid him in
debauching the public service. Indeed such is
the state of the public mind on this subject
that mere association with Butler will peril
the reputation OF those who take the risk Of
recognizing him as a leading Republican.
The demonstrations yesterday in Boston
consequent upon the nomination of Simmons,
the protests of the Board of Trade of Bos.
ton and the honest indignation of the men
who give character to the city, indicate the
unpopularity of the man and sound the
death knell of Butlerism. The indications
now are that the President will withdraw the
nomination and substitute the name of some
man of decent reputation. We trust that
this will be done. We cannot see how Gen.
Grant can do otherwise.
Iu this connection, duty compels us to
speak of another matter. When Mr.. Sim
mons was nominated for Collector, Mr.. j.
II. Marley of this State was 'guardedly
recommended" by the Name delegation as
his successor. Mr.. Manley is pleasant
gentleman and we have nothing but the best
of feelings to ward him. 1t is therefore ex-
ceedingly painful for us to speak of him
otherwise than kindly, but we should be
derelict to duty, as Republican journalist,
and but mere personal organ, should we
forbear to say to our congressman that the
intelligent rank and file of the organization
in Maine will not approve their action in this
matter. We are not disposed to go into the
past. We do not question Mr. Manley's efic-
.ency as a Treasury agent, but we, in common
with thousands, do most seriously object to
him on the ground that he believes in Gen.
Butler and that it is the first duty of a federal
omcial to devote his time, not to the public
service, but to wire pulling to secure the sue
cess OF the man or men who gave him public
ONCE. In this respect there must be change.
so long as they are clean, heightened and
patriotic men we care not who is made Col
lector OF Boston or Supervisor of Internal
Revenue; but as Republican journal it is
our duty to warn the men who are disposing
OF the Offices of the country, that they must
"unload'' the organization of its Simmonses
Its Sanborns and the like. Speaking for the
men who have upheld the Republican STAN
dard for years, and who claim as their own
its brilliant record, we say to the adherents OF
the Butler school of politics fall back!