New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-13
pOL1T1fAL BLAOKMAIL.

1t Is An evil to be regretted, anu Pein"PS
never to be reformed. that election e1-
penses are forced upon those who are in
terested in obtaining Office. In the earlier
days Of the republic Henry Clay, Repub-
lican, was charged by the so-called De-
mocracy with disgraceful bargain III &C
cepting the appointment of Secretary OF
State at the hands of John Quincy Adams.
But even with this unfounded charge in
their mouths, the Democracy embarked in
the most open and unblushing system Of
purchase and sale Of official patronage.
Loug before the Republican party OF the
present day came into existence Demo-
cratic convention nominated the great
Democratic spoiler Van Buren,, with the
Democratic motto ''to tho victors belong
the spoils." A Democratic convention
nominal as chief magistrates Polk or
Buchanan, and assigned on the lobby
slate all the positions of the Cabinet and
the foreign missions as equivalents tor
support given to the party ticket The
compulsory contributions by Democratic
candidates and officers constituted the
fund for cam paign expenses, and these
assessments were enforced Ivy the sum-
mary process Of withdrawing a poor or
refractory candidate, or discharging an
official employee who did not respond
promptly to the percentage exacted on
his salary.
The President of the United States
issued campaign order in 1872 prohib-
iting heads of departments from author
izing any such impost on official salaries.
There is no doubt, however, that contri-
buttons are still made by employees BY
way of salvage, and perhaps the amount
of con tribuions is As general as before
this order.
But whether this may be the practice Of
those who hold the Offices Of the country,
the State or the city, chose who hold no
such offices are compelled to pay with
equal pronptitude and punctuality on
the one side as their unhappy and IN
willing antagonists are on the other. The
politicians on each side are employed in
squeezing their respective constituencies.
The official demand on clerk at the
Customhouse or at the City Hall has some
show of reason in the individual interest
insured. But che banker or merchant
who is required to pay for obtaining
Offices for other people has much
more reason to complain. The de-
nand is made in pleasant and affable
manner. There is no compulsion, not
The least 1t is q little like the aims asked
SIN the name Of Cod" from Gil Bias. by
. petitioner whose musket was bearing on
The traveller SO piously adjured to con-
tribute.
Here il Che testimony Of Tie New Or
cans Times rs to the operation Of this
asst system in New Orleans:
For people among whom the complaint |
Il poverty has OF late years been chronic,
he ban kers ami business men Of New Or |
ears. On M0rai compu|sioD. contributed |
more largely for political and semi-politicat !
purposes Than any others under heaven. |
Nor. check hook stubs besides those found
r kellogg'a State House coald tales unfold, |
subjected to the close scrutiny OF political |
opponents. The political lawyers at Wash |
ngtsn were not sll feed on the same side in
,he Louisiana ease. xnG sums extorted from
Al i
With .isa greeahle alternatives have been |
,eed in mary WAYS which, IN their heart Of |
hearts, III. contributors smphat;cal!y con- !
,esnEe1. |
All acknowledge this pol;:;ca! black. |
mailing TO BE wrong. but one side can
lot correct it without the assent OF the !
,thes. II thase bankers and business
men should stop paying and the Repub-
lean party con tinue to provide and ex.
,end an ele cton fund, we should be over
un by sucn horde of famished Demo- !
ratio politicians a. would utterly de. |
noralize and confuse our party organic
ion. While. then, che practice continues
\ assessing salaries Of the Office
holders and blackmsiling the bank
rs and merchants. the clerks, sh eriffs, !
md coroners, it is 70 be hoped
he Democratic party will continue !
rue to their ancient traditions Let them
demand from their bankers and merchants,
N pain Of ''social ostracisn' and ''moral |
pressure with disagreeable alternatives"
he money necessary TO fee the Seven !
league lawyers at Washington and at
ZONE. Let committees wait Oh sheritfs, !
Jerks and coronefs, administrators in Of |
ice and in expectancy. and make them
nte up. This will relieve the community |
rom much restitution, and keep from |
be Republican party q pressure for adj