Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-07-08
THE DISGRACE OF NEW HAAF-
SHIRE

worthy the attention OF tnosc WIN ooAo'
thata change in party ascendency will
promote purity in politics. They nave
lust had a change in New Hampshire,
with what results we let the Globe from
its independent position tell. That paper
says:
.If the work of the present session OF
the New Hampshire Legislature does not
sicken the people of miscalled democratic
rule. their powers of endurance must be
appropriately typifed in their granite hills
A more disgraceful scramble for the spoils
of political victory was never exhibited
for the merriment of the Cynics who ridi-
Guile republican government. Had the
men who constituted the majority had any
sense of the dignity and responsibility per-
tanning to their position, they would have
been content with despatching the public
business and making only such changes
as were demanded for the best interests OF
the Commonwealth. Had the democrats
proceeded after this manner, accepting
what was right and sound in affairs as
they found them, and introducing reforms
only where they were actually needed,
they might easily have strengthened their
hold upon the confidence Of the people and
established themselves firmly in power.
As it is, they have disregarded every con-
sideration but that Of party supremacy,
made changes for no other reason but to
get their own men into judicial and cleri-
cal offices, ably filed by men trained and
experienced in them, and with remarka-
BILE effrontery pretended to no motive or
purpose affecting the public welfare, but
only the party plumber
Under the imperlous and insolent lead
ership of Mr.. Bingham of Littleton, the
democrats at once proceeded to reckless
overhauling Of the entire administration
of affairs in the State. The judiciary is an
institution which ought not to be lightly
tempered with. In New Hampshire, the
sound principle prevails of appointing
Judges and permitting them to continue
in office during good behavior, and yet if
a party can gain control of the Legsla-
ture, abolish the courts and set up new
ones for the sole purpose of getting rid of
experienced and trusted Judges, and get
ting their own men into their places, the
chief advantage of this principle is lost.
The object to be aimed at is to secure
Judges of high attainments, pure charac-
ter and freedom from political bias, and
yet by this revolutionary process political
subserviency will naturally be made the
leading qualification. If the people of the
Granite State understand the importance
of keeping the judiciary pure and efficient
they will make speedy provision for an
amendment to their organic laws, fixing
the constitution of their courts and taking
them out of the power of a reckless polit.
cal majority. Much time has been spent
in Concord during the last month in franz
ing an edict for getting rid of the Judges
by recognizing the courts, and no doubt
it will be Illuminated before the adjourn
ment. The probate and other officers of
the counties have been already for the
most part removed, for no reason touch
ing their efficiency, but merely because
they are republicans. This action is in
the direction of one of the worst abuses of
our politics. In such Offices, the object
should be to secure faithful and efficient
men, and the true interests of civil service
reform demand that where they have be-
come trained in their duties and proved
honest and capable they should be retained
as long as they will serve. To turn them
out, as has been done in New Hampshire,
without regard to the length of service,
the efficiency shown, or the integrity dis
played, is most demoralizing practice
and unworthy of men who pretend to be
serving the State and not party organi-
cation.
The efforts of the democrats to entrench
themselves in power regardless of the pub
lie interests have not been confined to get
ting rid of republican officials and courts,
but they have been cutting up and parcel
ling out the State and its cities in a way
that will best enable them to manage those
bodies in spite of the majority of citizens.
The ward lines of cities have been changed
with view TO bringing into each por-
ton OF the most ignorant democratic pop
ulation SO as to secure an unfair represent
tation. For instance, Manchester, with Il
decided republican majority, has been so
gerrymandered that she must send two
democrats to one republican to the Legis-
lature in spite of herself The same pro-
cess has been applied to the other cities,
and the customary divisions on which 10.
cal convenience greatly depends have
been broken up without consulting the To-
cal interests or wishes. The same mis-
chievous and unprincipled policy has been
applied in the arrangement Of Senatorial
and Councillor Districts. Another trick
for increasing the democratic strength has
been 10 disfranchise the intelligent and
cultured young men who reside at Dart