Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-01
DEMOCRATIC RUL e.

| The opponents OF the republican party
never weary of pleading that the republic
cans have had political control longer than
is for the benefit of the country, and that a
change of power to the hands Of. the de-
mocracy would be an Improvement. They
argue that corruption and inefliciency Of
ten shelter under long continued po-
litical ascendency, and that change
which brings in a new policy and new
men is certain corrective OF such evils.
1t is true they may point to the prostration
of the government for many years under
the shareholders as a consequence OF the
long continued rule of the democratic par
ty in the national councils, also to the re-
belion which was fostered and ripcned
during the period that the doctrines of
Calhoun prevailed at Washington, but
these are not examples which they are
fond of quoting If they were to mention
such examples we should answer them by
saying that it was the accused principle of
Slavery, Rugged TO the bosoms of success
i've democratic administrations, which
poisoned and corrupted the government.
| OF changes of men and of factions there
were enough to keep the atmosphere pure
| if such changes were all that were needed,
during the time the democracy held the
control of the government, but the base
principle at the bottom of the party, never
changing, always making it subservient
to the crack of the plantation whip, this it
was that corrupted the democracy and
wrought its ruin. Changes OF men will
not necessarily bring good government.
New men arc not always honest, old Of
ticials that have stood the test for years
are recommended because they have been
proved. Every party has within its power
the means to change its officers at every
election, to discard the bad and keep the
good, and such changes are constantly
taking place. But the principles of parties
are not SO easily cast off. They are not
changed with every election, but remain
the same through long periods, controlling
and shaping the course of parties, even as
Slavery kept its graspupon the democrat
ic party until it led it into rebellion.
What change from republican to dem
ocratic rule will do is shown by the results
of such an occurrence within the past year
in two of our New England States. In
New Hampshire il happened that the
democrats carried the State election last
March, giving them control Of the legisla-
ture and executive Offices. No sooner
was the new party fairly installed in
power than it commenced the business OF
turning out all the republicans from office
that it could reach, not even sparing the
Judges on the Bench and the small county
officials. 1t did not wait for the terms of
officials to expire in order to fill their
places with democrats, but removed them
by address, without single charge
against them of dishonesty or incompe-
tency. All the Judges were removed and
nearly all the republican county officers.
merely to give their places to democrats
legislature more unsatisfactory in its
doings to the people never assembled in
the State. A Concord paper says: They
announced short session; they made
lit the longest ever held They declared
"a purpose to legislatc for the people;
'thcy legislated for themselves only.
They made great professions of econo-
my it would require more powerful
microscope than any yet invented to dis
"cover any exhibition of this quality
"They professed regard for civil service :;
"they have illustrated that regard by a
general removal of republican of1ice-hol
"ders on partisan grounds wholly, not
''sparing even the Judges on the bench"
In Connecticut, change to democrat
ic rule by the election last April resulted
in a state of things similar to what we
have described in New Hampshire. In
stead Of economy extravaganza prevailed.
The party gullotine was piled with re-
morseless vigor. Meritorous men were
turned out of office and their places sup
piled with worthless creatures, simply
because the latter were democrats.
| SO it is evident that the smooth sound
ing words upon democratic tongues about
the necessity Of change to purify pc tiles
is humbug. Ask the people of New
Hampshire and Connecticut what it means
and they will point to a Judiciary over
turned to make room for democrats upon
the Bench That tribunal which should
be above the changes and influences of
parties is Frustrated, and purely parti-
Fan body takes its place. Such is the eff,
feet of change from republican to
democratic rule. Experience has proved
just what itsamounts to.
AI' THE GFISERS..