Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-29
DEIlGCR.ITIC RiLE.
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wpAT ONE YEARS EXPERIENCES HAVE DROUGHT
TIE GRANITE STATE.
The Republican state Committee Of New
Hamp hire has is ,ucd an address to the party, IN
view Of the approaching dominating conventions
and Spring election. Some CT the Ill results OF
Democratic control during the prcsen. year aic
enumerated, as follows:
For the first time in the last twenty years tie
Democratic Party last Spring succeeded in gain
ing entire control of our State Cover nment Com
ing into power upon professions of patriotism, llb-
eralty and reform, they signallzed their advent
by series of measures SO proscnp;ive, ilioeral'
and unjust as to bring odium upon the State and
show themselves to be false to every pledge upon
whose faith the people intrusted them win au-
thority. Tney passed bill DISTINGUISHING the
students Of our Literary institutions, thereby Sink
ing blow against that education and enlighten-
ment Of the people which are rightly supposed to
imreril Democratic ascendenay. As a fit counter
part of such legislation, they greatly increasedth
facilities for the naturalization OF foreigners re-
source upon which they have been Obliged to rely
for many years TO recruit their depleted ranks.
They overthrow the Judiciary of the State, repre-
sented by body Of Judges, of Republican ap-
pointment of both political parties, who had large
" added to the high fame of the New Hampshire
Bench for legal erudition, and who were distln-
ru.hed as highly as any bench In this country iof
learning, ability, industry, and incorruptloie IN
tegrity. The Judicial system OF the state mad Deen
so admirable in its operation that there could be
no possible purpose IN this legislation but to Sc
cure a Democratic partisan majority of the court:
They redistricted the State for Councillors and
Senators in such manner as to enable them SUD-
stantialy to retain power in the State, even though
in considerable popular minority. They accom-
plished this by throwing large Republican MAJOR
tiles into few districts and by spreading the
Democratic vote over the remainder They Gre
ated these districts with but slight regard TO the
requirements of the Constitution, and with n
thorough contempt for ancient associations, con-
venience. and geographical form. An examina-
ton of the districts will show them 10 be striking
" UNEQUAL in population and valuation, and to be
of the most absurdly lnconvenient and grotesque
shape. So far as We know, there was scarcely
pretense for this atroclous gcrrymander, except
the demands of paltisanship and the determine
ton, by any means found requisite to the OBJECT,
to hold power in the State, even after large ma
ority of the people might repudlatc them Inc
cities of Manchester, Portsmouth, Dover, and
Nashua were gerryman,,ered and newly divided
into wards with still more ralpable injustice, the
avowed purpose being to secure majority OF the
Representatives, and take control OF the mun!cl-
pal governments of cities having large ana pro-
nounced Republican majorities. Nothing more
outrageous has ever been attempted by legisla-
tive body than this INSCRIPTIONS overthrow OF the
right of the people to control their local concerns
No right is better established in the theory of our
political system, and none could be assalled with
greater peril to popular liberty. Mess the Feo-
pie take the alarm and become aroused to the
dangers of such legislation, there will soon be lit
tie left of the fundamental principles OF our Gov
eminent. They un :eated Republican Representa-
tives who had been elected by ample majorlnes,
and where no illegally or untairness could be
shown and kept men of their own party IN the
House, refusing all investigation of their night,
who had not even priB,a fdcie claim to occupy
seats. These acts and others of like character,
were supplemented by an indiscrimlnate political
slaughter of those whom they found in office I'M
der Republican appointment, although the hepun-
leans had forbornc to disturb several Democratic
incumbents appointed by Gov. Weston in 1871 to
responsible and lucrative positions, including Inc
Attorney General, Judges Of Probate, County So
licitors, &c. This wanton prescription OF men
who were in no single instance charged win any
want of capacity, integrity, or efficiency in office,
was followed by headlong scramble for places,
which would disgrace any age and country-a
scramble which answered all the requirements OF
a frst-class farce, while some sombre shades
mingled in the spectacle, ioreshadowins the dan
ger to popular institutions involved Id sueh sell
fish strife la view of the character and compost
ton of the Democratic Party IN New Hampshire,
il i, not strange that the Offices thus vacated were
filed in many Instances by the appointment OF
persons incompetent and in other respects unht,
to hold responsible positions.
Add to this recital the fact admitted by their
own leading newspaper, that the dominant party
deliberately violated the professions and promises
of their own platform in other respects, ana You
have few of the features of the accidental Dem
ocratic rule in New Hampshire, and some OF the
enormities of session prolonged to an almost I'M
oil LAM