Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-10-10
Can We Trust Then, !:

The Democratic party is clamoring for
power, aud lays claim 10 public conf
denca on the ground that II will reform
existing abuses. IL loudly declares that
it Is honest; and. like the pharisee. thanks
God that it is not like other psrties-even
this poor Republican which stands now
before thee. But, like the egotist des-
cribed in SAID parable, this party cannot
20 down from its shouting ground until
the hypocritical motives which sctuate il
have been spread as far as its own words
OF self-eOmmendation.
What does the democratic party claim
that it will reform? First OF al. it says
I'VE will cast the thieves out Of Office"
By this il charges hat the preSen, admin
istratiou has counteusnced stealing. Let
US compare the democratic record with
the republican, and see how lily the charge
comes from this source. During Jack
son administration SlO.55 on every
thousand dOllsrs were stolen; in Van
BuIen's S2l 10 on thousand were lost.
In 1861 Lincoln. with the Republican
party behind him, assumed control OF
affairs. During The eight years OF his
administration only Sl.4l were lost on
the thousand, while johnson reduced il TO
forty-eight cents; and Grant has brought
1t down 10 forty during bis first term and
iwenty-SiX cents during bis second. with
large amounts which may yet be covered
into the treasury on civil suits, reckoued
among the losses. These amounts en-
brace simply the current losses and de-
talcatiors. but in addition TO this demo
cratic thieving, We have their wholesale
sieanng OF government property Tor re-
oelliOus purposes. In Dioney these sums
are still unes,imated. and will remain so
through all time. IL is useless 10 name
those men who thus violated their oa,hs
OF Office. bringing disgrace upon them
selves and diShonor TO the nation. Floyd.
and Thompson and Mason are known in
the annals Of infamy, aud their deeds are
still fresh 10 the minds Of our people.
All these were democrats What have
the democrats TO show in Offset. Only
one poor oaender-our late Secretary f
War. and be did not steal nor deiraud
the government. l. may also be added
tha. be has always been a democrat, and
be did not change his propensi,ies when
be changed his party in order 70 receive
a. appointment. The balance Of power
in this line seems TO be largely in favor
OF democracy.
Again, the Democrats. as party, have
with little opposition had control of New
York city. Here has been splendid
field IN which they might exhibit their
honesty. How they have executed their
trust is well known 10 every school boy.
The city debt has increased from sixty
million TO one hundred aud forty million
dollars in less than ten years. As re-
suit OF their Observation-Disclosures no real
estate can be held as pay ing property, the
taxes are so enormous. Again we have
8 list OF worthless. whose names are as
familiar as those connected with our
national disgrace-Tweed. The prince of
thieves aud Connoly, and Gsrvey, and
Genen, and others too numerous to msr-
ton. All these were democrats, with
unlimited power. Wherever the demo
cratic party has been placed in power,
ihieylng and deialcation have prevailed.
As party il has been needless OF all tie
claims which honesty puts forward. Yet
in the isce OF these facts. this year, the
party has the cheek to put out platform
calling for honesty aid reform. Can We
trust them?
Next the party calls for reform in
official appOiniments-known as civil SCI
vice reform. Il has called loudly tor this
change because il has been so long on, Of
power that Republicans hold most Of the
official positions. The practice Of chang
ing clerks with party. was introduced by
Gen. Jackson, whose adsge ITO the vic
tors belong the spoils.n has been the
warranty for such partisan actor. Il
was good saying and worthy OF all
aeeeptatioI' until II touched It's original
orr. Now. forgetlul whence the practice
came,-lhey wish a change The r.
pabliean party has endeavored TO comply