Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-06
Democratic Reform.

To The Editor Of the Heane5ee Journal:
| notice that some writer in the standard, for
the past two weeks has been struggling with the
mighty question of finance, and from the manner
10 which he founders about, one would suppose
that he was taking his first lesson n that science
There is one assertion made by the writer of the
articles which l take decided objection to, and
that is that democrats always speak decidedly in
opposition to all extravaganza and wasteful ex-
penditures when in official positions.
| would like to ask the writer when and where
he has spoken in opposition to the general extray
assnce of the democratic party when in power, in
any municipal or State government, or when it
was in control of any branch of the general gov
eminent;
1t is a fact that cannot be denied by any sane
person, that when submitted to an impartial and
Judicial test, the democratic party is extrava-
CANT and lavish in the expenditure of the peoples
money. than the republican party This no can
did man has the brazen-faced mpudence to de nv
The writer of this lives in municipality in which
for the last fifteen or twenty years, the democratic
party has had the control and management of al
fairs for one half of the time, and the republican
party, the other half. and knows something of
democratic rule and from an examination of the
official record knows this that the pay of the mu-
nicipal officers was one-fourth more under demo.
cratic management than when under republican
and the other expenses were in about the same pro
portion; and we have failed to hear the first mem
Der of that party say one word against such ex-
travsgances, but they were always telling about
the wastefnl expenditures Of the public money
away off which they had read of 10 the Standard
If there is . county in this State where expen.
ses have been high and money recklessly spent.
it is in the democratic county of Knox; and we
have never seen in the Standard any condemna-
ton of this extravaganza. 1t is well known that
for years il was impossible to get from the demo-
cratic officials any statement of the financial con-
dtion of the county. When democratic thieves
put their hands deep into the treasury of your lit
tie neighboring town of Windsor did the Stand
ard condemn themi Not at all. but apolagized
for them.
How was it when a democratic town treasurer
in the little town OF Belgrade reached down very
deep int6 its purse and took thousands therefrom,
were the vials of its wrath let loose In condemna-
ton OF that most fragrant violation of Off cial trust
Not in the least, and the apology which it pub
instructive to its readers if it would but repub-
sh it. All of US know, how, but few years
ago. when the people of the city Of New ork were
rising in their might to shake off the thieves that
were stealing their millions every year from the
Treasury OF that city, and to break the power of
Boss Tweed, who was the leader of the thieves
that the Standard came to the rescue of said
Tweed. and told its readers how his name would
live 10 grateful remembrance in future years as
one of the great and good men of the democrat
c party.
Democratic newspapers for years have been
telling about the large number of employees con-
nected with the House Of Representative at
Washington before it was under control of the
democratic party.
What have they said since Can any one tell
They dare not say anything and conine them.
selves to the truth. Since the democratic Door
keeper of the present House has been under in
vestigation, how much has the Standard enlight
ened its readers upon that subject or had it
rather keep them in blissful ignorance upon such
matters 1t has never told them how the said
Doorkeeper has placed upon the pay roll Of en-
ployees, the names Of 60 more persons than are
authorized by law, and it dare not tell its readers
and give them the impartial facts in the case as set
forth 10 the speech of Harrison OF H., Chairman
Of the Committee of investigation. To any one
acquainted with the Standard the effort that it
makes to play the role OF the reformer appears to
be the greatest piece of bufoonery ever attempt
ed to be played upon people of common int.lli-
gence.
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.
In spite Of iannels. coughs and colds will make