Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-13
4aiIp Aennebet Journal.
Augusta, Monday Morning, Oct 10, 1879
Sensible Remarks of Beecher about
Machine Political Work ana
Scratching Tickets.

Machine Political WORK ana
Scratching Tickets.
Henry Ward Beecher was present at the
meeting in Brooklyn at which Senator
Conkling made his first campaign speech
After Conkling had closed his remarks
Beecher was observed upon the platform
and loud and continued calls were made
for him. At first Mr.. Beecher attempted
to appear unconscious, but the calls were
continued and so earnest that at length he
came forward and made the following
sensible talk which those who have much
to say about machine political work would
do well 10 carefully consider:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN You ought to
be satisfied, after the earnest, the eloquent
and very able discourse that you have heard.
You ought to be satisfied TO retire and medi-
tate, that you may act. | still obey your
summons to say a few words. Cheers.
Three things will say: First That we do
not wish to have it under stood by this meet
ing, nor by any assembly in the North, that
We deny to the Southern States full exercise
Of their local rights, nor any proper influence
III Int auiIilIllstTdtlon-auAlli aIN-ol Natioh
81 public affairs; but simply this, that in the
administration of this great country they are
not yet prepared to take the lead. Applause
At home they are, with only constitutional
reservations, at liberty to do what they may
please; but they neither have been brought
up in the school nor have they embraced I'M
til recently the principles-if they have at all
which it 10 the will of this Nation should
control the Administration hereafter. When
they shall have raised another generation it
may be safe to put the administration of jus
tice and rectitude on this broad continent in
the hands of Southern gentlemen-but not
to-day. Applause.
The second thing which have to say to
yeu 10, that as the republican party in all the
days gone by, from the time of the outbreak
ing Of the war, has evinced a hearty sympa-
thy with those principles for which the war
was waged, and as it has-subject to the hui
man infrmity which belongs to all parties
and all men-in all enterprises administered
the affairs of this great State wisely and
economically, it is thought thatit should con-
tinue to do it. [Applause.] ! admit that
the present incumbent has filled his lap full
Of choice fruit, but I declare it is fruit
which he has shaken from the boughs of the
republican administration. applause.
The third thing have to say is that there
is no such thing as administration Of govern
ment except by the administration of parties,
and they are rs much part of our political
machinery as our laws and institutions.
They are founded in necessity, and all talk
against parties, and machinery, and poll
ticians, and management, is the talk Of men
that do not care what they say in accomplish
ing purpose, or of men who do not know
what they mean, or of men who do not mean
anything because they do not know anything.
Laughter.
You cannot have administration under free
institutions without parties you cannot have
parties without organization you cannot
have organization without engineers and man.
agers. 1t is said, however, that the running
Of the machine must be broken up and
stopped. Whenever you will run freight
trains and passenger trains without engineers
successfully, letting the engine take care of
itself, or letting the passengers do it, then you
may run parties SO. daughter. 1t may not
be the best thing you can imagine, but it is
the best thing in the present state Of human
nature that you can have, and if you are to
rnn parties ~ part of that economy of civil
liberty by which we administer free govern
.Uqat, and II you must run parties by appro-
PIRATE organizations and managers, then it is
20 use for anybody to bolt his party because
he doesn't like every single step that has been
originated in It, am amazed at either the
profound wisdom, or the altitudinous wisdom
sf those who think it is too much trouble to
take care Of primaries, or prepare public SEN
timent, or to arrange eonventions-who neg
lect the work by which the machine is put
upon the track and then vindicate their neg
lect by boiling, their conclusion being that
the convention has gone to those who they think
should not have had it. If from Incidence,
prescription, prejudice, or any other reason
they did not care enough about affairs to
bring them to pass by the natural way of
creating q sentiment in the convention or
party, they should at least have modesty
enough not to attempt to override those who
have taken those pains and have done this
work.
l read, with dsapprobation, of move
ment among young republicans-whomI take
to be quite young laughter, men of infu-
ence and admirable excellence of character
who sometimes, nevertheless, being human,
make mistakes-men who have called upon
republicans to scratch the ticket. Any ply
stefan will tell you that when there is an efiior-
essence on the skin, scratching is natural, but
always harmful. Laughter and applause.
For myself propose to do no scratching ire
sAS "Su AousheSi. uut W dCCept, Hot us tue
best that possibly might be, but to ac-
cept a. the ticket which is the best
attainable by the organization, and body,
and rs candidates; and in so far as
have influence with the young men of this
community, who are impressed with the So
lidity and Importance of republican prnc- |
pies. my word to them is Stand in the line |
Loud applause. Assert every good princi- |
pie BY good argument, and set an example of
sterling fidelity to that party which you be-
iieve carries in its heart and in its hand the
welfare of the State and the welfare of the
nation. Loud applause.
The New York Times says The last DEM
ocratic Congress is much to blame for the |
situation of affairs which rendered possible |
the present outbreak among the Ute Indians |
Commissioner Hayt, in his last annual report |
directed the attention of Congress to the fol- |
ly of the polio, which necessitated the divis-
Of the Army into small detachments, and |
which, at the same time pxupcted tho troons