The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-10-07
The I" Machine.

The present condition of political parties
affords our New York correspondent occa-
sion for just and none too harsh comment
upon condition of things that is now, hap
PLY, passing away. The hour of the dilet-
tantes is about over. Like the French King
they reigned, but they did not govern. Their
lofty professions for time imposed upon
many well-meaning and intelligent men who
did not comprehend the practical difficulties
of administration, and looked upon evil
agencies in politics as modern free-thinkers
look upon the spirit of evi,-a spook in
vented to frighten the credulous and give
occupation to theologians. Four years of a
Democratic House have, however, shown
people the devil made manifest in the flesh,
and convinced them that real and serious
danger menaces our institutions. The pre-
vailing sentiment of the country has under
gone a change,-a change that finds its most
striking illustration in the suBsidence OF the
clamor against ''the machine
''The machine in politics" was for q long
time bugbear with people, and provocative
of much cant, often sincere, generally mis-
chievous. Men did not stop to ask what
"the machine was, but unhesitatingly ac-
cepted the assurance of other and interested
men that it was something very bad. They
did not hesitate to resort to it in religion or
business, but condemned it in politics. If a
Westinghouse was to be put up machine
was at once framed, an organization was
perfected, and men were sent round to So
licit subscriptions and push on the good
. work. If railway was to be built the ma
chine was set a-going. Agents went out
among the people, set forth the
advantages of the new route, and sought
extension of town or city aid. If great
charity was to be established the machine
was again set to work. A society was form
ed and missionaries went up and down the
land urging people to give money and work
to the furtherance of the laudable object
The advantages of organized labor were ap
parent and men eagerly ayailed themselves
of that powerful instrument. 1t was only
when ''the machine" was made use of to
further measures of public administration
affecting the government and material well
fare of forty millions of people that it was
Condemned as an evil agency--and then only
after long time. At first its advantages
were fully recognized. The Republican
party was formed as a political machine.
Its object was machine politics. The
free-soilers in the country saw the great ad-
vantage given TO the old parties by organized
effort, and they too organized, met in con-
vention, made statements of political belief,
nominated candidates, engaged speakers,
availed themselves of legitimate means 60
get voters to the polls and raised money to
defray the expenses thus incurred.
In the early days of the Republican party
no condemnation of ''the machine" was
heard. But after time differences OF
opinion rose in the organization. Some
thought ''the machine" did not do the work
it should, and wished to introduce a patent
of their own. The majority, however, pre-
ferred to trust to the old concern. Then
the disappointed minority turned about and
condemned ''machine politics." and many,
too indifferent or too indolent to examine
into the merits Of the case, joined in the cry
of condemnation. That is all there is about
it. Disappointed men resorted to cant.
Instead Of basing their opposition on the
defects of the particular machine in use,
they hypocritically condemned all machines.
Their real grievance was that practical men
examined their pet piece of mechanism,
found tina it had fatal defects and wouldn't
work. So they took their revenge by de-
nouncing all machines.