Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-09-24
TO WHOM TT MAY CONCERN

TO WHOM TT MAJ CONCERN
Res0lced, BY the Finance Committee OF
the Republican State Central Committee
that the otiice-holders under the Federal
Government, residents of the State of Mary
land, be requested to contribute for cam
paign purposes the following amounts: On
| all salaries under three thousand dollars
three per cent, and on all salaries over three
thousand dollars, five per cent The same
to be paid to the Treasurer of the State Cen
trail Committee in three equal installments
The first on or before September LIST, the
| second on or before October LIST, and the third
on or before November 1st
The above piece of political literature is
being industriously circulated among those
who enjoy official patronage under the gov
eminent, by Henry Stockbridge, Chairman
of the State Central Committee of the Re
publican party. Whether this very care
| fully worded resolution, so significant OF
meaning, is responded to with any degree
of willingness or to any extent we are UNI
| able to say. But it is evident that the COM
mittee in adopting the resolution meant
business-the amount to be paid by each
and every ofiice-holder is distinctly sPeci-
| fed, the time at which the payments are to
be made is designated. In order that there
may be no mistake and TO give the poor
clerks ample opportunity to meet these sew
eral demands, Mr.. Stockbridge says further
"The Treasurer, Peter Thompson, Esq, or
his Assistant, Mr. John A. Thompson, will
be at the Custom House tomorrow, 31st,
and the day following, as also the last day of
September and first and last days of Octo-
Der, and the first day of November, to re-
ceive these contributions"
1t will be seen that the clerks are to be
waited upon at their desks by the Treasurer
of the Committee. The reason is obvious.
Those failing to comply with the demands
of Mr. Stockbridge must expect to be hurled
from Office. Barrare, that minister of the
French revolution, whose very name makes
humanity shudder at its sound, was often
asked, appealed to to stay the work of the
guillotine by whose keen edge fell the heads
Of the lofty and the lowly, by whose bloody
decree persisted the wise and the beautiful, his
response was, we must grease the wheels of
the revolution. The wheels of the Radical
juggernaut must be creased the machinery
must be kept in running order, and all this
| must be done at the expense Of the poor
quill-drivers of the administration by levy
ing an exorbitant percentage upon their
meager salaries. What a sad commentary
upon the usages and customs of earlier ad-
ministrations, when the exalted purity of
patriotic principles was the legitimate weap-
on of success, when men were stimulated in
the performance of duty by noble impulse
and left untrammeled in the exercise of that
right which is the sacred privilege Of every
citizen of the United States What burn
ing criticism upon that reform in our civil
service which the Republican party inaugu-
rated with loud-mouthed braggadocio, and
which they have long since repudiated
What depth of decentralization for an or
ganzation of national proportions to reach
What fragile support to government OF
such splendid proportions and such vast re-
sources.
The last paragraph Of Mr.. Stockbridge';
circular is not less significant than those
which precede--it runs as follows:
'In view of the magnitude of the present
campaign, the principles involved and thu
great issues at stake, it is believed that yor
will esteem it a pleasure to contribute the
small sum asked for, and with promptnes
respond to the Commuters call"
J II does not require much ingenuity of in
tellect to solve u1ls r,Ivoo>-.-r--Ss.-s.-.,,
The principles involved are such as the
may think proper to manufacture from tim
: to time, such as have paralyzed every brancl
of industry, destroyed public confidence AM
brought ruin and distress upon the land
The issues at stake arc but a continuance c
D their lease of power, and further distribr
ton of that patronage which they have use
f for the most corrupt purposes, invariabl
Y placing it "where it would do the mos
: good"
t The mandate has gone forth, so walk
y the captains Office gentlemen and settle.
n may not be the most pleasant duty to pc
e form, but it is desperate resort to save tn
n ship which is shivering and breaking undo
II the gales of popular indignation and fury.