Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-28
Badly &srrrrsbtt Journal
Aueasss, Wednesday Morning. Dec. 90.


Governor PIaisied's Nominations.
The Argus Of Monday morning comes
70 the support Of Gov. Plaisted's recent
sweeping nominations. by which he makes
his partizansbip conspicuous in every
county in our State. We should have
thought that even the Argus, with the
platforms of the democratic party at the
two last Presidential elections condemning
Gov. Plaisted's remarkable act in adj
vance. and in the face of IFS own fervent
appeals for civil ,service reform, would
have hesitated to endorse. or excuse, or
in the least possible manner appear to
couutepapce the Governors course. The
public has been slow to believe in the
professions of the democracy about elm
mating partizanship from the dispensation
OF official place and public patronage. 1t
will certainly have its skepticism confirmed
and strengthened If the organs of that
party follow the lead Of the Argus in this
matter.
The Argus objects to the terms in
which. in q previous article, we made our
protest against the extreme partisanship
of the Governor in these recent nomina-
tons. We said precisely what we meant
to convey. The old officers should be per-
mitted to remain in their places until the
people can elect. They were chosen by
the popular vote. Their election was the
best expression Of the people in the sew
eral counties as to whom they desired to
ill the Offices that become vacant next
Saturday. We have said, and we say
again. that in democratic and greenback
counties democrats and greenbackers
should be continued. and republicans in
republican counties. until the voters can
have chance to declare their choice at
the ballot-box. But the Governor tramples
upon the reasonable and proper demand
that the term Of these officers should be
heightened out. brings down his broad
axe and ends their official life,
when according to reason, and COM
AAAOn schSC, anu iiSht, anu "choeiA''
professions in regard to civil service
reform, they ought to have their
places until their successors are chosen at
the ballot box next September. That is
what we mean. No intelligent man can
misunderstood US.
We have spoken Of the late speech o.
Gannfnr pand1otNp Af Ohio of tbs
foremost democrats OF the country. in IA
vor of civil service reform. We commend
it to the attention of Gov. Plaisted and the
Argus. In closing that speech Mr.. Pen
dleton. turning to his democratic as
sociates in the Senate. made the following
appeal:
appeal to Senators on this side of tn,
Chamber. We are not in majority, we hav,
no Offices now. The chances of time will
sooner of later, put them in our grasp. Lee
10 now declare that we " i'll have none of thes,
Offices except those which may be won by
merit; let us give this earnest of our sincert,
in a great reform; let us give this token %
the purity and patriotism of our coming al
min istration of the Government; let us con
vince the people, even our opponents, that We
contend for power not that we may ENJOY the
emoluments Of Office, but that we may LEAD
the country in the pathways Of advancement
and benefcence under the inspiration of q
true democracy. This patronage. however
pleasant for the moment is a snare and q
curse to any man OF party. Let us put it be
hind us now let us destroy it now let us dc
the right now, and we will in the future real
our full inestimable reward in having disen
vaRed our marty and our President from in
huences which will surely plant the seeds Of
early defeat in our coming victory. and il
having saved our country from the peril;
which row environ it.
What mockery after such an appea
rs the above to place the democratic party
honestly on civil service reform plat
form that means something. is the act Of
Governor Plaisted in his sweeping parti
san course!