The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-10-14
HOW the government is Bum.


E,o,u the Ne,c York San Of October 9:
The patronage and the power of the Coy
srnnoent are openly used Ito keep the hepup-
lican party in Office. This Is the primary
object of the present Administration, ana
Il has been the main object of all its predeces-
sors since the second election of MIR. Lincoln.
The worst methods, however, came IN WIN
Grantism in 1869, and laid the foundation OF
the detestable and destructive system "hicn
has been in operation since that time.
The appointments to Office, the assessments
upon the employees, the distributor u con
tracts, the favors of the Treasury, the honor
able distinctions of the civil service, the pro-
motions in the army and navy, andeyerythlng
else within the control of the executive de-
partment are all appropriated for the party,
and in the interest Of the dispensing power;
In other words, the Government Is converted
into a great machine for continuing the supre-
macy of the Republican party as against all
corners. When ordinary methods tali to Sc
cure majority, fraud is unhesitatingly en-
ployed, as it was in 1876 to steal the Presl-
dency. l43a! .'!
The Republican leaders knew well that IT
Mr.. Tilden entered the White House the rob
berries and the rascalities by which many OF
them had been enriched would be exposed.
They determined on revolution it necessary,
and devises the Great Fraud, with force be-
hind it, and threats of civil war in case OF re-
sistance. The Navy Department was set on
fire three times within few weeks. 1t has
been proved before the Senate investigating
committee that whole pages ofthe great ledgers
of the Treasury were cut out, that enormous
balances were forced, and that there were
erasures and alterations on the books, lnvolv-
ing millions of dollars.
These acts, and others of like character,
are so many confessions of criminality. They
bear witness to the corruption and the crimes
of the party which has debauched the whole
public service, plundered the Treasury OF
untold millions, and established an oligarchy
of officeholders who, with standing army
of more than hundred thousand drilled sub
ordinates, enter States, bulldoze primaries,
purchase delegates to State and local conyen'
tons, forge proxies, and dictate the nomina'
ton of candidates wearing the Administration
collar.
The departments at Washington are the
headquarters of State associations of poll
ticians appointed to clerkships by Senators
and Representatives. These are nine or ter
thousand strong, and their chief business IL
to keep up constant correspondence with
the home managers, to act as secretaries for
members of Congress, and to become prof.
cient in the art of running the machine. They
instruct the Custom House officers, the post
masters and their deputies, the internal revenue
collectors, inspectors, and detectives, the land
officers, the United States marshals and theil
deputies, and the host of agents all over the
Union as to the ''views and policy of the AID
ministration," so that upon given signal thu
| whole force moves with precision upon an
chosen point of attack.
These Republican mercenaries are allowed
thirty days leave of absence every year, witt
| full anth0r1tV law
They draw years salary for eleven months
attendance, and the so-called working time il
about six hours daily, while the actual working
time is less than three hours by general aver
age. At election time ten days leave, witt
pay, is allowed to all the officials at Washing
ton: they are required to go home at their owl
expense and to vote the machine ticket. Any
default, except for sufficient reason, which il
to be made known to the chiefs of the Stat
associations, whose active vigilance is Away
a recommendation for favor, is regarded as
good cause for removal, and is so reported
Deducting Sundays and holidays and includ
ing this permitted absenteeism, the loss of time
in the o-called working hours of each of thes
mercenary soldiers is about two-thirds OF {
year. though each receives pay for three hun
bred and sixty five days. They know tina
members of Congress receive $40 900 for abou
ten months work, and they think the exam
pie is worthy of imitation. The President
the Cabinet, the heads of bureaus, and tn
chiefs of divisions all desert their posts TO
months every year, and demand full pay 70
every hour as if present on duty.
At the present time, the First Comptroller o
the Treasury, the final authority on all disputes
claims and accounts, is stumping Ohio for tn
machine ticket. His assistant is sick, and a
outsider has been appointed from the Presi
dents fishing camp on the Canadian frontie
to do the neglected business as best he may
This is the way the Government machine
run. Suppose millions are stolen; is not tn
Treasury full to overfowing.