The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-09-13
The ssspoils,, System.

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mouths of those who now turn every
stump and newspaper into wailing
place. When last in control of public
patronage, Democracy levied assess
ments in the meanest and most compul-
sorry manner, as proven by the Covode
report, and the same would be true If
they ever again get the opportunity.
The present cry is the cry of "a lusty
Pharisee, deceives nobody. and can add
nothing to an intelligent reform Of any
phase of the system.
For the sake of argument, let 1t be
admitted that political assessments are
made and enforced by the Republican
party managers against the office-hold-
ers under its control. What practical
evils result therefrom? Is the Revenue
\ Department eofrupt2 Are til reeeipts
stolen or squandereds The last report
shows that every cent was accounted
for. Not one dollar was lost, and the
per cent of cost OF collection lower than
ever in the history of the Government
Is the mail service inefficient? 1t is an
undisputed fact that that branch of the
service was never more faithful and dill
igent than it is to-day. These are the
two great departments in which the
assessments are said to be levied
upon employees to the debauching of the
service.
But having admitted, for sake of
argument, that assessments are being
levied and collected by Republican
managers, we unqualifedly deny that
such is the fact. Not one cent has ever
been required at the hands of any
Government employe by the Republic
an party, or by any person authorized
to act for it. Neither has any such en-
ploye suffered in any manner whatever
in case he refused to accede to any de-
mand or solicitation for contribution to
carry on campaigns. This has been as
serted openly by men of as high charac-
ter as those who bring the charges, and
no one has been able to successfully
contradict it or to point out a solitary
instance in which any one has lost his
position because of such refusal. Let
US admit what has never been denied,
and see what can be made out of the
fact that circulars have been distributed
among Government employees asking the
contribution of a specific sum. 1t has
been claimed. and stands without con-
tradiction, that no harm to the employe
results from refusal. Indeed, he has
been and is now protected in his refusal
by the highest officers of the Govern
ment- The evil must, therefore, be in
sending out the circulars. There are,
say, 100000 Government employees.
What is their politics? They are Re-
publicans mostly How did they hap
pen to become Government employesa
The Republican party carried the last
election. Why? Because a majority
OF the people thought it was the best
party soliciting their suffrage, and the
principles represented by It were pre-
ferable to those of any other organiza-
ton. Very well. Now, if majority
of the people favor the Republican
party as the best in existence, it is not
strange that a majority should desire its
perpetuation. Nor is it strange that
the officeholders should wish to see it
kept in power. To accomplish this
desired end, it is necessary that MANY
legitimate expenses be met, and money
must be raised. This is done by all
parties all over the country, and men in
all branches of business, from the pull
pit to the peanut stand, are solicited to
aid in the work. 1t is puerile to talk of
elections without money. The real
question swhat is done with the money.
If it be used to corrupt the suffrage the
voice of all men. of all parties, should
be raised against such a crime. But
there are legitimate expenses that must
be met, and there is no good reason why
Government employees should not share
the burden the same as private citizens
and men who do not directly profit by
the party's triumph. Neither is there
any good reason why they should be for
hidden to give what they please for that
purpose, and it is more than imperti-
nent-it is dangerous to the existence
of a proper spirit of personal inde-
pendence among holders of office
that they should be denied by written
or unwritteu law the exercise of every
right enjoyed by the non Office holding
class. 1t is properand necessary that in
the discharge of his public duties the
Federal office-holder should ignore pol
itics, and no charge is made that he
does not. But when it comes to elect
ing whether this or that party shall
rule, this or that principle shall prevail,
or that he shall give allegiance and in
rfiuence to this or that party. it is wholly
a different matter, and his rights as a
private citizen cannot be abrogated. He
has just as much right to contribute
money to the campaign fund as has
anybody, and men of all parties, in the
interests of independent citizenship,
should unite in defending this right
More than this the Republican party
does not claim nor expect. It has asked
contributions of Federal employees be-
cause it had the right to do so. 1t has
done so through printed circulars, be-
cause it was the cheapest way. 1t ney-
er has made compliance compulsory,
and in no instance has any employe
suffered on account of refusal. If the
contrary is true, it will be easy to prove
it, for no one is quicker to complain
than the sorehead politician or dis
missed employe.
In this connection wespublish COM
munication from an employe In the rail-
way mail service during the past eight
years. He says he has received q
number of notices of two per cent.
assessments as they are called, from
the Congressional Committee, and has
never paid one cent, nor in any way
paid any attention to them. He SAYS
further: 81 commenced on the lowest
salary, and have been promoted to the
highest on the road. l have received
FIVE promotions. / have asked for
neither of them. nor has my Congress
man interfered in my behalf or known
of my promotion until after l had re-
eeiyed my commission
The cry against thu Republican party
over the "spoils systcmn arises either
from the opposition. hungry for a
chance to put into National operation
the scandalous plan in vogue during the
days of Democratic supremacy that
called forth the Coyode report, or from
| hypercritical reformers who would
make office-holders either demigods or
coIorless eunuchs, apart from the great
body of the people, and deprive them
of interest in or right to engage in the
HIGHEST duties that belong to the citi-
zens of a free republic. Indianapolis
Journal.
-Forewomen in Toronto shoe fac
tories have peculiar methods of punish