Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-07-03
Extracts from Senator Halc's
Speech upon Political Assess
mcntS.
The Congregational Circular.

defy the Senator from Ohio or any man,
whoever he may be. either in this little cir
cular or any correspondence of the commit
tee, or any resolution of the committee, or
any utterance of any single member Of the
committee, or of the whole republican caucus
that constituted the committee, to find any
where single act indicating that the screws
were to be put upon men; but we have gone
out just men go out in other fields, just as
men go out in voluntary associations and ask
the members, when an emergency arises, il
they are willing to give, just as church and
parish organizations are conducted. Does
the Senator know that in running a society,
whether it be social, educational, or religious,
If an emergency arises, if a conflict impends,
IL means are legitimately needed, the men
that are naturally sought are the men who
belong to the association? Does he know
that no man considers himself, to use his
language, degraded and insuted because he
has the opportunity offered him?
This thing has always been done, and if
the Senator from Ohio ever becomes the
President Of the United States, the head of
his party. with the distribution of patronage
and the control of patro age, he will find
that il will be done then as il was always done
by the democratic party.
The Democratic Doctrine.
the democratic party gained power and had
control and possession of the employees of
the government and all its offices that the
policy 1t pursued-even since, when it has
been In the majority-was outlined by 4 dis
tinguished statesman from New York, who
then was, and afterw ard continued, one of the
brightest and ablest and most influential of
the statesmen Of that party. i refer to Gov
ernor Marcy. What does he say in that famous
utterance Of his, part of which has become
an epigram for democratic spoilsmen:
When they
Says Governor Marcy. speaking from
democratic standpoint in power and not out
of power
when they politiciansl con,endins Tor victor.
they their intention OF enjoying the fruits OF
t. II they defeated they expect to retire from
oince II they are successful. they claim, AZ mat
nothing wrong In the rule that TO fhe rcfors belong
the spofss Of the enemy.
Mr.. President, there has never been any
cardinal doctrine 80 dear to the democratic
soul. so ripe for the democratic mouth,
so grateful for democratic contemplation,
whether the Senator from Ohio understands
il or not, as that old-fashioned doctrine Of
Governor Marcy, that ito the victors belong
the spoils." 1t has always followed rs a
matter of course that when inaugurated in
power upon that basis, with the spoils con-
sidered as belonging to them, there never
has been time when the spoils have not
been levied upon and taxed and tithed with
out stint or mercy for political purposes at
the risk and expense Of removal on the part
of the persons holding their places. The in
vestigations which have taken place show
this to be the fact.
am not urging this in the line Of declar-
ing that the republicans have any right to fol-
low the extreme courses Of the democratic
party, but as the Senator from Ohio has in
dulged in an eloquent panegyric ~ to the
virtues of the democratic party during its
power. and has defied any man to accuse it
Of degrading itself and the men in Office bv
assessing them, or by using the spoils of
those Offices, speak now in answer to his
claims.
Campaign Funds In Maine.
The Senator sAlks about the degradation
which comes both to the giver and taksr be-
cause of these contributions, and he through
out his speech continually dwelt upon the
enormous funds which have been raised for
degrading American politics. Does the SEN
ator from Ohio, do you, sir, or do many Sem
ators know the comparatively insiRnificant
amount that II derived from such contribu.
tions e. these? Does he know that when
any amount that Is raised BY such contribu-
lions 10 put in the scale against the debauch-
cry Of the franchise by other methods, il is
nothing hut dust in the BALANCED Do you
~ that the River and taker are degraded BY
these voluntary, almost insignificant con
srib0tious 70 = political fund? Ny colleague
md have known for yeafs earnest and we'll