, 1882-10-14
n. u.. Of eovs-An.r. Pa.rosase.

The following letter from the pen OF
Daniel Webster, is being printed e1ten-
sively in the east, as q subject for medi-
tstion tomorrow that being the day set
for the memorial services, at Marshheld,
Massachusetts,
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, March 20, 1S4l-
To the Hon. Thomas Ewing, Secretary Of
the Treasury: Sir,-The President IS OF
opinion thar il is great abuse to bring the
patronage of the general government into
conflict with the freedom of elections, and
that this abuse ought TO be corrected
wherever il NAV have been permitted to
exist. and SO be prevented for the future
He. therefore, directs that information be
giyen to all officers and agents l.: your
department. Of the public service, that
partisan interference in the popular eiec-
tions. whether Of State otbeers or OF offl-
cers of the Federal government, and Tor
whatsoever and against Whomsoever 1t
NAV be exercised, or the payment OF any
contribution or assessment on salaries or
official compensation for party or election
purposes, will be regarded by him as cause
for removal Ii is not intended that any
officer shall be restrained IN the free and
proper expression and maintenance Of
his opinions respecting public men or pub
lie measures or in the exercise to the fuli-
est degree Of the constitutional rights OF
suffrage; but persona employed under the
government and paid for their services
out of the public treasury, are not expect
ed to take an active or oficlous part, or
attempt to influence the minds or votes Of
others, such conduct being deemed incon
sistent with the spirit of the constitution
and duties of public agents working under
il: and the President is resolved, so far
% depends upon him, that, while the ex-
ercise Of the elective franchise by the
people shall be free from undue influence
of official station or authority, opinions
shall also be free among the officers and
agents of the government. Similar letters
have been addressed to other heads OF
departments. | have the honor to be, sir,
your obedient servant,
DANIEL W EBStER-
At the time Mr.. Webster wrote the
above letter, the political parties possess
ed enough of the moral element, 10 pre-
sent refreshing contrast to what is now
recognized as the status Of politics, and
hence, there was some purport to letter
of this nature. and from such command
ing source. But We very much doubt, If
Mr.. Webster, we're he alive and in the
possession of his faculties, would now rec
ognize either the necessity or utility of
such letter. He would see at glance,
that both parties have virtually abandoned
all the original doctrines, and, like the
churches, which have forsaken the stereo-
typed and straight-laced usages OF the
Puritan, have gone masqueradinS for that
which is of more utility, if not more
moral. He would find that both parties,
the Republican and the Democrat, have
concluded that the elections are to be de-
cided by the use Of money. Ii might be
that he would feel that such status does
not indicate a very exalted type of public
morality, that it did indicate degenera-
ton into a mere association OF spolls and
office-seekers, but some pot-hOuse pollti-
clan would tell him that money was the
proper sinew Of politics as well as WAT,
and ask him, "What are you going to dc
about it ;"
If this is true, and it will hardly be
doubted, why should the oflice-hoider,
any more than the private citizen, be ex
empt from paying his quota towards keep,
ing his party, and as natural conse'
auence, himself. in office. Indeed to de-
prive these ofice-hoiders of such priyl'
lege in an intermeddling paternalIsm, that
Mr.. Webster himself wculd not patiently
tolerate. After all, there is an exceedingly
small advantage FOR either party IN TIN:
business. 1t is so small that you could
Jam it into a gnats eye. During the adj
ministeration of Buchanan, the office
holding Democrats we're regularly assessed
for the good Of the cause. Mr.. Webster
was a great man, but ne lived Ill the
green-bay tree time Of politics.