The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-06-22
hat Assessment.
A Rebuke of Political Cant.
Boston Trayeller.l


Political can't would seem to be epidemic.
Just at this writing the topic on which large
number of our contemporaries have caught the
prevailing epizootic,o moral snufles, is the as
sessment question. The Republican Congress
ional Committee is respectable body of Re-
publicans gathered from every State in the Un-
ion, and organized for the express purpose OF
seeing to it that Republican member is elect
ed to Congress from every district in which 1t
is possible to elect one. In order to do its work
it must have money; money tospay for printing
documents by the hundreds of thousands, to
pay for distributing them after they are print
ed to pay the cost of sending good stump speak
ers into close districts, and hundred other
necessary and Indispensable campaign expend-
itures. Now, then, this money must be raised
and as it is for the purpose of electing Repub-
lican Congressman, Democrats cannot Dc e1-
pected to contribute That excludes nearly
one-half the nation from the subscription, and
would seem to make it clear that if Republican
Congressman are to be elected in doubtful dis
tricts at all, Republicans must be relied upon
to foot the bills. That being the plain, simple,
unmistakabe fact the only question remain
ing is one of how Republicans shall be appeal
ed to-. The Congressional Committee steps in
at this point, and sends the following straight
forward and proper circular to the Republicans
who happen to be oficeholders:
HEADQUARTERS REPUBLICAN
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE, I
WASHINGTON, May ~
This committee is organized for the protection OF
the interests of the Republican party in each Oh the
Congressional districts of the Union. In order that
it may prepare print and circulate suitable docu-
mepts Illustrating the issues which distinguish the
Republican party from any other, and may meet all
proper expenses incident to the ecampaign the COM
mttee feel authorized to apply to all citizens whose
principles or interests involved in the struggle
Under the circumstances in which the country finds
itself placed the committee believe that you viii es
taem + both a PRIVILEGE and pleasure to make to
its fund contribution which it is hoped may not De
less than - dollars. The committee is author
lied to state that such voluntary contribution from
persons employed in the service of the United
States viii not be objected to in any official quarter
The abors of the committee VIII aitscI tne Tesuit %
the Presidential election in 1884, as well as the
Congressional struggle and 1t may therefore, rea-
soHably hope to have the sympathy ana assistance
of all who look with dread upon the possibility OF
the restoration of the Democratic party to the con-
troll of the government. Please make prompt ana
favorable responses to this letter py pank cneeh "
draft or postal money order payable to order OF Jay
A. Hubbell, Acting Treasurer, L. y. BOX, oo9,
By order of the Committee,
D. b. HENDERSON, Secretary.
No sooner il this circular issued than every
journalistic baby in the Independent Orphan
ASYLUM lets go the nozzle OF his feedlng-Dottle
and begins to squawk. One infant calls II a
summons to 'stand and deliver" and likens 1t
the wood calls it dblackmail," and then they
all go into commissions over this latest exhlp!-
ton of "the infamous spoils system" What is
it all about? If the circular printed above is
read from end to end there is Aot one word IN
it about Assessment" nor is there the least
~ T. nfxTtf 10
pain or penalty in case a remittance does not
follow No threat is mades nor is any implied.
1t is a plain direct, honest and legitimate re-
quest addressed by committee OF Republicans
to a large body of Republicans scattered
through the different States to give to cause
which both those who send and those who re-
ceive the circular may be fairly presumed to
have equally at heart. The assumption that
the money is in any sense extorted from office.
holders is not sustained by the facts. several
destinations to contribute have, as we happen
to know, been already received, and NOBODY
has been removed in consequence. Besides this
appeal for money to Republicans in otf1ce,
there will be, as there always have been, ap-
peals for still larger amounts to Republic ans
out of Office Every candidate who runs Tor
Office will be asked to help bear the burden OF
electing him, and his fellow citizens OF his po-
ljtical faith will be asked to add their quota
for the same purpose. And they Will 40 IL vol
UNFAIRLY and literally in majority OF cases.
Why, them shall 1t De assumed that hoPupii-
cans in the service of the government are less
willing to support their party, and uphold 1t
against the Democratic enemy, than other Re-
publicans who are not in the service OF the gov
eminent?
Finally, the President and the Administra-
ton have been held up to public condemnation
by the Independent and mock-turtle Kepubll-
can press for having sanctioned this circular
Great stress is laid, in this connection, upon
the following passage in the circular above
quoted:
The committee is authorized 20 state that sucn
voluntary contributions from persons employed IN
the service of the United States will not be objected
to in any official quarter
That sentence has been rolled as sweet NOR
ed "There is the ear-mark of President Ar
thur, and that is what Stalwart Administra-
ton means" Not SO fast, brethren, please!
That sentence was not put in there at Presi-
dent Arthur's instance at all, and he has moth
ing to do with sending out the circular anyway
The fact is that the smooth and unctuous para
graph at which mock-turtle Republicanism is
now standing aghast with horror was dictated
personally by President Hayes 1t is copied,
boldly 0erbdtiDl ct literdtina, from the circular
sent out by the committee in 1880, and Ruther-
ford B. Hayes was its author. We shall not
waste space arguing that Mr.. Hayes was good
man, pure man in facta particularly pure"
man. If anybody doubts it we shall turn him
over to be dealt with as he deserves by the val
ued Herald.