Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-05
POLITICAL ASSEsSMENTs.

nc cIOfIS OF Inc hepuDllcan man.
ayers and press to whistle down the storm
of indignation caused by the Hubbell
matchmaking circular are attended with
meager results, confronted as they are by
the unqualified condemnation of the
great body of the people and the uniform
policy of the government from it organi-
cation down to the period in our national
history, when it became necessary, in
order to preserve the Union, to pension
an army of political strikers on the
treasury of the country. Contri-
buttons to defray the legitimate ex-
pense of q political campaign,
have been quite common in the history of
the political contests of the past, and no
exception Is or can be taken to this plan
OF providing for the legitimate expenses
of political campaign at the present
time; but when it comes to assessing a
mans income at the rate of twenty dol
lars on the thousand, and give him the
alternative of submitting to the robbery
or leave the public service, it is no won
der that the people have become alarmed,
and the protests of both the living and
dead arc raised in condemnation of a
system so destructive of the prosperity
and personal rights of the people.
All things considered, the administra-
ton of Mr.. Jefferson was the purest in
the history of the country. No candl.
date for the chief-magistracy of the
country was ever so bitterly assailed, and
certainly no President was ever so tri-
umphantly vindicated by the people, who
used the powers of his position with so
much Difference to the interests of those
who opposed his election. He not only
opposed the displacement of those who
opposed his election, but he took &C.
casion to make it known that no man
would be removed from office who re-
sponded to the requirements of his stand.
ard of honesty. competency and loyalty
to the constitution.
The same is true, save only in degree,
of the much criticised adminstra-
rion of President Taylor. Mr. Webster,
who was at that time Secretary of State.
issued circular, with the Presidents
concurrence, taking strong grounds
against the prostitution of the pu bic
service to the advancement of partisan
interests. With the Inauguration of the
war for the suppression of the rebellion.
however, came also the Inauguration Of
the present system OF political assess.
ments and against the continuance of
which the people of the country are now
in open revolt. The fact that the system
was resorted to by Mr.. Buchanan's adj
ministration IN order to defeat the elec-
ton of Mr.. Douglas, in no wise miticates
the enormity of the crime of those who
are new attempting to blackmail the en-
ployes Of the government in order to de-
feat the will of the people at the ap-
preaching elections. Had no opposi-
ton been offered to the con.
summation of this gigantic swindle, it is
estimated by competent authority that
Hubbell's committee would have realized
at least $4,000 from his two per cent
assessment. When it is taken into con-
sideration that this sum exceeds the an.
nual expense of several of the states of
the Union, the public will be better able
to understand how far such gigantic
corruption fund would go in re-enactine
in the states the terrible reign of terror
and corruption which enabled Dorsey to
defeat the will of the people in the Octo-
Der elections in 1880. 1t is, within the
bounds of reason to say, that
to recognize the right of party
leaders to wiring such
sum of money annually from the en-
ployees of the government, is to virtually
abandon local self. government, and Law
down conditions fatal to the existence of
constitutional government. When this
corrupt system had reached its fiood.tide
during the first term of the Grant admin.
istration, the attention of Senator Wilson.
one of the purest men that ever entered
the public service, was called;to the mat
ter, and in letter to a friend he said:
81 have to state that I b ave nothing to do |
with the assessment of the government efa |