The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-06-25
roo lIVCH ZEAL.

Objections multiply within the ranks of
the Republican party itself TO the course of
conduct which the Congressional Campaign
Committee in their zeal have seen fit to
adopt. 1t is not alone the Civil Service
Reformers who object to the ASSESS
ment circular issued by the committee.
1t is opposed on two other grounds; first, lack
of authority in the committee, which is a
mere volunteer concern, not recognized i'll
the organization of the party at large, nor
subject to the control of its voters; and
second, uncertainty as to the application of
the enormous fund of :400, 600 which will
be raised if all the Office holders comply
with the demand made. 1t is pointedly asked,
forinstance, whether the portion oft sent into
Michigan may not be used rather TO aid the
Hubbell boom for the Senate over Mr.. Ferry,
rather than the general good of the party. 1t
is impossible, in the nature of things, that
there should be any account rendered of the
application of such fund, and its donors
are therefore in as complete ignorance of
what becomes of their money as if they had
poured IL ubW IL II idl-HNlt- HIS Is uDt Vi
the evils found by all political parties and
| many other organizations inseparable from
the creation of large funds far away from the
control or supervision of anybody in par
strikers spring up to absorb the money as it
is disbursed, but the tendency is for more
and more of it to stick to the fingers
of those who handle it. This is simple
human nature. The remedy is to avoid
the creation of such enormous funds, dis
proportionate to any Legitimate work which
is properly chargeable to them otherwise
there will always be the sugpicion5 and
scandals which belong TO the " Secret
" Service" Appropriation, the Fcnian and
now the Land League treasury, the " lobby "
funds brought to Washington, and the like.
Another objection comes up from the local
politicians in the States, who complain that
the Congressional committee is leaving them
empty handed by the closeness and strin-
gency of its levy. A case in Baltimore is
cited by the New York Hordld, where postal
clerk finds himself assessed y per cent for
the national campaign, J. per cent. for the
State campaign, and contribution for enter
tanning the Grand Army Of the Republic,
amounting in all to over $40, or nearly hall
his months salary, out of which he still has
to support himself and family.
When these objections are disposed Of,
the Committee will have to meet ques.
tion of privilege expected to be raised in
the House this week, whether members of
the Legislature have the right to all upon
servants Of the L xecutiye, and these the
right to respond in cash to aid the election
of the legislative branch, without an un-
constitutional interference OF one brancl
with the other 1t is evident that they have
no. an easy road before them. The fact i.
| that public opinion ON these matters has
greatly changed since the "Storm and
''Stress period Immediately following the
war, and tactics tolerated then cannot nov
be put in force without evoking an opposition
which more than neutralizes all the good th'
most ardent party man can expect from them
II is apt TO be remembered now that "defraud,
Z" ing laborers Of their wages is one OF TIA,
-four sins that cry to heaven for vengeance.
or what ought TO be the platform and can
didates Of the Democracy Of Pennsylvania
this year the Doylestown Democra has thii
ItO say
Tie platform must no made OF tlmbers sound :,
tho core, aud shapely, There must Lo pledges o
CylI Service Reform, and IN opposition TO the pros
ttuon Of public ofees to partisan schemes, In sucl
plain aud fOrclbls terms tuat they cauno DO misun
derstood. Ana above and beyond this, the candi
dates mus bo men who win carry out these pledge
10 the letter Tho convention should declare agans
monopoly, next TO Dosiisn tho wlckedest enemy o
republican government. II cannot AFFORD 10 take on
backward step on this vital question
And this brings up the query whether th'
editor of this journal, the gallant, twice
wounded General w. w. II. Davis, would no