National Republican., 1882-07-08
HuBBELL,s CIRCULAR.
why should Assessments Not he Levied
Tho FaIsehoods OF Curtis.

HuBBELpS CIRCULAR,
why should Assessments Not Tie Levied
The FaIsehoods OF Curtis.
a State or town imposes by statute or ordinance
tax upon Its freeholders TO the end Of maintain
Ing its power TO conserve itself and assure proteo
lion to individuals within its bounds. Such per-
sons as resist the enforcement OF the tax are con-
strained by judicial process to pay II out Of their
pockets or property. They may denounce this
as an invasion Of and subtraction from
their natural rights, but by dwelling within the
State or town they invoke its protection In COM
mon with other folk there they accept the COM
mon obligation to purchase such protection by the
payment Of tax and they find no warrant in
justice and equity for refusing to pay II in the
name OF reform" A few
NEW YORK REPUBLICAN EuNucHs,
chief of whom, or which, rather, is George W.
Curtis, have recently sought TO retrieve their con-
tinuous failures in the politics Of that State and to
crafty their spleen toward the party at large be-
cause II cherishes and promotes a better order Of
men, by visiting their reprobation upon q cir
cular Issued TO government officials by Chair
man Hubbcll Of the Republican Congressional
committee, and inviting contributions to q
campaign fuud. We need not say that this
has been the custom of parties for many years. 1t
Is alleged by Curtis that the circular imports
moval from place. This is a bald faIsehood: but
Curtis is again of service, MS he has often been to
the Democracy in uttering 1t, and, naturally, that
party having reached insolvency rs to political
capital, is only too glad to avail itself of any
resource for November purposes. Hence, we are
NOT SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT
" "Pendleton made speech upon the subject, and
with much damage to the Republicans, and the
Democrats did good days work so far as making
political capital is concerned" This gentleman,
despite his new annual caprice as to finances is
distinguished Democrat and an exemplary gentle
man; but for the last eighteen months has been
posturing as ciyil-service reformer with an
reformer" because of what he has ignomini-
ously failed TO accomplish against brainier men
in New York; Pendeton because ofwhat he wants
1t may be an undue measure of charity to say that
Curtis, who. like Pendeton seeks to force "ciyil-
service reform" So called, as the paramount issue
in 81 is unconsciousy an instrument of the latter
TO incite revolt in Republican ranks Pendleton
can have
THIS OSCAR WILDE OF POLITICS
and all whom he may allure away; his platitudes
are pretty and will furnish humor to a common
sense people, who cannot recall when Pendleton
was ever before in the throes of reform. For many
years the party, for whose Presidential nominal
ton he hungcrs, has declared as cardinal dogma
10 the yictors belong the spoils," and those
among whom the spoils were apporioned were
taxed and doubly taxed for campaign purposes
down to the last election during Buchannn's Ad-
minsIration. The discipline imposed upon Off
cial partsans by the Democracy was always arbi-
trary, and is SO now in States and cities where
that party controls. The Swartwouts, Hoyts, Pur.
dys and Tweeds were logical products of this
Democratic system, which in 1S47 impelled an
eminent Southern Democratic Senator to declare
ON THE FLOOR OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE:
81 warn the Democracy of this country, the
people of this country, that they do not know
twentieth part of the corruption, the feculent
rocking corruption in this respect in the govern
that its government and institutions have been
and Will be used as a machine to plunder them
for office. beggars and to perpetuate the possession
OF political power. l s0lemnly believe, If the
people knew the manner in which their govern
ment was conducted, they would kick up a revo-
luton in twenty four hours, which would tumble
tine PRESIDENT, heads of departments, both Houses
OF Congress, Democrats, and Wings, heels over
heads into the Potomac"
AS MR. PENDLEToN WAS THEN SAVED
from this fnte, although q conspicuous Democrat
at that period, he now proposes to court the for
6earance of the people for his party as a zealot
for civil service reform! His stare of horror at
he keep Just so" till the party camera shall be
brought y bear upon him in the national Con-
yention OF lSSi? Mr.. Curtiss sincerity is equally
ture because of the latters mellow promises of re.
form, but offered 10 exception to moneys raised
by political circular, and no candidate ever stood
in sorer need of them. Curtis Iejoced SO much
over Grants defeat at Chicago that he exhibited
no paroxysm of " reform because circulars were
But it happens that a member of the political
wing which held Hayes in disesteem and Curtis
III contempt is
NOW IN THE EXECUTIVE CHAIR,
and with q fair prospect of re election Finding
nothing else to peck at Curtis, the e man. mil
liner" as Conkling dubbed him, goes for The Hub
bell circular. 1t must not be supposed that sub
s'antial responses TO such paper have ever suf-
feed the requirements of the Republican party in
election far from it, The reason of thfs is that
many officials have failed to respond at all because
the circular is an invitation, not n mandate. A
Congressional committee, whose circular 1t is, has
no authority TO enforce assessments; but such
officials as have made contributions have done 50,
not AS officials, but as individuals who believe, as
do thousands of unofficial contributors in their
party and want its purpose encouraged and main
tanned.
MAY NOT A MAN CONTRIBUTE
from his private revenues whether in or out OF
office does official tenure in any wise emasculate
citiZeuZ? President Arthur, in his letter OF ac-
ceptance, ity states this point:
BY the acceptance OF public Offices whether
high or low, one does not, in my judgment, escape
amy of his responsibilities as a citizen and he
should enjoy absolute liberty TO think, and speak, and
act III political matters according TO his own will
faithfiIy, and July discharges ali oiiicai duties
This absolute civic liberty every official has to-
day, be his post what 1t may, and Chairman Hub
bell very properly tells the Curtis gang TO mind its
own business and cease to NEEDLE i'll the matters
OF party whose maJorities have already swept
the members OF the gang out OF doors as nuisances
The Republican party, through its organized COM
mittee, makes an appeal to the option OF its friends
nothing moro. Its historic services to The country
tOrtteS and the approach of an election times the
appeal. 1t mentions
A SPECIFIC AND SLIGHT PER CENT.
in order not to embarrass its friends by reason
Of an excessive contribution; it reasonably as
sumes that they wish their party to triumph
again and to illustrate that wish in practical
WISE it leaves tn EN-, then, to do as they please
Tho tax which citizen pays by virtue of an or
dinance to insure that public tranquility wherein
he finds his own protection, is a Just imposition
Why should a citizen who feels affection for his
party and faith In its administration to the end
of such tranquility be debarred, because he
chances to be in office, from assisting, bya yolun
tary contribution, the very pnrp, Sc TO which the
meddling with correspondence between Mr.. Hub.
bell and his party friends aud forbidding iht
latter from doing what they please with the
own money then reform is charlatanism anC
impertinence.-The Neto Orleans PrOteciioniSt.
An Ex-senator on Woman Suffrage.
Ex-senator James X. Kelly was one of the prin
cipal speakers at a recent reunion of Oregon
pioneers in Portland and in the course of his ad