The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-07-26
The Congressional Circular.
Senator Hale upon Political Contribu.
tions.

defy the Senator from Ohio or any man,
whoever he may be, either in this little circu-
lar or any correspondence of the committee, or
any resolution of the committee, or any utter
ance of any single member of the committee, or
of the whole Republican caucus that constitut-
ed the committee, to find anywhere a single
act indicating that the screws were to be put
upon men; but we have gone out, just as men
go out in other fields, just as men go out in
voluntary associations, and ask the members,
when an emergency arises, if they are willing
to give, Just as church and parish organizations
are conducted. Does the Senator know that in
running society, whether it it be social, edu-
cational, or religious, if an emergency arises,
if conflict impends, if means are legitimately
needed, the men that are naturally sought are
the men who belong to the association? Does
he know that no man considers himself, to use
his language, degraded and lnsulted because he
has the opportunity offered him?
This thing has always been done. and If the
Senator from Ohio ever becomes the President
of the United st ates, the head of his party,
with the distribution of patronage and the con-
troll of patronage, he will find that it was al
ways done by the Democratic party.
Why, Mr.. President, it was not long after
the Democratic party gained power and had
control and possession of the employees OF the
government and all its offices that the policy it
pursued even since, when it has been in the
naiority-was outlined by distinguished
statesman from New York, who then was and
afterward continued, one of the brightest and
ablest and most influential of the statesmen Of
that party. refer to Governor Marcy. What
does he say in that famous utterance Of his, a
part of which has become an epigram for Dem
ocratic spoilsmen:
When they
Says Governor Marcy, speaking from Dem
ocratic standpoint in power, and not ont Of
power
When they politicians are coDtendng for victory
they their intention of enjoying the fruits of
it, If they are defeated they expect to retire from
office. If they are successful, they claim, mat
ter of right, the advantage of success. They see
nothing wrong in the rule that to victors belong the
spoils of the enemy.
Mr. President there has never been any car
dinal doctrine so dear to the Democratic soul,
SO ripe for the Democratic mouth, so grateful
for Democratic contemplation, whether the
Senator from Ohio understands it or not, as the
old-fashioned doctrine of Governor Marcy,
that ito the victors belong the spos." 1t has
always followed as matter of course that
when inaUgurated in power upon that basis,
with the spoils considered as belonging to
them, there never has been time when the
spoils have not been levied upon and taxed and
tithed without stint or mercy for political pur-
poses at the risk and expense of removal on
the part of the persons holding their place.
The investigations which have taken place
show this to be a fact.
/ am not urging thisin the line of declaring
that the Republicans have any right to follow
the extreme courses of the Democratic party,
but as the Senator from Ohio has INDUCED in
an eloquent panegyric as to the virtues of the
Democratic party during its power, and has de-
fled any man to accuse it of degrading itself
and the mel in Office by assessing them, Or by
using the spois of those offices, speak now in
answer to his claims.
The Senator talks about the degradation
which comes both to the giyer and taker be-
cause of these contributions, and he through
out his speech continually dwelt upon the
enormous funds which have been raised for the
purpose of carrying elections and thereby de-
grading American politics. Does the Senator
from Ohio, do you, sir, OR do many Senators
know the comparatively insignificant amount
that is derived from such contributions if put
in the scale against the debauchery of the fran
chise by other methods, it is nothing but dust
in the balance? Do you say that the giver and
taker are degraded by these voluntary, almost
insignificant contributions to a political fund?
MY colleague ana have known for years ear
nest and well-contested fights in the State of
Maine, where contributions have been raised
upon the one side and upon the other for legit-
innate purposes in campaigns. The State has
front OF 200 miles of seaeoast, and a width as
great, with 400 and odd towns. The plan of
both sides is in great campaigns in Maine, that
no township is so small as to be neglected, but
that the living truth of politics shall be pre-
sented, and the men assembled Gogetheri in pub
lie meetings.
1t is an enthusiastic population. l mean by
that, a people which turns out at its political
meetings with bands of mdsic and flags flying
ON both sides, and professions and organize
a. A l~ffb osa s,,rp nv roid V
innate uses of the party, and in all the contri-
buttons that were ever laid in the State Of
Maine, with that vast field which is worked
over sometimes for six We IS, the aggregate
amount that was ever raised in the State from
all the offices and other sources, as the chair
man of the State committee will tell you, up TO
1880 was less than $4,000 in any one year. Sir,
that was not much more than enough to reach
into the little villages, to furnish money
enough to pay for the posters and the bills to
announce the meetings. 1t is not from such
source that any corruption or harm comes to
the constituency.