Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-06-24
The Assessment QuestiOn-POliti-
cal Cant Rebuked.
From the Boston Traveller

Political cant would seem to be epidemic.
Just at this writing the topic on which large
number of our contemporaries have caught
the.prevailing epizootic, or moral snuffies, is
the assessment question. The Republican
Congressional Committee is a respectable
body of republicans gathered from every
State in the Union, and organized for the ex-
press purpose of seeing to it that a republi-
can member is elected to Congress from every
district in which it is possible to elect one.
In order TO do its work it must have money;
money to pay for printing documents by the
hundreds of thousands, to pay for distribut-
ing them after they are printed, to pay the
cost of sending good stump speakers into
close districts, and hundred other necessary
and Indispensable campaign expenditures
Now, then, this money must be raised, and "a
il is for the purpose of electing republican
congressman, democrats cannot be expected
to contribute. That excludes nearly one-halt
the nation from the subscription, and would
seem to make ii clear that if republican con
grcssmen are to be elected in doubtful dis
tricts at all, republicans must be relied upon
to foot the bills. That being the plain. sim
pie, unmistakable fact the only question re-
naming is one of how republicans shall be
appealed to. The Congressional Committee
steps in at this point and sends the following
straightforward and proper circular to the re-
publicans who happen to be officeholders
HEADQUARTERS REPUBLICAN,
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE,
WASHINGTON. May ~
This committee IL organized for the protection of
the interests Of the Republican party in each Of the
Congressional districts of the Union In order that
1t may prepare print and circulate suitable docu
ments Illustrating the issues which distinguish the
Republican party from any other and NAV meet all
proper expenses incident to the campaign, the COM
mittee feel authorized to apply to all citizens whose
principles interests involved In the struggle
Under the circumstances in which the country finds
itself placed the committee believe that you will es
TEEN II both privilege and a pleasure TO make to
its fund contribution which IL is hoped may not be
less than---dollars. The committee Is author
lied TO state that such voluntary contribution fror
persons employed in the service of the United State.
will not be objected to in any official quarter. The
labors Of the committee will affect the result OF the
Presidential election In 1884, as well ms the Con.
gressiona struggle and may. therefore, reasonably
hope to have the sympathy and assistance Of all who
look with dread upon the possibility of the restoration
Of the Democratic party TO the control Of the
ment. Please make prompt and favorable responses
to this letter by bank check draft postal money
order payable to order OF Jay A. Hubbell, Acting
Treasurer, r. o. Box, $50, Washington.
BY order Of the Committee,
Cd. X. HENDERSON, Secretary.
No sooner is this circular issued than every
journalistic baby in the Independent Orphan
Asylum lets 20 the nozzle of his feeding-bo
tie and begins to sQuawk. One infant calls
it summons to "stand and deliver" and
likens it to highway robbery: another of
these babes Of the wood calls it ''blackmail,' -
and then they al! go into commissions over
this last exhibition of ''the infamous spoils
system" What 10 it all about? If the circular
printed above is read from end to end there
is not one word in it about assessment" nor
ia thaya tho los hint that n holy vi
it 10 under any pain or penalty in case a remit
lance does not follow. No threat is made,
nor is any implied. 1t is plain, direct, hon.
est and legitimate request, addressed by
committee of republicans scattered through
the different States to give to a cause which
both those who send and those who receive
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 Of
fee, there will be, as there always have
been, appeals for still larger amounts to re.
publicans out Of Office. Every candidate who
runs for Office will be asked to help bear the
burden of electiny him, and his fellow citi.
zens of his political faith will be asked to add
their quota for the same purpose. And they
will do it voluntarily and literally in a ma
jority of cases. Why, then, shall it be as
sumed that republicans in the service of the
government are less willing to support their
party. and uphold it against the democratic
enemy, than other republicans who are not
in the service of the government?
Finally, the President and the Admnistra
ii, n have been held up to public condemna
ton bv the Indepentlcnt and mock turtle re-