Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-08-07

Political Assessments.

The Journals recollection II democratic doIngs
prior to the advent Of repubcanism, Is AT fault
Nothing Gearing any resemblance To the present
systematic sweeping, indscriminate, fixed per cent
age Assessments OF Office no ders Was ever made by
The democracy. In state or nation, when IN bower
II would have scorbed to raise or to make use OF
corruption fund for the preparation of its rule The
blood money" system Is fungus growth OF modern
republicansm. II must be speedily removed by tue
knife Of reform; otherwise our elective system viii
degenerate into corrupt. wretched aree-T The Ne'c
Aye.
Our recollection of democratic doings"
IL not at fault Is the editor of the New
Age losing his memory that he should make
earnest' And is his robust sense yielding
TO the foolish idea that the democratic
party, while showing itself the same
hoary old sinner that the country has long
known it, can preach reform with success
before the public? When the democratic
party repents of its share in the great re-
ballot frauds. its completely with muir
der and lawless force in order to prevent
fair and free vote in the South. the at
tempted State Steal by Garcelon and
Council in Maine.-when it repents OF
these and other kindred sins sincerely,
the public may listen to its homilies about
reform but not before While the eleven
foot of the old satanic democracy appears
below the garb of the preacher. there is
no prospect of the democratic party being
listened to with respect when it breaches
political reform.
Perhaps we can refresh the recollection
Of the New Age in regard to the practice
Of the democracy before the birth OF the
republican party in the matter of politi-
cal assessments.
In 1889, there was committee raised in
Congress. called the Harlan committee,
to investigate the operations of the demo
cratic party. including assessments made
upon officials. Many witnesses were
called before the committee. one of whom
David S. Lyon. testified as follows:
lwas the nrsf deputy collector of the port of New
York during the whole time Samuel Swariwout wa
SosssiSsi. to pol political OBJECT. white va. deputy
collector. an offcer OF the custom house. Ths
smesat rss trom go TO fIo0. The tax was pro
rod. according to salary. bore proportion frou'
sss % SIR PER eeaf auently paid par, of the
amount. When IL WIS too high and more than !
could afford, urged them TO reduce 1t. In one In.
stance, VII q I Ma assessed 60. Mr.. Swartwout told
the collector Of the that clio enough for me
% pay. For few years back l have no, paid any
thing 10 the general committee, because could not
afford to pay the amount assessed. The
collector Of the Tammany Hall general committee,
ooe az whom John Becker, called on me several
unes william Tyack once or twice called on M,
v collect the amount with which was assessed
general committee. believe that nearly all the 9TH
Of the custom house. In doors and II, and ths
esfks. similarly taxed and generally paid wha
they were assessed. IL Vas asse .sed by the geners
Tie party denominaied the rsmmany Hal party. "
IL Individual did not pay the amount he was taxed
with, the collector would rem ark: You viii DC ne,
ported to general committee and everybody vel
understood thar prescription would follow. IN,
eolleetor Of the general Committee has an alphabet
The amount each individual is required to pay
1srlsa Cos. Rep SIS Hcssfy.tftA Ce"s.. Sd ses
sion, pAsss 80. ssl..
The testimony of others upon the
same subject was like to that of Lyon,
showing that complete system Of polit-
icAl assessments was in force in the dem.
ocratic party at that time including
al subordinate officials and employees. and
that they were obliged to pay or lose their
pisces. If the New Age will search the
ssoords Il win fnd ample proof of the cor
rocGness Of he statement which We made.