The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-16
DORSEY TO MARTIN.
A Vain Search for kecords-The Ingratitude
of Committees and Parties,

A vain Search for hecOrds-The Ingratitude
of Committees and Parties.
WASHINGTON, June 15.-Ex-Senator Dorsey
has written the following letter to the
newly-elected secretary of the Republican
national committee:
General John A Martin, Atchisou Kan;
Dear Sir-At time when l was confined
in dark room, not able to see the walls
that surrounded me- 1 received letter from
you which l answered by dictation, as l
have been obliged to do for months.
supposed my answer was sent you; but it
turns out the stenographic notes were never
transcribed. l regret this for the reason
that L would not wish to feel guilty of dis
courtesy to man who has always been Just
to me-.
when I was appointed secretary of the
Republican national committee at the re-
quest OF General Garfield. and accepted the
place at the earnest solicitation of General
Arthur, representing the Grant side
William E. Chandler representing
the Blaine side, 1 made the same
request of Governor Mccormick, who was
my predecessor, that you have made of me.
had at that time fanciful notion that
record had been kept of the Republican
party that showed its life and purpose, that
would leave permanent history of its hon
orable existence, and what had transpired
in 1885, 1860, 1864, 1868, and 1872;
that the record belonged to the Republican
national committee, and that the Secretary
was the proper custodian of it. The answer
l received from Governor Mccormick was
that no record had been kept; that bonfire
OF forgetfulness was built to eat up what we
had right to assume to be the evidence of
honesty at the end OF each campaign.
BY great mass of people Of intelligence
in the north it is believed now, and will be
believed for all time, that there is not a
a ;y,o
that will show wrongful act on the part of
any person charged with the duty of repre-
sentlng the Republican party during
national campaign. Mr.. Chandler was un-
questionably the ablest man who ever served
as an executive officer of the Republican ma
uonal committee being one of the first, if
not the very first, who was recognized as the
real head of the Republican party in tho
sphere assigned him. 1t was, therefore,
only proper that those who followed him
should be governed by the precedents he laid
down. Mr.. Chandler gave Governor Nc
IN response to letter similar to the one
you have written me- told me he
had no records to give. They were
my predecessors, and you are my
successor. have nothing more to give to
you than they had to give to me- | have a
great mass of papers relating to the last
campaign. They are chiefly made up OF let
ters addressed to me and letters written by
me to Others in which no one could
have the slightest interest except
to obtain curious information. When L
accepted the secretaryship, made it a con-
dition that not penny of the money sub
scrlbed for political purposes should come
into my hands, and there never was dollar
of the subscribed funds received by me or
paid out by me personally. Money was used
under my direction, but all my personal
expenses and the expenses of clerks
serving with me were paid from INV own
pocket, amounting to something over $l3, 600.
L say this much lest you might think | have
records showing receipts and expenditures in
1880. The only records have of that kind are
paid checks OF my own contribution, and
unfortunate bank books showing the charges
for my own folly. | regret more than | can
tell that | made it possible that such records
should have been in my hands, but they are
here, and | think best to keep them as a re-
minder OF the splendid gratitude of dis
honest power. | do not owe the Republican
national committee a cent of money
or a grain of thankfuness Ir the midst of
the storm brought about by efforts | had
put forth under its direction and
in Its behalf, n brutal assault was
made upon me at the last
meeting Of the committee, when | was not
present to defend myself. Not one among
the forty members present had the courage
or manhood to resent the miserable cow
ardce OF an ambitious hypocrite But never
mind that; the balance-Sheet of Justice will
some time be written by a hand of honor
So far as you are personally concerned, if
there is any paper in my possession, or any
suggestion can make that you think will be
useful to you, will ne gratilied TO respond
to your call. Sincerely yours,
STEPHEN w. Dorsey"