The Evening critic., 1883-06-16
REPUBLICAN PARTY RECORDS.
Ex-senator DOrsey's Reply 10 MIR.
Martins Request For Them.


Martins Request For Them.
General John A. Martin, Of Kansas, the
successor Of ex-senator Dorsey on the Re-
publican National Committee, having made
request for the books and papers of the
committee, the ex-senator has replied as
follows:
General John A. Martin, Atchison, Hdn..
DEAR SIR: AT the time when was confined
In q dark room, not able to see the walls that
which answered by dictatlon, as have been
obliged to do for many months.
prns duf tbat ,Se stenowrssSic notss wsre ~
never transcribed. regret this for the reason
that 1 would not wish to feel guilty of dis
courtesy to man who has always been Just
to me.
When was appointed secretary of the Re-
publican National Committee at the request of
General Garfield, and accepted the place at tho
earnest solicitation of General Arthur, repre-
senting the Grant side OF the house, and the
Hon. William E. Chandler, representing the
Blaine side, made tho same request of Gov
ernor Mccormick, who was my predecessor,
that you have made of me.
had, at that time fanclful notion that a
record had been kept OF the Republican party
that showed Its life and purposes, and that
would leave n permanent history of Its honor
able existence, and OF what had transpired In
1856, 1860, 1864, 1868, and 1872, and that
that record belonged to the Republican Ma
uonal Committee, and that the secretary was
the proper custodian OF 1t. The answer re.
record had been kept; that bonfire OF forget
fulness was built to eat up what we had the
right to assume TO be the evidence OF honesty
at the end OF each campaign.
By the great mass OF the people OF intelll-
gence In the North 1t is believed now, and Will
be believed for all time, that there is not a
scrap, word, dot, or line In any record
that will show q wrongful act on the part of
any person charged with the duty OF repre-
senting the Republican party during Ma
Mr., Chandler was unauestionably tho ablest
man who served as an executive of1icer OF the
Republican National Committee, being one of
the first, IL not the very FIRST, who was recog-
nized as the real head OF the Republican party
In the sphere assigned him. It was therefore
only proper that those who followed him
should be governed by the precedents no laid
| down. Mr.. Chandler gave Governor McCor.
| mick no records. Governor Mccormick, In re.
sponse 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. I have nothing moro to give to you
| than they had to give to me.
| the last campaign. They are chiefly made up
| OF letters 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 accepted the secretary
| ship made 1t condition that not a penny of
money subscribed for political purposes
| should come into my hands, and there never
was dollar of subscribed funds received by
me or paid out by me personally. Money was
used under my direction, but all my personal
1
| ing with me, were paid from my own pock.
| etc, amounting to something over $4,000.
cay this much lest you may think that
have records showing the receipts and expen.
ditures of 1880. The only records OF that
| kind have are the paid checks OF my own
| contribution, and the unfortunate bank book
showing the charges of my own folly.
| regret moro than can tell that made 1t
possible that such records should be in my
hands, but they are here, and think best tc
keep them as a reminder of the splendid graf
| itude of dishonest power. I do not owe the
Republican National Committee cent OF
money or q grain Of thankfulness. In the
| midst of a storm brought about by the efforts
had put forth under Its directions, and In
Its behalf, 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
cowardice Of an ambitious hypocrlte. But
never mind that. The balance sheets Of jus.
tice Will some timo be written by the hand OF
| honor.
SO far as you are personally concerned, II
there is any paper in my possession, or any
suggestion can mako that you think Will be
| useful to you, Will be gratined to respond
| to your call. Sincerely yours
| STEPHEN W. DORSEY.