The Evening critic., 1884-08-26
THE DUTY TO CONTRIBUTE

mittee.
"The New York Herald continues to say
few words about your committee" said
THE CRITIC reporter to Chairman Clapp,
of the local Republican Finance Committee,
to-day.
"Yes," was tho reply; "and the Wash
ington correspondent Of the New York
Herald has made the usual mistake of men
who seem to feel bound by the considera-
tion of compensation 10 furnish matter for
the press to which they relate, whether they
know anything Of interest to communicate
of not. The Herald man has paid his re-
spects to this committee several times, and
invariably by misreprcsonting its purposes
and its action"
Some of the HIeraId's" bIisrepre.
sentatIOns.
"Will you specify some Of the Herdlds
Misrepresentation
ain tho first place, the Herald is mado TO
allege that the National Republican Com
mittee has violated the Civil-Sorvico law,
and cites the law to provo its allegations.
The misfortune of its allegations Is that
they are based upon false premises, and do
not properly apply to the law at all except
through false assumptions, which were
coined for the occasion. The trouble with
tho Herald man is that ho has misrepre
sentod the committee and has been detected
and exposed in the act, and will not soon
forgive those who have removed his mask.
If he had not been caught masqueradng,
exposure might have been averted The
best way TO avoid being caught in misrep-
resentation is to deal only in facts; then
there is no danger"
"What seems to be the matter with the
Herald W
"The purpose of the Herald seems to be
to cripple the Republican caase by captur-
ing or cutting of tho supply Of its legiti-
mate war material. For more than fifty
years both the great political parties have
sought contributions from their respective
partisans to supply the sinows of war;
where the Contribution Custom
Orig ginatcd.
Did the custom originate with the Ro.
publican party?'
mo. 1t originated with the Democratic
party more than half century ago, aud
since tho Republican organization came
into existence, nearly thirty years ago, 1t
has studied the methods and resources OF
the adversary, and SO far as regarded legiti-
mate has profited thereby
an other words, you have beat them at
their own gameY
Eyes, the inventors OF this mode Of polit-
ical warfare have boon outilanked by their
pupils and have been hoist by their own
petard."
"And they do not like it, do they?"
Indeed they do not. Now, such methods
are declared corrupt by their inventors,
and the demand is piously made that the
thing must be stopped, or somebody will
be landed in tho penitentiary. Innocent
lie -
Democracy, may they escape the prison
house,
There is no doubt about tho Democrats
being genuine reformers, Is there?"
"Ob, no. Having forfeited power In the
Government by misdeeds 80 ilagrant as to
challenge public condemnation and con-
dign punishment, attended by expulsion
from confidence and trust, the Democrats
have turned reformers. They demand that
the people, and especially those who are en-
gagged in the administration Of public af-
fairs, shall not be permitted longer to aid in
securing wise ana just policies in the Gov
ernment by contributing from their own
purses that which they have honestly earn
ed, and which belongs to themselves and to
no one else. This is
The Democratic Reform Idea Of per.
.sOnal Freedom in 1854"
"The Democratic reformers seem to be
willing to advise the clerks as to what they
should do"
"Those clerks in the Departments who
have been educated as Republicans, aud
take pleasure in aiding to perpeiulte Re-
publican principles and policies in the Gov
ernment, are now told by the Democratic
Ieformers that they must cease from max
ing their usual contributions to aid in pro-
noting the success OF that party which
thoir ,Nrinpip1nu &,
corrupt TO do so."
Some of tho clerksliston to tho advice
Of tho Democratic Chairman, do they not ~
The Clerks who object TO Contrib
uting.
There are clerks in the Departments
who hail this cry Of halt with joy. They
are Democrats, who have not now, nor
never had, any sympathy with Republican
principles, but who, through some trick oi
legerdemain, have succeeded in securing
positions under Republican Administra
tion."
Ahopy mons Letter. Writers WhO Say
Overreach Themselves.
what course do they pursue?'
"Those clerks writo the committee, in re
sPonse to circulars sent them soliciting con
tributions to aid tho continuance of powe
in the hands of the party which ia tolsrat
which are always cowardly, in effect tina
they propose 10 contribute to advance tn,
interests of Cleveland. They fancy tina
they will escape discovery, but in that the,
arc liable to discover their mistake when |
is little too late for their comfort an,
safety"
What Makes the "IEeraId'' 80 Zee,
II Ous.
"Why has the Herald become so indig
nant about political contributious?"
"Not for the reason that its moral sonsi
| bilites are shocked, but simply because
| has enlisted in the Democratic cause at q
unfortunate period"
you think the Herald is little bi
sorry for the course it has pursued ?"
"Ycs. 1t sees certain defeat staring it il
| the face, and it is nervous aud iidgety in ID
dismay. IL has resorted to misrepresenta
tiOn In presenting the National Republica
Committee and its aims aud methods to til
public eye, in the hopo of frightening th
subordinates of the Government from thei
proprety and duty in this crisis"
perhaps the Herald thinks that yor
want to do something Illegal ?"
ut knows that no Illegal act ia sought o
them and that none is contemplated o
their part. Tho law will be respected il
spirit and letter. 1t was never the inton
OF the trainers of the Civi-Service law t
make its operations infringe upon tho right
of citizenship by restraining any America
from giving of his means to perpetuate goo
government in tho Republic. II ii ma
such an intent it Is an insult to the ci5ize
and blot upon the statute book of tho M
tion, which should be wiped out"
You evidently do not think that tn
all ID. ht..l ia