The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-07-15
A SPEECH FROM LOGAN.
The Shams OF the Democratic Ad-
mrnistration Dissected.

The shams of the Democratic Ad-
mrnistration Dissected.
BosToN, July 2.--General Logan
remarked to a friend the other day
in Portland that some people in
Boston seemed to regard him as an
ignosamus who could hardly write
his name, but that he proposed to
show them in the address which he
was to make before the Norfolk Club
that he did not quite deserve the
title of " illiterate fellow" applied to
bim last fall by one of the leading
Boston Mugwumps. His opportu-
nifty came tonight, and he kept his
promise. The dinner, which was
the occasion of the address, was at
tended by as distinguished a gather
ing of Republicans as could be
brought together in the State, the
$50 gentlemen who sat at the tables
including the Governor, the Lieu
tenant Governor. Ex-Governor Long
and Senator Hoar. Mrs. Logan, so
numerous were the calls for her,
was obliged to appear for moment
at the preliminary reception, where
she was given a most enthusiastic
greeting.
At the dinner the sentiment of the
company was admirably expressed
by Ex-Governor Long, when In be-
ginning his speech he said:
join heartily in the welcome to
General Logan. l doubt if he alto
gether knows how general and cor
dial was the feeling here of satisfac-
ton at his recent reelection to the
United States Senate, not only with
Republicans, but to very consider
able extent with Democrats and
Mugwumps also. they very properly
having at heart more confidence in
our side than in their own. 1t was
good victory, and We all rejoice
with the General in il; and yet it
was to be expected that one should
be able to go from Springfield to
Washington whose black plume had
waved at Sherman's side in the
march from Atlanta to the sea.
THE CIVIL SERVICE QUESTION.
General Logan, who was received
with enthusiasm, devoted the open
ing paragraphs of his speech to
Massachusetts and Massachusetts,
men, prominent among whom were
those who had devoted themselves
to education. This led him to speak
of the importance of aiding educa-
ton in the South, so that the en-
franchised negroes might be enabled
to secure for themselves the rights of
citizens, of which they are now de-
prived. Concerning the offices and
the Civil Service Reform law. he
said
When the law was passed the in
tention was to put into the positions
to which the law applied such per-
sons as were found TO be best quail
fed to perform the duties required,
and also to retain in position such
persons as were well qualified and
found to have faithfully performed
their duties. The law is now being
construed, however, to the effect that
a person who voted the Republican
ticket at the last election committed
a crime against the peace and digni-
ty of the Democratic party-a new
offense heretofore unknown to law or
politics, to wit offensive partisan
ship" In the proceedings against
persons who are supposed to com.
NIT the offense, the secret accusa-
ton, the testimony and trial pre-
ceding the conviction and execution
SAVIOR of the Star Chamber. A man
may have rebelled, or, being in the
North. may have sympathized with
rebellion against the Government.
He may have sought to negotiate
with foreign powers for its over
throw. He may have striven to ham,
string it at the most critical moment
of its desperate struggle for exist
ence He may have attempted to
destroy its bene6cent influence. He
may have tried to make our institu-
tions a byword and a mockerv
among the nations. He may have
terrorized voters. He may have
suppressed or destroyed the ballot,
or fraudulently perverted its true in
tent and meaning. He may have
assisted in enacting laws under
whose operation freedom became a
delusion and personal liberty a
snare But these exploits do not
seem TO prove him to be an "offen-
sive partisan," provided always that
he voted the democratic ticket.
Shall a man who has been true,
even at the risk of life, limb, health
and fortune to the Union, to free
dom, to the sanctity of the ballot
and to that spirit of progress which
is acceptable in the sight of God, be
amenable to the charge of 2" offensive
partisanship" for exercising his
right as an American citizen? Is
this the character of man who is Of
iensive TO the Democratic party?
DEMOCRATIC UNFAIRNEss.
Mr.. Chairman, the offensive par
tisan " is the Republican, the -effi-
cient partisan is the Democrat.
He is to be appointed as reward
for his political zeal. His appoint
ment will not improve the public
service, fancy, but is made for par
tisan reasons only. Do we not see
the civil service principles twisted,
warped, and most wretchedly de-
formed instead of the service being,
as was promised, reformed? ] OBJ
ject, for one, to the prostitution of
the public service IN the name of re-
form. | insist that there should be
candor and fair dealing in the mat
ter of making removals from office.
If our political opponents propose
to make removals from all the Off
ces / say that, instead of trumping
up frivolous aud unjust charges
against Republican incumbents as a
justification for their removal, they
should announce that they are to be
turned out because they are Repub-
licans and their successors are to be