Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-05-14
Senator Frye and the Administration,

The Lescisfon journal of Friday pub
lished the following letter from Senator
Frye which will be found to be plain, easy
reading for Republicans who have watched
the course of the administration thus fer
Mr.. Frye says:
"lour published interview with me in
yesterdays journal compels me to explain,
so far as l can with propriety, my position
as to certain nominations made bv the
President. First. never agreed 10 vote
for Mr.. Pillsbury's continuation as some
published statements in some Of the papers
intimate, MOI promised TO do so, nor said
that | would. The rules of the Senate
properly and plainly prohibit any such
pledges. When it was rumored that this
gentleman was to be appointed Pension
Agent for Maine, did say to friend of his.
with emphasis, that in nv opinion il would
be the duty Of the Maine Senators to oppose
his confirmation to any Office in the State
In reply to the Inquiry, What will YOU do
If he is named to the position of Collector
of Internal Revenue in Massachusetts q
said didn't think the Maine Senators had
any special duty or interest in appointments
made in Massachusetts; tina; they were
rather for the consideration of the Senators
Of that State; that so far as was concerned
/ | had no objection to the Democrats of
Massachusetts rewarding Pilsburs for his
services to the party in that wav if they
pleased. In fact, think did say enough
To Justify the friends of Mr.. Pillsbury IN the
belief that his nomination to that position
would meet with no opposition from me.
but not enough to prevent me from acting
with perfect freedom when the question of
confirmation Is presented. And pray where
does Mr.. Piilsbury fall below the average
of the nominations already made b, the
President and very generally approved by
the press Tie is LAWYER of respectable
standing, a man Of agree i5le manners of
correct habits and of undoubted fidelity to
ms party. lie was a Copperhead.' Yes.
hut no more determined aud out>poken IN
his disoyalty than Mr.. Phelps. whose nom
nation to the most important position of
Minister 10 England was 50 favorahly viewed
and 50 promptly confirmed no more - than
Mr. Bay ard, whose Dover speech frightened
even the Democrats from nominating him as
their cand date for the Presidency no more
than Mr.. McLane Minister To France :
no more 50 than Mr.. renicton. Minister 10
Germany, who was openly denounced A.
traitor. during and after the war: no more
50 than two-thirds of the nominees thu, fat
named for conspicuous places. believe
every successful candidate from the South
rebel. some Of them even now pup-
helN defending their treachery, some o. them
unwilling to bend the knee sufti silently 10
ask the removal OF their political disabilities
Bat he was an adviser in the State Steal, 80
called Admitted. and his party. tn, same
now administering Inc GINerHment. from
whose ranks officials are To be selecte /,
nohiy stood by him anI have since in evcrs
way possible indor>el the attempt, One
can count on Ills fingers every prominent
Democrat who denounce, the outrage and
every Democratic paper dIscounienancing 1t
even in the mide>i terms
Again. there Is hardly an inielIgcn, man
IN the country who won int. conscience sD-ak-
ny. admit that at least five state govern
neni. IN the South have been worse
than stolen have been seized not
only BY fraud. tissue ballots aul false counts.
bat whenever necessary, oy wholesale mar-
der. Thousands have been slaughtered sim
ply because they were Republicans and stood
III the way OF such selZlre>. Gen. Pail S4sr-
ilan. after careful examination. reported over
3Dbp in Louisiana alone. u >>ls>ippl Wa
~fe,ted from the Republicans by 'lhe shot
gun campaign Of 1876. present United
States Senator being the chairman Of the
Democratic Committee then running tnat
caRpsign. and n0s power IN the dis'TlbI-
ton IF federal patronage. Another senator
from the same ,tatel NJ Lamar gathered
the fruits q that damna e cam2a gn,ls The