The Portland daily press., 1885-11-13
Save nae from My Friends.


To the Editor Of the Press:
Will YOU publish the following editorial
article from the Eastern Argus of the nth,
in position, so that our Republican
friends who do not read the Argus,can see to
what kind of an entertainment the people oil
this country have been invited, in placing
the Democratic" party in power. The Ar.
gus says (all but the italics);
Now Massachusetts Democrats know how good
it is. Mr. Salt0nstall, appointed Collector OF Gus
toms at Boston, had few endorserS compared with
MIR. Butler, who had the almost unanimous sup
port OF business men and active Democrats. That
the President Is invested with the power, ana
therefore has the legal right to name whomsoever
he pleases for important political positions, no
ntimated to his political friends that he did not
wish, and should not consider, their recommenda-
tons OF candidates for offices, the files of the de
ldTtleIlts 1cOlttd not haze been crOtced lgtb dl
plicdtiOns and supporting endorsements, as Is
7lolU the case. But instead OF this, such recon-
mendatiOns were invited by the heads of depart
ments Put you views and requests in writing,
they said These 1CtU be placed on file and lViUT Ts
ceice due consideration before appointments are
nldde. 1t is the impression which such sugges-
tiOns by heads OF departments and by the PreSi-
dent, calculated to make, that has Occasi0ned
most of the appointment surprises that have fol
lowed and which have, apparently, placed the
President in the attitude Of rebuking his political
friends and supporters for doing what they had
supposed he wished them to do, namely: to desig-
nate to him and for his information their choice OF
persons for official positions.
If the President had said in the beginning that
he wanted no applications for office, no kreeonl-
mendatiOnS-that he would have to assume the
ultimate responsibility for the appointments he
should make and in selecting officers he wished
only the advice of those he asked therefor, then
there would have been no Misunderstanding
no surprises, tor there would nave Deen no wen
pIic0tons dlid recommendations, both Democrat
ic practice and Democratic principles required
the people with substantial unanimlty asked for,
should receive the appointment.
1t may be said that to follow this rule would be
to voice the wishes of the active Democratic force
OF the country, embracing largely the younger
men; and this would be true. But what OF 1t?
Has not every free country been governed by par
ties and must they not always be so governed, for
aught we see or know? Undoubtedly. Then,
what more proper. than to consider the wishes Of
the active party force? What more expedient?
nay, what more necessary? If Democratic prin-
cipes are to govern and bless this country IN the
fnture, as during most OF its past history 1t must
be by and through the practical exponent OF these
principleS-the Democratic party; and any admin
istrative practices that tends to repress the party
preferences, to rebuke regard for party men and
tocool desire for party success, is blow at the
predominence Of those principles and their conse-
quent benefcent operation in promoting the best
welfare of the country
To be sure, the question of the Offices is not, and
istration; but still it is really of far more conse-
quence than some seem to suppose. If political
success is a political duty with Democrats now, as
every consideration seems to proclaim, no fair and
honorable advantage in aid of such success should
be lightly thrown away-especially, as we have
before said, in States where Democrats are yet i'm
a minority, but are hoping to become the majori-
ty.
The following from the Argus of the 18th,
in connection with the foregoing, is of great
significance:
At last Lincolnville Center has Democratic
postmaster, James A. Knight. If the Democrats
sitio1 h9f aeitlrasen Da,stoFs name as soon as
it lgds dtscoVered that he had been trdEsgressing,
the whole unfortunate scandal arising from the
appointment OF a man III prison would nave been
avoided The z. o. Department was not In the
least at fault for the error, and was prompt in
canceling the appointment. This case should be
a warning to every citizen who has recommended
person. that has afterwards proved unworthy, to
promptly recall that recommendation, and thus
prevent unpleasant results to himself and others.
To complete the picture, please publish the
following from the Washington Post, the
administration organ:
The President has been betrayed He has been
induced to conflde the patronage to men who do
not respect his convictions, and who delight In
frustrating his plans. Among the recent subordi-
nate appointments In Ohio, there are In the Treas
ury service three notorious malefactors One has
been q chronic ag0rtlsouse inmate 4fIother has
SerUed term in the peite1ltiary for theft moth
e1 aras indicted and tried for Murder and escaped
cOngictiO only because the principal lcitnesS had
disappeared The state Age1lt for the Agrics1tlt-
raj bureau has seTUed nine months IN jail for
instances afford fair sample of the manner in
WHICH G16 Ecutrdl power Dttil inlouStu DJ inc
influences dominant in the Ohio Democracy
Isl it any wonder that decent people of both
parties combined to defeat such influences? Is 1T
any wonder that conservative men, with the best
and warmest feeling toward the President and
with every desire to strengthen his hands, refused
to vote the Democratic ticket last month?
OF course this Is very plain and very ugly talk,
but it is trqte-more's the pity-and the sooner the
country understands it the better for every reput
able interest and pleasant possibility Mr.. Cleye-
land has been the victim OF evil counsel of decep-
tion and of blaekest treachery He has been per-
suaded to cOnhde patronage to the hands Of men
who hastened to violate his trust The Intelligent
men and patriotic voters of Ohio have refrained
from indorSlng such gross abuse of opportunity.
Admiring Mr.. Cleveland and honestly wishing to
contribute to his success, they have yet been
forced to express their feelings by aiding in the
defeat Of his party Had the Federal officials i'll
Ohio chosen as their Sub0rdnateS respectable
men; had they acted in such manner as to per-
suade the people that they were in sympathy with
the Presidents effort to establish a wise and
clean and reputable government. the State would
have been given to the democracy IN the last
jor1ty. But the people were not so persuaded
On the contrary they perceived that the Federal
machinery had fallen into evil habits, and they
arose in their indignation to rebuke the outrage
1t is just as well that these things should be
treated frankly. 1t might as well be known, as is
the fact that Ohio transferred her deStinieS from
Democratic to Republican control because she re-
volted against the conspiracy to hand them over
to abhOrrent and degrading influences. And il
may be aprOpoS to add, for the Presidents benefit
that two three important places are still to be
dispensed, and that if he would reassure good
men and undo the demoralizng effect of what has
been done thus far, he will be careful to avoid the
counsels and shun the very atmosphere of those
who shave already so foully and so wiekedly be
trayed him..