The Republican journal., 1886-03-18
They Object to Criticism.

Some of the Taxpayer leaders are said to
have grown very sensitive of late and think
that they have been hardly used. 1t has pro-
badly never occurred to them that other people
have sensbilities. When they We're threaten
ing to drive out of Belfast men born and raised
here and who have always been good citizens,
seeking to brand them as liars and thieves, and
endeavoring to injure the business Of all who
did not agree with them it was all right
enough. There was no consideration for the
men 50 attacked or for their families. When
the ring was deliberately sowing the seeds of
malice and hatred in this peaceful community,
arraying neighbor against neighhor and es-
tranging families, it never occurred to them
that in sowing the wind they might reap the
whirlwind; that a day of retributOn would
come. But come it surely will. There was
not the slightest provocation for the personal
abuse, the biackguardism, the downright indie
ccncy of the Taxpayer campaign which began
four years ago. The issue raised as to the rail-
road rental could have been settled without
one word TO cause i'll feeling. But the ring
took this course to get into power, and meeting
with no opposition were encouraged to pursue
il. The libellous utterances of The Taxpayer
four years ago Were unnotced, and when the
railroad question was sent to the court it was
hoped that there would be nothing more done
to create ill-feelng. What had been done up
10 that time was done by the ring alone. Those
who did not approve of the practices nor be-
'ieve in the professions of the Taxpayers
agreed to make no opposition to them until af-
ter the court had rendered its decision. But all
through these four wears, fearful each spring
that an attempt would be made to loosen their
hold upon the city treasury, they were drilling
their followers, peddling out appointments, and
making promises they never intended to keep.
They grew insolent and arbitrary their ten
ure of Office was extended from year to year;
fancied they owned the city, and, as proclaimed
by one of their number, did not "care a damn
for the public" And to this the people of Bel
fast submitted for four years, while taxes were
higher, the compensation of the tax collector
increased nearly fifty per cent, and an office
created for one Of the ring. Now these men
are, profess to be- very sensitive to criticism;
but it is evident that what troubles them the
most is being found out.
The ring organ of this year fairly out did in
blackguardism, falsehood and indecency the is
sues of four years ago. No one was spared.
not even those who rest in honorcd graves. At
tempt> We're made to detile the memories of
such men as James F. White, W. ii. Burrill
and eN-Goy. Crosby. Was any consideration
shown to the relatives of these men, to the
wide circle of friends they left behind them:
Even the taX-paying women of Belfast did not
escape the venom of this infamous publication.
1t bred falsehoods as a dog breeds tica> and as
sailed with coarse abuse those who presumed
to differ with it as to the policy it was for the
best interest of Belfast TO pursue. And all this
dirty and icvili>h work was done without pro-
vocation and for no other end or object than to
enable those who had obtained the city offices
in the first Place under false prctenccs to re-
tain them. And now the men who pulled the
wires and furnished the money to carry on
such Il campaign want to plead the baby act and
escape criticism for what they have done.
For days before the election the Taxpayer
strikers, with money supplied by protessed
temperance men and church members, piled
with rum the tools they wanted to use on cleo
ton day. Men We're herded like cattle, filled
with rum until they We're Irresponsible, and
then led OF dragged to the polls. l. it very
hard that those who authorized and paiC for such
work should be held accountable? Perhaps
they consider they have done something to be
proud of, aud should be asked to step up high
en- 1t is strange indeed that the people should
rebel against such things. They might have
bowed to the yoke, have handed the city treas
ury to the ring and said: Fill your pockets.
and do not hesitate to Use the offices and auth
GRITTY TO reward your friends and punish your
enemies. Introduce the manners of the quar-
ter deck into our city affairs; drive out the
largest taxpayers and prevent others from
coming in; tax people out OF their property
and homes; put stop to building; import
what labor is needed, while cur working men
stand idle; and the futurc-but there would be
no future for Belfast under this sort of ring
rule.