The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-12

4
.irely disconnected with tho administration. He
did not know case where the President had put
strong hand upon any of these
wanted to perform what he promised In fact.
so gross had been the violation of every princi-
ple of reform and of the direct pledges OF the
Eresident that even the Evening Post, of New
YORK had said of these things that they would
| De used In the campaign there with terrible eff
feet The President had not hesitatsd himself
TO deal deadly blows at tho cause of reform In
this connection Mr. Hale referred to the recent
municipal election in New York when Mr. Fell
lows and Mr.. Nicoll were candidates for the of
nee or district attorney, In which campaign all
the papers. the Civil-service Reform Associa-
tion and the merchants and business men had
espoused the candidacy of Mr. N,eoll He spoke
OF Mr.. Fellows as an old. brokep-down New
York politician, whose character was none too
high and who had been the crony and the bens-
hciary of Tweed in the days of the worst corr
ruptlon that ever disgraced New York
city. Here was an opportunity for the Presi-
dent to have done something in the cause Of
reform Here was an opportunity for him to
have stretched out his hand TO the men of New
York who were fighting against corruption and
against thieves. and robbers, and bribe gvers,
aud bribe-takers in the cause of good govern
ment but those who believed he would do so
had been bitterly disappointed. The President
seemed TO have found himself at that time in
complete accord and harmony with the leaders
of the New York city Democracy, whose princi-
pie 1t had always been to support regular
nominations and shoot down deserters The
attention of the whole country had
been focused on that contest which had as
sumed an attitude of national imporrance. At
the great ratification meeting which was held
In New York city, under the patronage of Tam
many Hall, for the purpose of ratifying the
nominations letter had been read from Prssi-
dent Cleveland. regretting his inability to be
present and expressing the hope that every
candldate on the excellent ticket of the United
Democracy might be triumphanty elected.
Mr.. Vest defended the reputation of Mr.. Eel
lows, and asked Mr. Hale whether Mr. NicolI
had not, during the campaign. written a letter
for publication, to the effect that man stood
higher at the bar than Mr.. Fellows and that in
the prosecution of the aldermen charged with
bribery he had done all that could be done by
any man.
Mr. Hale replied that he had no personal
knowledge of either of the candidates in thar
important controversy, and knew nothing about
the letter in question. There had been many
interests in that campaign, one side and on
the other, but one thing stood out clearly, and
that was that whatever personal attachments
might have been felt for the Tamany County
Democracy on the part of friends who had for
merry known HIM, he had been connected by
close personal ties and had been the beneficiary
of contributions at the hands of Tweed; that he
was old in political service; and that his charac-
ter stood mono too high. That was the impres.
sion which ne Mr.. HaleJ had received from
reading the newspapers on both sides at that
time. The impression thus received jGsti-
ned him IN the remark, which he
had made without intending any ASSAULT
upon Mr. Fellows. But the President had not
stopped with his letter read to the ratification
meeting. He had written aaotherletter TO Mr.. Ed
ward Cooper. saying that the newspaper clippings
sent to him did NOT amount to enough even to
raise doubt concerning his desire for the sue
of both the State and city local tickets of the
United Democracy 1t was that letter which had
led Mr. Schurz. one OF the lesders in civil-service
reform, ask what malignant enemy of Mr.
Cleveiands had induced Mr.. Cooper to extor
it in the interest of "a typical dead bcat?
No observations were needed in such q showing
as he had presented. The whole course of the
administration on this subject had been delu-
sion and The President himself, for he
Mr. Halel was bound to believe that he was
not born hypocrite-dd not enjoy the situa.
tion. The Presidents only satisfaction must be
that he had come into closer accord with the
leaders of the party, that they now accepted
him. that Senators who two years ago had been
denouncine his inpracticable theories were to-
day most earnestly in his favor, and that in the
future he would be called upon to make bus
few more promises
Passing on to the subject Of political assess
ments. Mr.. Hale quoted from the Washington
Post, which he spoke OF as the organ of the ad-
mnistration, of the first of November last
in regard to the collection of contributions for
the New York campaign. and also a communion
tion in the Washington Republican, describing
how assessments for that campaign being
levied In the Government Printing Office. From
all this something ought cow to be plainly seen
by every man VINO was not stone blind. The
value of the cry of "Civil-servcs Reform" had
the leaders of the Democratic party. Its cam
vases would hereafter go in the old-fash-
ioned way. The influence of the administra-
ton would be as penetrating, as controlling in all
the States, in party management as it had ever
been in the old palmy days of Democracy
before the war. Welding and controlling that
shaping its course, breaking down opposition.
enforcing discipline, deriding and defypg the
orders against partisan activity, would oe found
the immense body of federal Office holders as
obedient to the orders of the administration as
were Janissaries to the bidding of an Eastern
despot. This year the land would rock with the
He affirmed his belief and yentured the pre-
diction that no means and appliances that
had been in years past used by the Democratic
party would fail to be resorted to this year.
outrage and murder would open
again bloody grave in which would be entombed
anew the free ballot of the South. The immense
mass of Office holders would be marshaled to the
conflict and would be seen, and heard, and felt
Nor would it stop there. Every
piece of work performed by contract for the
government would be levied upon for political
and every man who did work un-
Ter such contracts would be called upon to add
nis vote to his labor for the wages he
be erected whose Workshop would not be
made recruiting place for the Democratic
party; party; no war a.- ship wonid be built
IN election day streams of Democratic
voters. There was device, plan
of campaign ever resorted to by the Democratic
party in the days of Polk. Pierce and Buchanan
which would not be resorted to this year. ''The
hing which has been is the thing which will
'e, and there will be found new thing
lnder the sum-" The means, and appliances and
PRACTICES of the Democratic party would all be
escorted to in its desperate attempt to retain it's
lold of the national government. In the mean
lime, whore would the independents be2
Mr.. Butler sent to the clerks desk and had
cad a circular sent out in 1873 by authority of
ne tRepublican congressional committee, OF
which Mr.. Hale was member. calling gov
rnment employees for political contributions
Mr.. Hale justified the circular. and said that
directly and explicitly excluded the idea of
xtorting con ntributions.
The Blair educational bill was then taken up
nd DIR. Coke spoke in opposition to it.
Adjourned.
Proceedings of the House.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-The Speaker, as the
rst business in order. proceeded to call the
ommittees. but reports of any character
vere submitted.
The House then, on motion of Mr.. Mills, of