The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-23
the AucusTAN RING.
A Vigorous Kick by a staIwart
Republican Paper.
From The BIddeford Journal.l

[From the BIddeford Journall
The Journal has one thus fully into the
details Of Col. GuptilPs case. not that II Is
personally aggrleved or that 1t feels any spe-
cial solicitUde for him more than 1t would
for any other York county citizen under like
circumstances, but because 1t Is a sample
case-because 1t shows the practical work
ings and results Of vicious political bossism,
as exercised by and through a close corpora
tion Of petty office-grabbers.
The Journal Is revealing no party secrets.
II Is known full well TO all who care TO know
OF whom this junto Of spoils manipulators
Is composed-who its plant adherents are
and who rules it as with mailed hand" I"
1t exists for the lofty purpose Of controlling
the State offices. Its ambition embraces
every position, from governor to hall scrub
woman, and impartial history compels the
statement that since 1t has been organized 1t
has failed to accomplish its purposes In only
few lonesome instances. Outside Of ring
limits no office Of honor or trust Is permitted
has been demonstrated over and over again
by the Journal and other State papers.
This Augustan ring does not c0niine its
labOrs to the State Offices proper, by any
means. 1t Is capable Of demonstration that
1t came into York county and sought TO con-
troll the election of councillor by trying to
defeat Mr.. Brackett- 1t Is an unwritten law
Of this cabal to antag0niZe and defeat by
means fair or foul any aspirant for prefer
ment in connection with the State govern
ment-if he does not bow the knee to the
junto Baal.
The stock cry will be raised, no doubt,
that the Journal Is disgruntled because it
did not get any Of the pork. Not 50. The
Journal does not view this matter simply as
a question Of division Of spoils, except as to
Republican party. There are many thousand
true men In this State, men who are In
no sense politicians, but who are Republic
cans from high principle. As they look upon
these periodical exhibitions Of ring pettif0g-
gerry at the State Capital they ask by what
process the great Republican party OF Maine
has been transferred to the tender mercies
or a set Of political bosses, who use II solely
as a means to secure their own selfish ends.
Has 1t no higher mission than this?
And the time is not far away when, II this
state OF things remains unchanged, these
men will not only speak but act, while the
chances are more than even that as a result
the Republican party In this State. now ap-
parently so firmly seated, will find itself
playing second fiddle as political organiza-
ton. Forewarned Is to be forearmed. IL Is
time for the Republican masses In Maine TO
speak out. Offensive bossism must be de-
throned or it win dethrone the Republican
party.
The Journal has ventured to express itself
somewhat plainly because 1t realizes as Il
has long realized, that the subject demands
this kind Of treatment. As the Republican
party OF the nation Is ab0utt0 enter upon q
new, and 1t Is believed, perpetual lease Of
life and usefulness, 1t Is good time for the
Republican party Of this State TO throw of
allegiance 10 personal manipulation and re-
new its youth and usefulness as well; and
again as Of old, the party of the people, for
the people by the people.