West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-09-29
REPUBLICAN RECORD.
AN AELE INDICTMENT OF HARRl-
SONS ADMINISTRATION.


with Piutocrats-some of tho states
men" of the Present Regime.
The issue in this campaign is the Re-
publican record of the last four years.
1t is a very bad record. 1t is n record
of wrongdoing, of unfair favoritisln in
legislation and of scandalous miscon-
duct in administration; record of recls-
less squandering; Of tho debauchment
OF the public service; of corruption In
Office and in getting office, and of shame
full malpractices in the attempt to retain
power regardless of the popular will.
The administration and the Fifty first
congress came into power by plain pur-
chase. The Republican party in 1888
secured its triumph by selling legisla-
tion short
Abandoning all that it had professed
and all that its leaders, living and dead,
had taught concerning the limitations
of right in tariff legislation, it framed
platform in Chicago in which it offered
to monopolists such tariff rates as they
should desire for their enrichment at the
expense of the people, in return for con-
uibutions TO the campaign fund.
The offer was accepted. The money
was paid, and with it the notorious cor
ruptionist, Matthew Quay, with his
lieutenant, Dudley, was set to buy the
election. When the funds ran low John
Wanamaker purchased an option on
cabinet Office by securing an additional
contribution of 100000 from the buy
ers of legislation upon margin.
When the congress thus elected came
together the Republican majority was
too narrow and uncertain to do the
work it had promised. It could not de-
liver the legislative goods it had sold to
monopolists without resort to further
unfairness and wrong. 1t proceeded TO
unseat members of the minority whom
the people had elected and TO seat Re-
publicans whom the people had refused
TO elect, and not man in all the major
ity was brave or honest enough to raise
voice in protest
When the time came for debate the
majority decided not to permit debate
lest the truth be made plain TO the peo-
pie.
The rules of the house were revolu-
tionized. A dictator OF peculiarly arbi-
trary will was placed in the chair. who
siderations Of fairness, changed tn
house from deliberativc body into
mere machine for recording his de-
termination, and thus enacted the meas
ures of monopoly which the party had
been paid in advance to pass
In two short years this congress souan-
dered an enormous surplus, reduced the
treasury to the sorest straits, laid heavy
burdens upon the people and upon in
dustry, and made n determined. though
fortunately fruitless effort to rob the
several states of the right of free cleo
lions in order TO secure for the Republi-
can party longer lease of power. II
sought TO bay votes for the future nv
pension legislation of the most reckless
and unjust character, whose shadow
hangs like pail over the finances of
the country and must embarrass its
prosperity FOR generation 10 come.
Inc administration thus elected de-
hyered to Wanamaker the cabinet Office
he mad bought, put Tanner into the pen
sion office. with his exultant excla1na-
ton, God help the surplusl' hot upon
his lips, and when his scandalous mis-
conduct made his removal necessity.
put Raum there instead TO work still
larger mischief in less yociferous fash
ion, and to fill the office with snecDlo-
nons, populations and scandals so shame
iuI That even the Reed congress could
not be dragoonod into palliating them.
Ana I'D spite OF further and more flag
rant exposure Raum is in Office stilll
Inc administration came into powe~
protesting most solemnly its purpose -
enforce the civil service law in letter
and spirit, and TO extend it's scope and
influence. 1t straightway set Clarkson
ut work 10 behead postmasters at n rate
wholly unprecedented. The president
openly farmed out the federal Offices as
spOils 20 such bosses as QUAY and Plat
aud quartered his own relatives and
partners and chums upon the public
service. When the civil service com
mission discovered the most fragrant and
shameless abuses in Baltimore. and ur0ad
the removal OF numbers Of persons bv
name Tor proved misconduct arnouutin,
70 cr1miDality misconduct penetrated
IN the name aud on behalf Of the admin
lstration-the whole matter was launt-
~ put aside by WauamaE.r. and tho
president IN no way intcrfcred TO redeem
his pledge or TO free himself from tic
shame Of IL al.
Dudley was one Of the agents in tbe
purchase u Mr.. HarrisOu's election and
De was fOund out. Mr.. Harrison Ina
since refused 30 hold intimate personal
relations with the blocks Of fver
statesman, but through his attorpcv
general and former law partner he bas
inierfcred with the administration 90
justice In Dudley'8 case. has caused n
judge upon the bench 20 shield and pro.
tect crime, anI has since rewarded That
judge for bis corrupt subacryiency bv
elcyatiDy him 10 higher judicial posi-
tiOn.
And within these later months tho
country has seen tho president organize
tine civil service into political machine
and with st compel his own nomination
for Is second term
From the very beginning Mr. Har1.
SON has med the appointing power ne n
means II securing q second term for
himself. Tic resorted 81 the outset 10 a
device justly denounced by the elder
president Of bis name 49, wrong and dan
gerous. Tie m1zzlod the press Of Iis
own Bl " ca. far aa crit .,f.rr. e. g f.t. al