The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-08-11
HE REPUBLICAN vs.. THE DEMO
CRATIC RECORD.

THE REPUBLICAN vs.. THE DEMO-
CRATIC RECORD.
To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: Among
all the criticisms and insinuarions thrown out
by our opponents, they make no direct
charges that have any foundation, nor do they
specify wherein they would make any i'm
provement in any one direction. They cannot
claim that our State officials have been so long
in power that they have grown useless or cor
rupt, for there is but one head of 3 department
in the State House who has been there for 10
years, and he is Democrat. They cannot, and
do not, say that there are any sinecures there,
for any observer plainly see that every
person is diligently employed, and then it is
difficult to keep up with the work. But the
work is nearer up now than it usually is, espe-
cially in the office of the Secretary of State.
And there has never been even breath of
suspicion by the most audacious critic that
there has ever been any defacation of the
States property. The only thing of that kind
in this generation what is known as "The
State steal" But that Democratic
affair, and no one was surprised at it, only in
dignant that they should carry it so far; but it
is an old adage that "a hungry dog will steal.''
And if they would attempt what they did then
what might we expect of them now after
thirty odd years more of waiting? 1t is not
safe to risk it, is it?
The Republican party having been in power
in this State over so years, if we want to know
anything about the subject we must go outside
of the State. Now the Treasury department
at Washington has always kept account of all
defalcations of government officials, and | will
give a few figures from the Secretary's ac-
counts We find that under Washingtons adj
ministration for every $1,000 handled by his
officers there were 1922 stolen. This gradu-
ally increased until under that great and good
man, Andrew jackson, it reached 1852 pc
thousand, or an increase of $50 per cent? But
the great flood tide of corruption was reached
under Van Burens administration, when the
stealings amounted to $11.71 per $1,000. 1t
seemed that Providence saw no hope for this
country unless He took more direct hand in
its affairs, so He removed two of the Presi-
dents as warning to their successors. 1t
seems that this had some effect, for during
Buchanans administration the amount stolen
was but 1881 per $1,000. But there was not
much chance to steal under Buchanan, for he
did most of the business on borrowed money!
We now come to Lncoln's administration
the period of the Civil war, (if war can be CALL
ed 'civil:'') when everybody of any conse-
quence was accused of stealing, and was not
bo P,,tu hot do
we find to be the facts? When the accounts
were all adjusted we find there had been but
76 cents lost on each $1,000 handled, about
one third as much as under President Wash
ington, about one tenth of that under Jackson,
one fifteenth of that under Van Buren,, and
one fifth of that under Buchanan! And if we
should reckon the military and naval material
stolen under Buchanan the contrast would be
greater still.
Bismark, speaking of modern warfare, said
that no war of modern times had been carried
on with such economy and strict integrity
the civil war in America. Bismark was sup
posed to know something about war, and was
not man that made much cheap talk. With
Maine men at the head of the treasury at
w aS0lngLOH uHueI l-iiiColL, HotHlIlS elSe was
expected but honest administration of
affairs; and they have been rapidly improving
until under Hayes administration the losses
were but four ffths of one mill on each $1,000,
and since then they have been small
scarcely to be computed. Of course there have
been some losses; one clerk in the P o. depart
ment stole 1923 worth Of stamps, but that was
IL lof IL
government some P. O. contracts, but he
was sent to jail. Machin was smart, cap
able man, and every one was surprised when
he went wrong. But when it became known
that he was Democrat and was appointed by
Cleveland and that he was only carrying out
the general tendency of the party. it was only
surprising he did no worse than he did.
If the young voters wish to compare the
wasteful mismanagement of affairs of 60 years
ago with the present business methods pursued
by our government let him read the Covode
investigation of affairs under Buchanan and
former presidents. The almost unbroken tenor
of some 800 pages of the testimony taken
by that committee was of corruption and waste
full extravaganza. And this obtained in every
department investigated. In the mint In North
Carolina it cost several dollars to coin one dol
lar in gold coin. Compare this with report
made by committee authorized by demo-
cratic Congress in the 70's to investigate the
Internal Revenue Dept. 1t says: "Since the
establishment of the department there has
been over one billion disbursed in stamps, in
varying from one cent on box
of matches to $40 on a case of tobacco; but so
strict has been the conduct of affairs that not
one single stamp has been lost or stolen" And
like results may be expected in every depart
ment of the government. 1t is grand record; |
one that every young should be proud in
helping to maintain.
c. E. SMITH.
Facts for Belmont Voters.
II <ho of LoI &c 1oe 4