Year: 1879

justified in his severe charges against a
class Of citizens whose honor is as dear as
his can be. Then the editor of Hdrper's
Weekly will be exonorated. But until
such proof is adduced aud the facts are
clearly established, as he has assumed them
to be, he must stand in the light of n
calumniator of class OF men whose
patriotism, bravery and integrity have all
been put to as severe test rs any of his
pretended virtues, and have never failed TO
vindicate themselves in honor.


Hdyper's Weekly makes an admission
which greatly weakcns its attack upon the
members of the several Associations that it
has assumed to arraign. 1t says:


1t is abstractly true that a man who is APP
pointed TO Office in any department of the
Government ought not to lose any political
rights thereby, and that every American citi-
zen ought " take an active interest In poll
ties.


The several Republican Associations in
their organic character and capacity,
or under their inculcations or lines of action,
scribcd by the Weekly. Their members
have done far less for politics than they
would have done had they been private
citizens at their voting precincts in their
several States, instead of office holders at
the National Capital. The members of these
several Associations feel aggrieved that they
should have been misrepresented and
maligned as they have been in this case, for
each one is citizen of the United States,
who holds a respectable position among his
fellow citizens at home, and has done moth
ing under his relations rs member Of
Republican Association that would not have
been commendable and honorable in him
as citizen Mt his voting precinct at home.
| He has paid his money to enable indigent
voters to go home to vote, and 10 go home
himself to vote He has given of his means
and of his time to circulate documents
healthy political sentiment among his fell
low citizens. This much he has done with
out abridgng his usefulness or neglecting
his duties rs an officer of the Government,
and this sums up what lie has done and
he challenges the proof that he has been





character and duties of faithful and USE
ful public servant, and an active and sim
cere Republican.


In conclusion, we assert that the Republ-
can Associations have been grossly misrepre-
sentcd as to their aims, practices and ends,
and have been prescribed without cause.
The hand Of power has followed the lead of
misrepresentation aud laid itself heavily
and unjustly upon these Associations, thus
interfering with the legitimate rights of the
citizen aud erppling his influence in beat
ing back the enemy from the citadel of our
National power and hope.


We admit that if these organizations had
in any degree interfercd with the public
welfare by circumscribing the usefulness OF
their members in the public service, then
they might have been Objectionable; but
they were in no degree exposed to such
charge. Their political service was all
performed out of business hours. The
money they spent for political purposes had
been honestly earned and obtained. They
did not use their Associations rs political
machines to control patronage at the Ma.
tiOnal Capital. Their political duties were
all discharged within the lines Of propriety
and good citizenship, and yet they have
been ostraciSed and belied.