Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1880 — A Bibe Sold. [ARTICLE]

A Bibe Sold.

A few years ago Garfiield delivered an address at Williams Coliege in which he very fully #oololll.ed himself to civil-service referrn, as follows: “Congressmen have become the d,spensers, sometimes the brokers of patronage, nod civil office has become a vast co.itipiiog power to be used in running the machine of party polices. Every man of the 102,000 feels teat his omy tope of staving in is in toadying to thost in power, so that t le offices are an immense brioe. securing the party in power au army of retainers who are the most servile of their -ort in the world. Nobbing less .ban absolute divorce of the appointing Junctions from Congress can reined v the evil. It should be done so complete! v that every member of Congress shall be able to make such a boast as Thomas Hughes, M, P„ did on his visit.to this eoantry-that, although he was personally on good terms with every member of the Cabinet he could not influence the appointment o' a clerk.” That is a pretty sweeping and effective kind of civil-service reform. Will Mr. Garfield stand by the programme?

The following actual occurrence, says an exchange, took place in a town close by Hartford: A Democrat was approached by a zealous Repuqlican storekeeper who offered to pay him for staying away from the polls. This merchant was *not only a buyer and seller of produce, but at every election was a purchaser of votes. He made no secret of his unholy work, and the DemoeJat alludotl to ai-ove was made a liberal offer if he vvouiu slay at home and not vote. He was to have a barrel of flour and a half barrel of mackeral, besides some ready money. The flour and mackeral was to be delivered before the election, and the money was to be paid after the election. “Now,” said the Democrat, “I will agree to get two more to stay at home and nut vote it' you will give ineiwi.eas much more.” This was agreed to, and the merchant was chuckling in aniicipavion of a handsome reduction in the Democratic vote. The Democrat then went to a Republican fiiend and told bitn that he wasn't going to vote, ur d asked him to “pair off” with him. The Ra* publican agreed to it. The Democrat then went to another liej uolici n and agreed to give him a hub- utnvl of mackeral if he would not vote. This was agreed to, and these con- • tracts all round were carried out to the letter. When the merchant found out that his mackerel hud been buying up Republican votes, lie guv ; vent ro language that ought to impair his standing in the Congregational Church. The Democrat has never asked him for the rnunt - .