The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-25
WHAT IS THE spoILs PRINCIPLE

WHAT is THE SPOILS PRINCIPLE?
Suppose the men now in the Opposition, when
the great trial comes round again, should say to
one, you shall have this place; TO another, you
shall have that to a third, you shall have this;
and so on, till all the patronage of the General
Government is distributed respectively, and on
the condition Of success. This, doubtless, will
be allowed to be the spoils principle in naked
form and, this, we will venture to say, will be
done, and more thoroughly resolved on than has
ever been conceived or practised in the country,
if a rally should again be made by the sposmen.
II is with them an ayowed principle, and one ne
cessary to success. Ii is not merit and fitness
for the place that prevails; but the promise is
made beforehand as reward of service.
But suppose men Of all classes and ranks, as
in the Presidential campaign Of 1910, have gone
in to redeem the country from misrule, without
ever thinking of place afterwards, as a reward
of service. Suppose some of them have made,
not only great efforts. but great sacrifices, and
are allowed to be qualified for PAGES which, in
the success Of their cause, they are induced to
solicit because they have need Of them Is a
consideration Of their services and sacrifices
the spoils' principle? We certainly think not
There was no promise, no agreement, no under
standing, no thought of the subject, with such
view. But they have been useful they have
made sacrifices; and for that very reason, per-
haps, need place, when they would not other
wise have desired or requested it, If they are
fit, may not this be consideration, without a
recognition Of the spoils' principle? Does not
every principle Of justice and propriety demand,
that such facts should be considered
Suppose our country should again require like
efforts and like sacrifices, within the memory Of
those who served in the late campaign, and a
similar muster Of disinterested patriotism should
be challenged, and those most needed should
say" What is the use2 We did it once with
holy zeal and hope we achieved the victory
we toled and made sacrf ;es for change of
public servants, because we thought il necessary
for the good of the country; but the change was
not made, because it was thought il would be
acting on the spoils principle; nor is it strange
that the fruits Of our toll are so soon blighIed,
and all our labor lost. Besides, many of us lost
and sacrificed all, and had the modification to
find, that it could not be considered, and neither
we, nor our friends could be appointed to public
trusts, because it was said, il would be acting
on the spoils principle. We have tried hard and
long to repair our fortunes, and though we love
our country, we are bound also TO love our fami-
lies. Can we afford the sacrifices again, merely
to keep men in their places, who have ruined us
once, and who will ruin us again Sad as the
IF n,
least
moreover, though men in Office were found to have
abused it, and become especially obnoxious the rule
of REMOVAL yet if they had strong political connex
ions who desired they should not DO disturbed that
enough. II is of no The Wings, so called, the
true Republicans, too good and too pure govern
the country in such age this or TO retain power
by lawful means when they get it,"
lngratitude for patriotic and noble sacrifices, whe
Their on larger or smaller scale is the greatest sin
nation, or eminent, can commit II sinks deep in
toa wounded spirit and the knowledge of it has
most unhappy influence. The subjects Of il are dis
pirtcd in the hottest cause, and the man who can b,
most useful to the country will decline political action
to escape tho pangs of such treatment.
We are rcputcd TO be country CT extremes. TIL,
great moral, social and political pendulum vibracs il
one direction to an angle Of ninety degrees with tn,
horizon, and sometimes perhaps little above it, An,
when comes sweeping back in obedience TO the law
Of nature, is frightened, and half the world turn
gddy to ii flying up with momentum the ohe
way il i, going to describe the entire circle
We raise Administration to power for the proc
character evnced by their services done TO the
try-al very proper. Their services are The facts
TIE moment they get these the principle apple
10 those who to be associated with them becomes
spols principle, not only apology for Leaving