The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-07
THE REPU BLIC.
SATURDAY MORNING, MAY7, 1853.
Prescription for opinion's Sake
WASBIN GTON:

We fear that there are symptoms of indis-
criminate prescription manifesting themselves
in the action of the Government. The unfortu-
nate Wings hold office upon somewhat the same
tenure as chickens in coop their lives; they
are only killed as needed. Sometimes their
services are made available until they can be
replaced without detriment to the public ser
vice, and in some instances they have been
permitted to live, like the poor bound captives
of an Indian foray, until their captors could
determine which was entitled to the honor ofthe
scalp.
Ii the system of wholesale removal goes on,
there will scarcely remain, at the close of the
present Executive term, Wing officer as
specimen.
We are no whining advocates of political
cemency. We think that man who would
recant his opinions to save his office deserves to
lose it; but we think that the country sustains
greater loss than an incumbent who refuses
to subscribe the test of party to preserve the
bread Of his children.
We have always thought that, wherever the
public interest could be promoted by con-
formity of political opinions between the APP
pointing power and the incumbent, such con-
formity should be an indispensable qualifca-
ton for office. An administration with dis
.racted cabinet, or with ministers in foreign
countries opposed to the policy they were in
structed TO carry out, or editors enabled with
the patronage of an administration to misrepre-
sent and embarrass it, would destroy the unity
and efficiency of the Government. But there
is large class of officers whose political opin-
IONS have no more to do with the efficient per
formance of their duties than the name of the
street that they live in. The qualifications of
this class are strictly moral and ministerial.
Like any other operatives, the value Of their
services depends, not upon their opinions, but
their capacity.
There are many excellent officers in the pub
lie employment whose very existence might
have been forgotten in the unexceptionable re-
gularity with which they performed their hum
bic duties, but that some Of those terriers Of
party, whose highest instinct is mercenary
intolerance, hunt them out for their scanty
salary, as beaver is hunted for his skin.
1t may be that such men have families whose
limited comforts depend upon their wages; yet
there is no tone of commiseration in the abrupt
and memorable dismissal which neither assigns
cause nor certifes a character.
1t is in this way that the rule Of disqualified
ton descends to offices almost mental in their
character; and when we take into consdera-
ton that the patronage bestowed upon master
mechanics and contractors is often made to de-
pend upon their political professions. it is
should spread until even the employment Of
those operatives who dig cellars or carry hods
may depend upon the votes which they have
given or are to give.
In referring to the cases of suffering which
result from this memorable application of party
rule, we make no appeal to the sympathes of
those who hold power. We may be told that
We might as well propose the abolition Of steam
because of the distress and restitution which
explosions often occasion. We may be told
that the incumbents are mere trustees of distri
button, and that they dare not disobey the "a
paclous and unfeeling commands of party.
But we appeal to the people of the United
States to know if it be not time TO arrest this
shameful evil2 We ask them to remember
that their ancestors fled to this wilderness to
escape the intolerance of monarchical Europe;
and that it was their boast that they had founded
a Government under which their descendants
would be entitled to equal privileges.
Shall 1t be that here, as in Europe, an appli-
cant for office is required to sign profession of
faith? Shall the Wing or the Democrat of
America, like the Jew or the Catholic else
where, be held unfit for employment by the
political caste which may for the time occupy
the Government
In Europe a given religious faith is the
established law Of political qualification. Every
applicant tor office must subscribe this test
In the United States there can be no public
law disquallfying citizen for his opinions
but public opinion, which is despot of good
intentions, DEGREES that all those who shall
have voted with the minority in any national
election shall thereby be deemed and held to
have forfeited their right to perform any duties
whatsoever under the Federal Government.
Can any one point out practical difference
between freedom of opinion in Europe and
America, except that in Europe other penal
ties are added to official disqualification, where
as in the United States the citizen may pay
taxes, work the roads, repel the enemy from
the Republic, or, by his valor, aid in adding to
her territory whilst he can hope for no mark
of political confidence in return, but goes
through life prescribed man, a creature whose
toll and sweat and substance and blood may be
employed by his political superiors, but who is
a leper unfit for other political association. Are
the people prepared for such a political aristoc-
racy as will be thus established?
We have no complaints to make of removals
in any case In which the efficiency Of the in
cumbent depends upon coincidence in opinion
with the appointing poweri but in regard to
the thousands of postmas,ers, tide walters,
messengers, and clerks, and the quinupled
thousands of helpless women and children who
depend upon their wages for bread, we think
that the President ought to say with LOUIS,
that although engaged in mighty conflict, ''he
waged no war with humanity;p and We hope