New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-21


and who beg and aer and descend to every depth of
meanness in order to get taken of by the Govern
ment What is admirable in q man il, that he should
be compctent not only provide for his existence
but 10 do great deal more, to occupy full place in
Society and leave the world richer, and the community
better and more powerful for his passage through it,
And be best indication of good state of affairs is, that
every sane and healthy ndiydul whatever his talents
or station should find occupation that will enable him to
maintain his own selfrespec and the honest sense OF
being man by himself and not mere appcndage TO
somebody, or something else.
Such an Oflceheggng exhibition as that held mp be-
fore the world since the Fourth of March lessons the i'm
partial observers respect 70 human nature Just as 1t
essened by any other form Of degradation That shame
full thrOng o clients and petitioners Overlooking the
streets of the Federal metropoi haunt n the private
doors of men in power badgerng the life out OF Presl-
dent and Secretaries, disgrace to the Republic ana
the living symptom of great social maady Nor do they
form the only unhappy indication The Executive Gov
eminent itself spends days weeks and months for the be-
boof oftbe greedy swarms of pacehuners The Cabinet
oves DAYS and nights not to the public welfare not to
the preparation OF great system of American policy
but 70 the distribution of these miserable spoils The
President and his constitutional advisers become Office
brokers on the grand scale and portion out tidewaer
ships and tendOar post-Oces as though that were the
chief end and aim of the Administration The needs of
the country must be postponed the whole army par
tsans are beted upon the public aud their disputes as
to the common booty put aside What bitter satire
on the working of free Institutions What PerverSion
Of the noble ideas and purposes which wrought upon the
foundation of the Republic!
Among the vast array of Ofcebeggars there are some
who command sympathy, aud TO them we address
word of friendly warning and entrcaty. We refer to
Young men who have met with some temporary misfor
tune or suffer from some unexpected embarrassment,
and who only seek places as means OF reei Tor the
time being while they are looking around for better oc-
cupation Let such beware OF that relief Ihcy had
better avoid than embrace it, 1t is seductive and weak
enng They get to rely on it, instead OF relying on
themselves The effort to make their own way iii the
maths of independent usefulness is longer and longer
postponed The habit of receiving public salary be-
comes fixed: honorable ambition is put to sleep; and
finally the four years has passed. and the tenant OF Office
is turned out great deal off than the place mad
been denied him at the start Certainly, worse oil than
if he denied himself the weakness Of asking for it.
In short the man who, in this country of party changes
and rotation pursues Office means of support when
he can get support any other honest way isl fool Even
when it involves no debasing considerations of partisan
adherence there is something precarous and dependent
about it which no one can creditaby desire. Better
feed on black bread and hoe potatoes for living than
eve it to success in the scramble to get taken under
official guardianship Keep away from the corruptIng
and upmany sphere of those who seek for public main
tenance Preserve intact your own integrity, and right
of sefreliance, and hope for sounder state of the
country and of public sentiment, when the better prac
tce of Offices seeking the best men to discharge their
duties shall succeed the existing rush after the best
Offices liker to the scramble OF beggars for coin flung
at random into the mud than to any more dlgnited
sDectacle