Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-22
Office Seeking and Office Giving.

If the outside world enjoyed the oppor-
tunites for observing the troubles incident
to Office seeking and office giving which a
residence in Washington affords to the
Pains-taking and disinterested observer,
the mania for public employment now
pervading this nation would cease to
exist; while those entrusted with the
Government would be enabled to admin
ister ite affairs far more happily for the
public interest, than has been done since
1874. We date far back, because, since
the era here mentioned, this national dis
ease has been spreading rapidly and in
every direction. Nine-tenths, ifnot nine
teen-twent;eths, Of those seeking Office in
these days must be disappointed, there
not being Offices enough to accommodate
more than from twentieth to a tenth of the
applicants. Nearly all applying, however,
spend money, time, and character in the
struggle; each Office to be given out-cost-
ing 1.-the party" In the effort to get it, in
the aggregate, an expenditure of as much
ss the salary will amount to in four years.
That rs, estimating the time of all the ten
or twenty patriots struggling, as worth
money. When obtained, in ninety.nine
eases out of every hundred it enr1ehes no
man, the emolments not being more
than enough to pay up the debts incurred
m seeking 1t, and to support the unfortu-
na1e fortunate one and those depending
upon him. We question whether five in
every hundred holding federal office leave
it richer, than on entering the public SER
vice. 1t ss business, therefore, which
notoriously fails to pay; seriously embar-
RAISING those who strive unsuccessfully
for 1t, and, as general thing, injuring
the lucky individuals more seriously; as
It ahsorhs their energies for perhaps the
best business years Of their life, leaves
them no richer at the end of their terms
Of public service, and very generally an
fitted at that period for successfully prose-
cutting any other calling. There are men.
tai and social evils spinging from office
seeking, too, which are by no means its
Least disadvantageous elements. No man
can pertinaciously pursue Office without
compromising his selfrespect. To sue
coed, as general thing, he must boot
hex somebody; the persons requiring to
be operated on after that fashion being,
in nine cases out Of ten, individuals with
prominent traits of character such as high
toned men must despise. Rebuffs, heart
crushing in their effect upon the spirit of
one who would be manly and independent
in his bearing, must nov and then be
oomplacenay received and apparently
gratefully acknowledged, and the Office
seeker must not seem TO observe when he
sees plainly that those protesting to be
his most devoted friends, really take no
thought Of his pitiable condition, his
deserts and his wishes. On the whole,
it is q miserable, dem oraliIng and hu.
initiating business.
Office giclag, too, is not a wit more
pleasant. 1t Ia MISUNDERSTOOD in Wash
ington that in quite five cases out of every
ten DO reliance is to be placed on letters
Of recommendation for Office; more especi-
ally when coming from persons holding
prominent positions in the political world.
Tsy mean little more than efforts to rid
themselves Of the pressing opportunities
Of the recommended. 1t not unfrequent-
ly happens that such gentlemen recon-
mend more than one person for the same
place, nor is it yrs remarkable for them
to follow up their letters Of recommends
ton with others marked private and
confidential" actually cautioning the ap-
pointing power against confiding in the
representations embraced in the letters
they thus give with the view of strength
ening themselves at home. Even if Or
binary letters of recommendation were
entitled to weight, it is morally impossible
that those who are to make the appoint.
mnhs can read them.
We presume that there is an average Of
quite one hundred letters presented, in
connection with every appointment worth
five hundred dollars in an Administra-
tons gift. So, to read them all, would
H. e e,