Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-02-23
.STAUNTON:s
The SpOihs SsSteni.


Ii has been suggested in the Richmond EnqHi-
yer, and seconded BY all the Democratic papers Of
the District, that Convention be held in Staun-
ton some time 10 March to nominate suitable
partisan candidate Of the Democracy for Comms-
sioner of the Board of Public Works Tor this Dis
trict. Whatever good reasons exist to the contra
. ~, still the Democracy having majority in the
District, will, ofcourse, make this election party
e9ntest.
=. Prescription o. opinion sake''-''To the vic
tors belong the spoils'-may now be appropriate
~ inscribed upon the banners Of the Democratic
party of Virginia. We regard it as altogether
proper THAI political Offices should be sought thro
party organizations and filled by party appoint
ments. And "pary spirit" rs good and desirable
10 Its proper place but when it is brought to bear
upon offices which have political relations what
ever, and lis influence is to be admitted into our
most ordinary occupations, it becomes dangerous
and corrupting in its tendencies and Practices
II suits the purposes of party leaders to keep up
and infams party spirit. Their bread depends
upon it, They would, if they could, make every
Office of any sort, a mere feed trough for party
hacks. And if one party adopt the pOlicy-the
ether must do likewise; the Wings must hereaf-
ter fight fire with fire.
Notwithstanding the despicabe condition Of
New York, where this policy has been pursued to
its necessary result-and "New York politics"
has become synonyme for political corruption
Old Virginia has condescended to follow her ex-
ample. Offices of great or little honor and profit
are TO be melted out, proportiouay, as rewards for
great or little party service. We are told that
henceforth the Directors and officers in the banks
TIE officers oflnternsl Improvement Companies,
and in short every office of any character within
the reach fparty power, will be filled by partisan
appointment. Even the DirectOrship feleemOsy
nary Institutions, has recently been claimed and
appropriated aro,cediy, as legitimate party spoils-
on the reasoning that though politics are no,
concerned, yet if there be aay honor or profit in
the post, then the Democrats shall give it to Dem
scrats rather than to Wings. This reasoning
holds good much farther, and Democrats mus
therefore prefer Democratic Pastors, and Doctors
aud Merchants, and Millers, and ali ether associa
tons, until party comes up to disgust US in ca
very doughtrays and on our tables like the plague:
sfEgypt.
The great "Apostle Observation-Disclosures
taught golden rule as test for office. 81
HI HONEST, IS HE CAPABLE, IS he FAITHFUL tt
THE CONSTITUTION % Modern Democracy only
asks, as he ytaiH.fid TO Our party?" HencefortE
he who prizes political honors will find them no
as the need Of that better ambition which lead
him through midnight study and daily thought Il
comprehend the great problems of the science o
government, and to hope to elevate himself only
she eleyates his cOuntry,-but now needs only
70 catch up the watchwords Of tho party, to har
angue by tho hour at musters and barbacues, anC
most successfully