Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-09-22
Fitness of Candidates for office

customed to uphold the nominations Of par
ty, having of late changed their tone, for
they have seen that the unftness Of men
filling public station is bringing the country
! into disgrace, and seriously damaging the
bes: interests Of the people. What is true
of the whole country is true Of all its sub
divisons-states, counties, municipalities,
towns, and villages. The chances Of can.
vass, and the various grounds Of expedi-
ence and policy upon which they have here
tofore been conducted by the leaders and
managers OF party; the necessity of nomi-
mating men ofnegative qualities and char
acter; the policy of conciatirg thie, that
and the other class of men, and the clamor
ofparty hounds whose growlings could not
be silenced except by throwing them office ;
the necessity of managing so as to lead
along the voters who are most controlled
by professions or easiest entrapped by man.
agement; the influence Of the grog shops
Of old national animositcs, or of national an
tipathies; in fine, the power Of a great va.
rlety Of causes or Influences, call them what
you will, have all contributed, in the hands
OF small politicians to reduce our politics to
mere struggle for Office and our Office hold
ers TO men CONSPICUOUS as vaueless cyphers,
or as partisans or political managers. withou,
character or qualification for office. We have
some able men in office in various stations
of public life, but they are exceptions TO a
general rule. The rejecting portion of
community are casting about for remedy
for 50 alarming an evil. The seal placed
BY the power of party on the mouth Of this
newspaper press is removed, and it now
speaks patriotically and boldly upon the
hitherto forbidding question. What should
be done 10 prevent incompetent men from
obtaining office? Obviously the sensible
portion Of community must see that no op.
Fortunity is afforded for the nomination Of
inferior men. Let men howl party and ex.
pcdency until their throats arc dry, and
their voices husky with exerlion-it is no
longer of use. We wish for men in all our
offices who are competent and qualified for
the position. Let party hacks and policy
candidates be put down. and let us look
upon charity, experience, and general mer.
1t as worth something to their pos'essor, and
worth something to the people in our pub
lie offices. In every Office, from the hish
est to tie lowest, the character and quail.
hcations of the man are OF more importance
than his efficiency at the polls, or his inllu
ence in the low lanes and grogshops of
city. The people, under the inf renee of
packed caucuses and conventions are forced
to the election Of men To whom they would
not entrust any private business of mpor.
tance, and they devolved upon them trusts
of the most delicate nature, involving the
management Of large sums. when, as indi-
viduals, they would not lend them one dol
lar of their money. The fitness of men for
lolHce has been measured by their capacity
to drink beer or guzz.e whisky, BY their
power Of Influencing Oh controlling ilei FIR.
eign vote or some other equally disgrace.
full reason, and whether { candidate was
a capable man for the position nsvcr made
the subject of inquiry Whether the can
dldae could read or write is not made
question; but, will hc ego down." 'has b.
done or said anything to otfrnd any class OF
persons ?" are matters of the last importance.
The result is, that any true men, fall grown
men, whose discharge of off .al duties
would be beneficial To the pub ic how much
soever they might be offensive to that class
OF persons who have everything to fe
from faithful discharge Of their duties
such men are very rarely presented for of
fee, without it be for Judicial positions, fop
. ltph hinb raf al,o al A:
zan politician is wise enough to know his
utter unftness. Heaven send US a better
day, and arouse the sober thinking portion
of community to sense of this vast evil
The people have been robbed and cheated
enough, by corrupt Office holders; they
have suffered enough in their estate from
incompetent, muddIe. headed aud pariizan
Office holders, TO make an exefton at least
to fill their own Offices with good men.
Let US consider another matter of eoual
importance. and that Notwithstanding
all the clarnor, and the nonsenscal talk of
small men about the democrotic principle OF
giving every man chancr-always to re.
tain good men in all places of responsibility
and great Importance, until some better
reason is found for turning them out than
than the silly one of rotation in office Prn-
ciples OF action which all men would reject
as the basis of their own business, we ap-
ply very freely TO the public business; the
large manufacturer offers increased wages
to a competent foreman or superintendent
and resists his leaving employment, and
yet, at every election, we cast votes for
men to til offices of great responsibility. and
Of complex and intricate trust, and for which
the candidate is no better fitted than he is
for interpreter to the Emperor of China or
the Dey of Aligiers.
We believe better day is dawnins upon
us; the light begins to streak the eastern
sky, and illumine the political horizon with
auspcious rays. The people are long suf
fering and full of charity for all faults. We
mean the real people; the sober. honest
thinking, right minded portion Of all our cit.
liens; the people who love the country;
who have homes and children and dearly
priced institutions at stake; the people are
coming to realizing sense of the unworth-
mess of many Of their servants, and will