Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-11
RICHMOND wHIG.
From tho London Times. March q.

RICHMOND WHIG.
From the London Times, March 81
ear tnai many OF our readeas have never distinctly
represented 70 themselves what is by Goverrmen
vast are the evils it implies; what syste.
matte corruption, what curtalment Of public bertv what
permanence OF electoral abuses what monopoly by one
privileged class oil advantages paid for by and therefor
properly the property OF the whole nation, what e1cu
s'oh OF merit what promotion Of ncapacity If these
things were properly understood and appreciated the
the small and petsosging objections with which the re-
form OF the civil service Ia beet would be felt to be alb
souey ridiculous aud the prospect of an enormous good
would completely overpower the apprehension of those
minute and nconsdeable with which th
as well as every other great and beneficial change must
oe accompanied The abolition OF patronage The very
sound o the words has something in IL almost too bryb
and promising 10 he real triumph over the ordinary
seihshness and short sghtedness OF Governments such as
me most sangune could have hoped vr the most cor
'upt IaSe feared At present the power o! obtaining
places in public Offices the annual number of which il va
r'ousy estimated at from $50 25O ia entirely denied
every Class 10 this country except the members of the
tHo houses OF Parliament and their immediate conner.
IONS The people psy for enormous army ofpublc SER
wants ou have no power OF entering their own SER
VICE Mhe every other country in the world or less
ahve 10 The advantage Of English skill steadiness and
rdustry,-whiie has become proverbia that wherever
there be done requiring these qualities some
hr smith Is sure to be fnund To do it, alone of all na
lions wifry renouoce the treasures We possess and in
'tead OF placing public service within the reach of
the most worthy, hand to political parties and on
aoe the heads OF great families and the thick and thin
supporters OF the Government OF the day to provide a
the expense and to the exclusion the ope of England
Tor their younger brothers. their poor relations and their
elecuoneerins agents The practical English mind seems
as YET 10 have formed no higher idea ofa situation in a
public office than that of adjunct 10 scany official a.
larry or a reward Of political support
lhe public feeling undoubtedly recos from bribery at
least in the form Of hard money moneys worth but
never ssms TO have considered that the whole system of
government patronage is nothing more nor less than
giganiic system OF bribery, which is made means OF
unouy Influencing and perverrg the integrity both of
Parliament aud of the Constituencies member who |
accepts iavors from Government notorou,y not free
exercise an uniecred Judgment; aud of what do those
avors generally consist They places the
which handed him by Government in exchange
for his vote and battered by him an equivalent for
support oi his constituents While such system is suf
eied TO exist Reform Bill however stringent provi
ols against bribery, however strictly framed will nut
stop to coriuptDg and degrading influences or leave the
minus o, electors and representatives free discharge
ably and mpariay the duties of their several
The evils of such organization is that il presents
weapon just capable OF being used in defence of the
wrong as OF the right and enss the side OF corrup
ton the sympathies Of men whom nature and education
had meant Tor better things No case aud no man can
under such be regarded solely on their own
merits truth is nearly brought down a level with false
hood, anu helpless stupidity with tried ability. We NAV
put all end TO bribery by individual resources but so long
as the public content to supply never-ing ouptaS
OF corruption from which those who will stoop low enough
ca
be eradicated or greatly mitigated.
Passing from the effect OF patronage as me ans of cor
ruptng and deteroa.ing Parliamentary government and
therefore iLimcsi to dearest liberties and highest in
etests let what its must necessarily be ON The nub
lie service Let those Who will deal in ndiscrniuae IIu-
daon OF the inmates of our public offices which argument
can neither support dsprove. We maintain that men
must be produced in keeping the system that produces
hem and thata body OF officials who their position TO
pohc-I considerations viii Certainly better than
the average OF persons in their siluaon of life Every
ability which the salary he gives can command The
public alone content to limit the field choice and to
surrender the test OF qualification. for other purpose
than TO the tolls of office and alleviate the dry
labors of Parliament. Whatever be the difference he.
tween the merits ot person appointed from political
aud one appointed from meritorious considerations
that difference just much lost the country and
lost in order TO perpeuate system most inimical to
rer best interests Let any one compare those colleges
where ieowships close with those where they are
open, and we sure he will be Immediately satisfied of
the justice OF our aks All the laudation in the world
will not satisfy any that the qualifications are equal
where the standard Is lower and the field OF selection
smaller Let any also for moment consider the i'm
pulse given educ,on in this country by the existence
of ofFelowships at Oxford and Cambridge Their incomes
are small in amount according the notions this veal
thy country; they generally cogged with the coud
ton Of taking ore aud the brightest prospect they hold
out is the Headsh'p OF College small country living
The access TO them also barred by the necessity of
residence OF several years expensive University and
by style of examination peculiarly unsued to the o5d
nary affairs ole and therefore implying certain amount
e !
not too much to say that these frugal endowments with
all their drawbacks keep alive the love Of science and lit
erature in this land maintain the standard of our |
Universities, and, through them of our schools |
and thus FIX the amount Of the requirements oi
every English gentleman. If such apparently inadequate
means produce such results who can nea
the effect which would result the national mind
aud character from the opening tho public OF prizes
Infinitely aud valuable than the Upyersi
ties Afford opening prospect OF indefinite advancement
in life and giving to the Of popular education the
whole Of shat stimulus which is wasted on tho eonso
daton OF parties and the cement Of constituencies,
There il not school hro ghout Engand that would not
Immediately feel tho change; education would rise infinite
y in consideration with the middle and higher c.sses and
would not be slow in its reaction the lower All men
would wish to learn for all would have before their ewes
and placed within their reach the rewards and inoite
ments OF learning And vet this scheme, which would
purify our Parliament aud Government would onen tn
merit new career, and to uUrended talent ires, "a
noble profession, which would raise IN, stand,rd
oi political morality aud Of statesmsnEke intslE
genee-thls proposal so noble fruitful so liberal and
20 disineresled s made the theme OF continual detrac
uoh oy men grown gray in pTAng OF popular rights and
euucaona plans aud held reprobation by journals
processing devotion TO democracy and equality TO which
we can make make no preiensiou. Without struggle
without agtai 1t Is proposed voluntarily To surrender
ior the pubic good power iuestimably beneficial |
to the people, and those who assume 10 lead tbnt |
people would teach them to reject the gh to seek for
liberty in corruption when they may have purity for |
medioer'y when they may have talent and for irno-
rance when they may have education and cnlight-
montl
PUBLIC SPEEKING