Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-08-29
The Struggle for Office.

1t would be unjust to impute selfish and
ambitious motives to every man who offers
himself, or suffers himself to be offered by
his friends, for a public Office ofhigh respon-
sibility and fat emoluments, in the fulflment
of which great talents are required, and
important duties to be performed. 1t may
be. and perhaps is, natural for all men to
possess an instructive desire to serve their
country, and if so we can excuse those men
for their imprudence in being ambitious to
serve their country, but who have not sufi-
Gent mother wit to discern their great dis
qualifications to fill the Office to which they
aspire. A man may be possessed Of an
abundance of the amor patri@, and yet be
wofully deficient in the mental capacity to
serve his beloved country.
As far as patriotism is concerned we will
grant that all aspirants possess about the
same amount. But in regard to qualifca-
tons it were we'll to make a judicious dis
elimination. A mans love for his country
may all be very we'll and very useful as a
voter, but when that love is brought to be
exercised in a different manner it may prove
to be a heavy clog to the /" wheels of govern
ment" and the advancement of national
prosperity.
But we have strayed from the channel of
thought we had marked out when we wrote
our caption. We designed to drop a few
hints in reference to the prevailing passion
for Office and station, which, in a peculiar
manner, seems to characterize the progress.
sive and patriotic times in which it is our
fortune to live. 1t is enough to bewildel
ones sober senses to see the great and mar
v%ellous amount of wisdom and patriotism
which now and then suddenly break out up
on us from every quarter of the political
horizon, and which seem to ensure the safe
E ty of the Republic for a thousand years tt
come. And among all these great source.
and resources of a republican prosperity
and longevity, which is more convincing anC
gratifying, than the fact of an innumerabl,
company of gifted and patriotic men
being always ready, as a corps in advanc
and a corps in reserve, to take the places o
the ms as soon as they can be made, I.
fair means or foul , crestfallen : OUTS
!, This stife for the '~loaves and fishes i
truly surprising, in view Of the admonitc
ries recorded in the history of ancient an
modern people. 1t is a notorious fact tina
: most public servants are, in the end, mos
" ungratefully and shabbily paid for their /;
: bors. Many a public servant, after he ha
gained a coveted position by hard fougE
! battles, has been willing to surrender th
: imperial purple of power, in order to quietl
q attend to their potatoes and cabbages.-
Many have gone into profound seclusion
- order to escape the hollow mockery of adj
II lation offered by a whining public to ofici;
dignity and station.
G. We would that there was more indepel
y dence in the public officers Of the day.
" When men are forced, as it were, into publ
- stations, instead of an endless scramble b
. ing necessary to obtain position then we ms
expect to see our Offices appropriately file
with competent men who would feel sui
n GENTLY independent to serve the publ
at without fear or favor, according to the Coz
in stitution and the laws, honestly and console
n tiously. x