The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-16
A SIG NIFICANT SIGN OF
DECADENCE.

of office, - shocked for time, the moral sense of
the people, and raised storm Of indignant cen
sure about the head OF him who uttered it, But
such Is the easy grade down.
wards, in all communities, and such the tempta-
ton which that doctrine holds out to those who
rank themselves among yicto"s, " that however
deleterous the carrying it out may be to the coun
try at large, il at once became the rule OF the
party then and now in power, and has continued
to be the only permanent principle OF that party,
with great 1sGthfulness, denominated "the public
plumber party"
But how much soeyer we may lament the adop-
cal action, we are compelled to admit that it has
proved to be the great source Of strength, and
cause of success to the party adopting it; for il
has held out temptation and inducement, though
q mean and sordid one, to all such as have more
ambition than moral principle, greater love of
Office and its enoluments than love of country, to
join those who promise plenty and plumber as
reward for joining their ranks; as the general
who promises plenty Of beauty and booty is
sure to fill his ranks with soldiers, who fight for
plumber and extended rule" That the plumber
party have been continually recruiting from the
Wing ranks, by means Of the temptation thus
held out, we are, however Illuminating the fact
may be, compelled to acknowledge. To be con-
yinced that this has been the case to very great
extent, one has only to see who are the most ac-
tive political men in the several States, and ex.
anime into their antecedents. We could readily
name more than one hundred prominent men,
those who have held and are holding high and in
fuentia stations in that party, who were once ac-
tive, Jealous, and, as We then believed, honest and
sincere Wings Wings from principle; Wings
because they held to Wing doctrines, and con-
demned the demoralizng course and the spoils
principle of the Democrats men who zealously
advocated Z" the union of the Wings, for, the sake
of the Union"
The same may be said in regard to the Ameri-
can party. Its rise was rapid, and for time APP
peared as if it were destined to possess the power
Of "rewarding friends and Furnishing enemies !"
hit pben from some untoward circumstances the
lido and prospec.. were changed, those who had
rushed into il with the merceaarY nope OF obtain
inc by its success the spoils Of Office" rushed out
end over to the other side with haste, speed,
and 40 anxiety truly ludicrous, and amusing
and il is wonderful with what serious pertinacity
far exceeding that of Peter. when ne denied
his Lord and master, they now deny ever having
had any sympathy or connection with the Ameri-
can party But the American cock may crow one
oe ~ -a4 days, and they may then be as sorry Tor
- Deter was.
'n sn uei''ai 40 remarks is the following
~ OCCASION u 'heSe II assumption
'hos' tAuaoruinary Proposiuon a. -tV-fYe
ltsmely, that it is the duty of the tweu..
hous,and postmasters in the United States to do
What p. bat which has heretofore been understood
@ be their duty? Not at all but that they must
hereafter become an active corps to solicit sub
,cribes and advertising for Democratic newspa-
pers We call especial attention to the language
here used, and the significant hints intended to be
to postmasters, that the tenure of their
offices depends upon their activity in procuring
subscribers for Democratic papers, and their sup
pressing the circulation of those opposed to "the
plundor party"
What nexts Yes, in the name of liberty and
free government, we ask, what next? We sup
pose we shall soon be told that the mail belongs
o " the plumber party" and that none but their
own party papers have any right in IL nor would
It SUR rise us very much to see an order from the
Postmaster General to postmasters, mail contract
DTS ard agents. TO throw out of the mail all news
papers opposed to that party. Such an order
would be no more extraordinary non than the
immune citation that "to the victors belong the
,pols of Office" would have been in General
w AsHlSGToS's time, or even in the younger
Adamss, nor the app arance Of such an article as
the following in respectable paper during AID.
ams's administration it would then have shocked
the IN Jral serse of the whole country:
Here is I'll article, read it, ponder tit Is one
Of the loadstones which serve to mark how far
inscriptions partisan politics, and the spoils
doctrine" have carried us from the straight line of
national recttude laid down for us in Washing
toms Farewell Address; how far we have departed
from The heightened political morality which char
acteri1od "the better days of the Republic"
" Postmasters are not bound by law to aid the
circulation of any newspaper, and il is their duty
to fur nish the accommodations of the mail service
to all But they are indebted for their offices to
their political friends TO which they belong Their
duty TO that party-simply good faith to their po-
litical associates-requires that they should not
labor in behalf Of the principles of the enemy and
engage in their dissemination. Nay, more COM
mon honesty requires that they should so far
as they reasonably can, reciprocate the kindness
of the party which has conferred Office upon Them
by aiding in upholding its principles and perfect
ing is organization, and contributing to its sue
cess. In no way can this so conveniently and eff
cientlg be done by them, as by extending the cir
cuat1n of Democratic newspapers.
here is not postmaster at the smallest coun-
try hamlet who cannot by small amount Of labor
and little tact, increase the circulation of Demo
cratic newspapers in it's neighborhood. Where
postrlosters refuse to recognize their obligation to
their political friends TO do this and especially
where they engage in circulating black Republican
newspapers, it is perfectly fair nay it is the duty
of selfpreservation, for the Democratic party 10
dispense with their services, and bestow their
Offices upon those who have more correct appre-
citation political duties.
More than this, these postoffce appointments,
SO iorg as IL is agreed that they are political Ones
should be in efficient hands They should be be-
slowed upon those who have the disposition and
the 8 i'll to aid and strengthen their party in the
locality, and where they are now in hahds which
fail TO accomplish this end, changes should un-
hesitah ngly be, made. On no other principle Of
distributing political patronage can party be sus-
fainnC In tho en- nf noo e~J