The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-03-09

me S60oo9SoO - O00oos
There IL much excitement among ne poll
ticiaas and their friends In reference to the pro
liable policy Of Mr. Buchanan-aot upou he
Kansas, or the Cuba, or the Central American
quesions-but upon the far moro m0mentous AMI
vital matter of the rotation of Offices Had Mr..
Buchanan's election been triumph Of the demo
cratic over any other hostile political party, the
traditional practice OF this government in va
eating all the Offices and replacing the removed
officials by adherents Of the new administration
would of course have been expected on all sides
But Y, Mr.. Buchansns election was q retention
Of power in the hands Of the same party, it was
hoped by psi ties holding Office under the gene
raj government that 40 rotation would take
place, and that they would be retained in the
posts they fill.
The anticipation is unfoundet After due con-
sideIation OF the question Mr.. Buchanan has deCid
I'd to pursue the plan Of rotation Just as thorough
~ So if he had succeeded a political opponent in
he Presidency. That plan, indeed, lie 80 clearly
involved by the one term principle to which Mr..
Buchanan stands pledged that he could not have
acted otherwise without obvious inconsistency
II must he understood therefore that from and
after the 4th March instant, every one of the
hundred thousand offices under government with
salaries ranging from $4,000 to $50 year
was and is at the dispesal of the President
Once holders will do we'll to prepare for the
future. There may be cases of course VIII, II
honest and faithful public servants may not have
yet fulfilled their term Of Office. In such cases
Mr. Buchanan may deem fit to allow these par
ties to complete their term, and then act upon
the principle of rotation. But it is well that it
should be generally known that such favors will
be matter Of grace to the incnulbents, and not
in anywise a recognition of any right in them to
the balance of their term Of Office.
With regard to the other and equally impor
tant question to politicians-the selection Of per-
sons to ELL the Offices that will be vacated-the
principles that will guide the judgment of the
President are few and clear In the first place,
the best men Of the party will be the only candi-
dates whose claims will be considered. In
the abundance Of applicants, the President will
be under no necessity of appointing to office
any such men as have aisgraCed past admin
ishouopS uAfu pAo~So nAossS uE'S'h efS Souu'sy
Where the candidates are evenly balanced in
point Of capacity and fitness, the President will
derive advantage from reference to aatecedents
There are politicians whose past lives have been
quiet, orderly, decent, respectable whose ser
vices to the country and the party have been mo-
destly rendered, whose names have not been a
by1ofd in every barroOm, and whose voices
have not always been heard swearing aud scold
ing. Again, there are other politicians whose
whole lite has been series of broils and quar-
rels; whose name has never been oct Of the news
papers, and whose voices have never been raised
except TO bawl injuries at their colleagues, to
spread discussions through the party, and to
bring discredit upon American politics abroad
The experience of the late PresidentiA Canvass
in :hs State will furnish specimens Of this latter
pecies of politicians, even in high Office. As
tween candidates belonging to these tro diff
rent classes. the President can ha to
ye ths preference tn the former. IN ma al
as well as political point of view such die
elimination could not fail to be productive OF
wholesome results. For il these brawlers damage
the party as no one doubts they do, il is equally
certain that they de,noralize the profession Of
politics and invite foreign contempt for the coun-
~ and its leaders.