The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-01-09
n POLITICAL vULTUREs.

u~tbo WV csVoV VI uu 0ICNtVrM CuuuYutku
(ssys the Cincinnati Timcs) is the struggle
for the spoils by the victorious party that
Immediately ensues. No sooner has Il been
fully ascertainsd that the candidate Of party
has been elected than those who have made
themselves prominent during the struggle,
and who have not been promised lucrative
position previously as the reward Of their
championship, throng every avenue and por.
tai by which an access can be gained TO the
incumbent elect, and by representations, In
which they are Endorsed by the particular
cotorie In whose midst they have noted, they
claim that for their exertions in his behalf,
they are entitled to a place in which they
can fatten at the public treasury.
Founding their claims on tho ground that
ITO the victors belong the spoils," they forth.
with induct themselves into the belief that
they form the particular vietors, and Of
course can claim the reward. Under these
circumstances, we suppose that, at the pres.
ent time, there 10 not an office in the gift Of
the President elect, outside his Cabinet, md
from that Of Prime MiniAier TO England
down to any Postmastcrship that will pay a
profitable return, for which there are not
scores Of applications, each petitioner con-
sidering himself entitled to it in greater de.
gree than any Of his competitors.
To such an exttnt is this system carried
at the present tims that the incumbent of
the Presidential 4. for the next term has
been forced to dppoint special agent
through whom all interviews must be ma
nGuvered, those that can be evaded occourse
receiving that treatment. or course, then,
those who are the most clamorous, the most
tenacious, who rest neither night or day in
the pursuit Of office, will reap the reward,
while honest and unpretending worth is
thrust aside for the benefit of unblushing
impudence and an assurance that will not
DO denied.
First the victory, and then the scramble
for the spoils. We know not which in the
present case has been, or is the most disns.
trous, degrading, or destructive of the better
feelings of men or the welfare of the insti-
tutions over which they seek control. No
sooner has the tocsin Of victory been sound
cd, than with all the rapnctv of the savage
horde whe swarm the battle field for the pur.
pose of rapnc and punder, come the swarms
who wish 10 prey upon the public treasury.
Vnltnre, h'~k, buzzard and crow, they snuff
the specie laden air, and gather to the feast.
To be able to partake of the banquet,
there are, however, certain Qualifications
The claimant must be recommended by his
former adherence TO the party, or he must
possess an Influence that renders it necessary
he should be bought. Thus once in power
nnscrupulously obtained, the position is I'M.
scrupulously preserved, and the power of
place becomes subservient not to the masses
from which it is obtained but to those who
intrigue to deceive and plumber them to
their utmost capacity. Those who were the
humble servants of the people, suddenly doff
THERE humility, and pnt on the naughty air
Of tho pompous md spoil. fattened official
Good for one Presidential term Mt least, and
ever wntchful ms to the chances of the sue.
censorship, they. at the same time, stand
re'dy to force every avenue that will lead
to their personal aggnndisement
Thus has our government become n nest
of professional politicians and schening
wire-workers. Thus has the public treasury
become plunder.box from which the lead.
ers Of the party who set over it in consulta.
ton devise the easiest means to relieve il of
value. In the meantime the people, tho ex.
eitement of the election being over, sink
into tho ordinary channel of business and
amidst untirng industry on which tax is
laid TO feed the cormorants of the govern.
ment, they forget their former warmth until
they are reused ngain to the duties of anoth.
er electoral campaign. So we 90.
0 Several American papers continue to