The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-06-14

The New York Herald the principal or
gan Of Mr.. Buchanan, a paper the best in
formed in regard to the present condition of
the public service, makes the following Sc
we're comments upon the results of appoint
ing unprincipled partizans TO the offices of
the country. They are, we believe, too
sweeping, and are calculated to make an
impression very unfavorable to our national
character abroad. Disgraceful as they are,
there is much truth in them:
All our 0ficeholders are unfortunately
politicians When a man undertakes to do
business as merchant, lie must have some
responsibility, character for integrity, and
a decent respect for the proprieties OF social
intercourse. These are the foundation OF
his credit aud standing in his profession. So,
too, with the professional man, the ship
MASTER the mechanic, and even the common
laborer. Ii they have not common honesty,
sobriety, truthfu4ness, and II certain self
respect in their social intercourse, they cam
not advance in social position. But there
are two classes of society, as things now e.
ist, which do not require these qualities 10
enable them to command success. As soon
as either of them is known to possess even a
lingering regard for truth and honesty, or
decent respect for social obligations, he loses
caste among his fellow-politicians or fellow
burglars. To use their cant phrase, he ceases
to be IAN available man. Both of them
must, in fact, be up to all and any kind of
work required of them.
II ia he p,Iit;ciaps and va ynar n,
say the politicians alone-for the honest
people mind their own business, and the bur-
glar is provided wilh employment in anoth-
er way-get into all the branches of public
service. Not only are our Custom Houses
and Post Offices full of them, but they crowd
out every other class in municipal Office, as
representatives in our State Legislatures and
in Congress, and even in our consular and
diplomatic service abroad. And this is not
a condition that attends oae party alone
IL exists in all parties alike, Democrats,
| wings, black republican and know-nothings
all obey the same law. What the future
| results of such a state of things will be, we
! do not care to prognosticate. Its present
results are tangible on every side. Its ope-
| ration is seen in a Board of Aldermen that
refuses to confirm City Inspector, State
| Legislature scheming to sell the State Ca
mails, and Congress that will not attend to
any other business than that of log-rolling,
railroad jobs, and public land grants, ex-
cept it be on the Mattesen terms of one
thousand dollars head. Its influence has
filled our consular posts abroad with men
who in matters of commerce, do not know
a big b from a bulls foot, and has given us
q set Of diplomatic representatives near for
eign governments who know nothing of the
great public questions Of the day, or of the
history, character or social customs OF
the people among whom they are sen, to
reside and to protect our public interests and
those of our citizens. In a word, pot house
and pewter mug politicians rule the roast
everywhere in our public service.
This state of things requires ventilating
A little wholesome investigation will DO a
heap of good in every department. Such a
movement cannot be better begun than in
the Post Offices, and the recent astounding
Developments in regard tofrauds on the pos
tai revenue furnish an occasion TO begin with
with which the Postmaster Genera. should
pass over. Let us know how these things are
managed; how the public contracts are OBJ
tanned how suretics for public officers are
made secure or remunerated for the risk
they run, and how the public money is
nibbled away, even though il be, Low Der.
like, under the decree OF a court of Justice
New York is good starting point let the
beginning be at New York