The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-11
The Frightful Scramble for the Spells ut
WashinRtOn-The Doom of the RePub-
lican Party.

The Frightful Scramble for the Spells ut
Washing ton-The Doom Of the Rcpub-
Hcan Party.
The republican party, in the occupation of
our federal government, will soon find itself in
the condition of the poor gardener who re
ceived the present Of an elephant on the con-
dition that he would keep the animal at home.
All accounts from Washington agree in repre-.
senting the scramble for Office there under the
new regime as exhibiting the most revolution.
airy and revolving spectacle which has ever dis
graced the advent Of new administration
this side of Mexico.
In the suggestive letter which, elsewhere in
these columns, we publish to-day, the reader
will find abundant matter for alarm aud refec-
ton. A new horde of vampires has descended
upon the capital. The poisonous infection Of
the public plumber, heretofore confined almost
exclusively to the political cliques and stews
of our great Cities has been diffused broadcast
over the country. The dragons teeth have
sprouted into crop Of armed men, and they
have taken up their march for rule or ruin.
The great West, which stands to the rest of this
continent as Egypt stood to Rome-an mex
haustible granary in times of necessity-the
great West-competent from its local resources
to sustain ten times its present population has
sent forward, close upon the heels of Abraham
Lincoln, an army Of paltry Office beggars, and,
carpet bag in hand, they swarm in the streets
Of Washington.
How are we to solve this demoralizing spec
tacle? Surely there is a boundless field for
profitable labor and manly enterprise in the
great West. Ablebodicd men do not long go
begging there for employment Why, then,
this startling Eruption into Washington of this
army of strong and ablebodied Western men
as miserable Office beggars? We answer again,
it is because the corrupting infection of the
spells, heretofore limited to professional poll
tcians, has been diffused into the masses of the
people. The stupendous lobby swindling ope-
rations of the last ten years; the hideous cor
ruptions of our political parties; the growth of
extravagant and luxurious ideas among our
people; the mania for luxury without labor.
and for wealth by any means; the losses of
individuals from financial panics and moonshine
speculations; the widespread impression that
the pickings and stealings Of almost any public
Office are without limit, and the delusion that
the life of even poor clerk In Washington is
that of nabob, are among the causes which
will account for this Western army of office
beggars, carpet bag in hand, parading Penn
sylvania avenue.
II must also be remembered that for eight
consecutive years the political elements op.
Guided from the pickings and profits of the
federal treasury; and that having, in despe-
rate Northern combination, expelled the demo-
cracy, the successful party are simply demand
ing new division of the spoils, and complete
expulsion of the Office holders turned over to
the mercy Of the new dynasty. Unfortunately,
however, there are at least ten applications for
every Office, great and small, within the gift Of
Abraham Lincoln. He has no power to make
his give loaves and two fishes" sufficient for
dinner for five thousand hungry men. For
every adherent secured to his administration
in an Office bestowed he will make nine enc.
mics on account of an Office denied. The con-
sequence VIII De, as In the case OF poor Pierce,
that the first year Of his administration will
mark the disruption Of the party which has
brought him into power.
This is the meaning of this frightful scramble
at Washington for the spoils. We see 10 it the
doom of the republican party, leaving the great
issues Of disunion and peace OF war out of view.
But, taking into the estimate the seeded South
ern States, their Independent federal govern
ment. and the critical tenure upon which the
border lave States adhere to the Union, and
considering that while domestic peace Is
our first necessity, civil war is our greatest
danger, the policy and the duty Of Mr..
Lincoln are plainly indicated. Let him not
like poor Pierce, attempt to consolidate
bis administration upon the basis Of the
sroils; but let him rather look fest TO the
peace Of The country and secondly 10 the re !.
storaffun M the I'm ion regard less of tho clam