The national Republican., 1861-03-11
APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE.

The administration is of course sorely en-
barrassed by rival claims to Office. The mum.
Der of applicants exceeds, by scores and hun.
dreds, the offices within the gift Of the Govern.
ment. All cannot be satisfied, and the vast
majority must necessarily be turned empty
away. First come, first served, is too much the
rule of appointment, and then the boldest and
most importunate beggar is generally the most
successful. Your modest man stands no
chance whatever. In the practical working
of our Government, the rule that the Office
should seek the man, and not the man the Of.
fee, with rare exceptions, does not obtain. Supe.
ror qualifications have but little to do in the se-
lection of persons to fill public posts, except
those of the highest grade. The choice is al
most universally between self-constituted can
didates. The man whose selfrespect forbids
his joining in the wild scramble, and ostenta-
tiously paradng his deserts and political ser.
vices, is regarded as entirely out of the ring.
Would it not be well to have the principle dis.
tinctly recognised and acted upon, that espe.
cially the important offices should be conferred
with reference to personal merit and qual6ca
ton, without any regard to the fact whether
application had been made for them or not
And then, in regard to applicants, certain
obvious rules of discrimination should be adopt
ed:
First. The weight of recommendations, and
not their number, should be taken into account.
Almost any one can get good natured persons
to sign his papers, either because they dislike
to refuse, especially if the applicant is friend
of theirs, or because they are weared out by
importantly. A general endorsement of this
kind, however numsrously signed, has but little
real value, in comparison with that of a few
persons whose high character and public re.
sponsibility forbid their being used against their
better judgment, by any office.seeker, what.
ever their personal relations to him may be.
Second Professional recommendations, and
duties of the Office to be filed, and the peculiar
fitness of the applicant for their creditable dis
charge, should have very much more weight
than those which are merely political, or which
are given by individuals who, from their posi-.
ton Or mental structure, are incompetent to
JuuSe vi lhe uistilCti'e Quailties VI minu anu
character, and of the educational habits which
oftentmes peculiarly fit one for particular
Office.
Third. Fitness for office rather than polit-
cal service should be taken into consideration.
Not that such service should not be rewarded,
but never to the detriment of the public ser
vice. A man may have made most effect.
i've stump speeches, and yet be entirely untitled
to be at the head Of bureau, or to represent
the Government abroad. No administration
which fills the public offices with mere parti-
sans can escape eventual disgrace. We hope
the new Administration, in its appointments,
will fall back persistently and systematically
upon the good. old.iashioned rule which Of late
years has been too much neglected SIS he
honest, is he capable? ?"
b65- The correspondent of the N. Y. Even.
ing Post is responsible for the following:
1T is understood that the President will re-.
ceiye recommendations from the members of