New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-05
PARTIES AND OFFICE.

"
Certain journals, which did their best to keep
the Republicans out of power, now clamor
agsnst the use of that power to ill subordinate
Offices with men who have aided TO achieve their
triumph. Their argument runs that, because the
country is involved in a perilous civil war,
wherein all parties cheerfuUy and heartily unite
to maintain the Union and the Constitution,
therefore the Democrats who hold Office under
Mr.. Buchansn's appointment ought to be con-
tnued in place.
But this rule is only allowed to work one way.
When Gen. Jackson summoned the Nation
around him to resist and put down the NulliGers'
rebellion, Wings yied with Democrats in the
unanimity and heartiuess of their response; bat
nobody suggested that Gen. Jackson should
thereupon divide the civil Offices between the
two parties, and he never thought of doing any
thing Of the sort Why should the rule that
served then be repudiated now
Two months ago. the Democrats carried the
Municipal Election in st. Louis previously Re
publican. Did they leave tho Republicans 10 Of
fee Not they They pitched them out neck
aud heels at the frat opportunity. So in other
cities where popular disgust at the hesitation to
reinforce Fort Sumter threw as temporarily into
minority Nobody suppOses or imagines it
would he otherwise in Philadelphia, in Rochester,
in Chicago if the Republican osccndency should
in like manner be subverted there Yet Demo
Gratis and Republicans in those cities heartily
unite in unfolding the Union. Why should that
fact constrain Republicans 10 keep Democrats in
nd a. ~ Ia
turn out Republicans
There is a confusion Of IDEAS involved in the
assumption We are combating Supporting the
Union is one thing; supporting the Admins
tratiOn quite another Many will fight for the
one and directly vote against the other, as they
have perfect right to do. 1t is BY 10 means
tie special duty nor the special interest Of Re-
publlcans to maintain the Union. The States we
thus save 10 il will doubtless vote 70 turn US out
of power On the fret opportunity. On the other
hand, our Democratic UnioniIts are fighting not
only to preserve the Union but TO extend and
consolidate their own power. With the present
Slave States in the Union, they can probably
rule il three terms out Of four; lei Secession be-
come q fixed fact, and their chances of future us-
tendency will be materially lessened As patriots,
we are grateful for their enthusiastic devotion TO
the Union; as Republicans, we feel that in sue
tanning the Union We are working for them quito
as much as they are for us.
Whenever the Democrats shall be willing 10
divide the merely ministerial aud subordinate
places under the Government fairly between the
two parties, fix their salaries permanently Oh
moderate scale, and say, Henceforth no man
I" shall bo removed from aby place which pays
81 less than 81, 900 q year except for proved in
capacity OF malieasance," we are ready to
unite with them in Il firm, iErcy0Cable compact
TO live up to that rule. But 60 long "a they
turn out nearly every opponent whom the for
tunes Of politics bring within their reach, we
cannot do otherwise tLan follow their example.
Thoy began this game wantonly and without e&-
Cuse. Whenever they shall be willing to make
en- end OF it, On authentic intlmation Of that
change of heart will be promptly re-
.ponded 20. Meantime, We protest against
tho retention in custom-houses, post.OfIicos
&C., Of Democratic clerks, inspectors,
&c, who got in BY prescription, and
kept 10 by giving money and effort to help defeat
the Republicans If you say the incumbcnts are
needy we answer there are Republicans equally
needy and more deserving. If you say the in.
cumbents are for Che Union, we say there are
Republicans at least equally so, and who are
certain to remain Unionists whether in or out OF
Office. If you say You are opposed to prOscrip-
ton, We respond that we seek to rcbuke and
punish prescription, and if possible to convince
our antagonists that it is not only wrong but un-
profitable. Thus only can We hope TO establish
q iuster and more benofcent system, Finally We
urge that naked justice, to say nothing Of graft
tude, demands that tho places held by Democrats
under our Republican Admnistration--by Demo
crats who were appointed because Of their pre-.
sumed efficiency as partsans--sbouli be given to
Republicans, many of whom were removed and
all prescribed by the last two Administrations.
We call upon the repositories of Federal power
to do justice in the premises, and do it soon.