, 1861-03-16

down aud beset on Suspicion Oh beiHE Oh 3fleHu-
lyterms with Lincoln, what must lie, who is the
fountain Of patronage, suffer from the rave
nous throDgs What must the members ofhis
Cabinet have to enduree What boring must
popular Senators stand? Let School-masters
who deem themselves expert in .>lgeb1a try
their pencils on these problems. But there Is
this to be said: Tile rush and scramble will
not endure but a few weeks, when tbe appli-
capts will cease from troubling, and the AL
ministration will be at rest The rule of rota-
ton in Office, aud the maxim that to the vic
tors belong the spoils, necessarily produce
this competition for place at the incoming Of
an administration. There is no help for il
while the inordinate love Of official employ
1nert continues to be an American character
i5tlc, unless it be !,y taking away The patron
are from the President and making the Fed
cra1 Offices elective, so far as possible. When
this will lie done is hard to foretell. The sins"
will oppose it, and the "outs'' will not urge
ii, rs they expect to be the "ins," next time.
/: Meanwhile, the patronage in the Gift
and at the disposal Of the President
is altogether too large. It has become
one Of the chief causes Of corruption,
and is rapidly dcmoralizing the public
mind, tempting tens Of thousands to set their
affections On Office, and making them believe
it to be the short cut to ease, opulence and
Icnown. Habits Of industry, economy, enter
prise @ud contentme. Of mind are all Eapped
and destroyed BY insane longing for grnb at
Federal pap and plumber. Very few want Of
nr3o +r 4boir nj 3r In
good to the public or benefit the dear people
in any way; but rather to put money in their
pu rses, to pluck the public goose, and to es-
cape from earning their bread by the sweat Of
their broTs. But what is worae, the majority
OF place hunters consider it neither dishonest
nor dishonorab1e to cheat Uncle Sam. The
standard Of official morality has become fright
1u'ly low.
But not to dwell on this topic, and to change
the subject, the new Administration is duly ill.,
Gtalled in Office, aud las q greater and more
; difficult task to perform than ever met an
American President. I have undiminished
faith That Lincoln Will realize the reasonable
these rough notes, fifteen months ago. was
the first man in Washington to raise voice or
! pen for Old Abe for President. At that time
!; Seward, Bates and Cameron were the men
from whom the Republican selection was ex-
!: pected to be made. sChicago" added q
fourth nume to the list, and entered Lincoln
! on the course for nomination. His editorial
]; associates at home promptly seconded the
/ motion, md the TRIBUNE boldly threw its
weight into the Lincoln scales. The mass Of
the people Of Illinois promptly responded
/: though active and industrious politicians
! contended for each Of the other candidates,
j: until the nomination was made, and
/. some Of them we're so grieyed at his nomina-
| ton and Stewards defeat, that they shed bitter
! tears over the result, and remained surIy and
sorehcaded until the popular verdict Of Nov.
Gih was announced. These very persons are
j now among the noisiest and most impudent
! Office borers in Washington; and are pretend
! ing to terms Of intimacy with the President
| and his fami!y at once arrogant and disgusting.
They take advantage Of Linco1n's good na-
| ture to fasten themselves like barnacles upon
=! lis household. They have The brassiness to
| palm themselves of on the Ignorant and un-
/ 6uspectfng as 'sorjginal. Lincoln men," and
confidential advisers. And on reception occa-
sions they may be seen playing the part Of
| masters OF ceremonies and rejecting execu-
; tive sunshine upon the obseauious visitors.
| But this is one Of The phases Of politics, and
! while it creates feelings Of disgust, tneed not
! of surprise.
! In conclusion Of this discursive letter, if
! two winters at Washington, have afforded the
general reader any satisfaction, the writer will
feel amply repaid. However lie may have
fallen short as 4 delneator Of passing events
he Inns lowered the flag Of Republicanism
never an inch, but stood By his guns from the
first day TO the last CHICAGO.