The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-20
he Use and Abuse OF Public Patronage.


In the earlier days of the republic removals
from Office for opinions sake were compare
lively unknown. The civil service was looked
upon very much as we now look upon the
military or the naval service, from which re-
movals are made only for cause. Is he
honest is he capable were the only questions
asked in those days of an applicant for ONCE
This state of things prevailed down to jack
sons time, when a new doctrine was lnIro-
duced. "To the victors belong the spolls
was the political cry which then, for the first
time was heard 1t has since become set
tied maxim of action with all parties; and
whether really good or bad in its efiects, there
ia no present probability of its being abro-
Oated. II has come to be settled that when
aver n marty triumphs at the polls, it has
y;obt 10 All all the offices of the Government
with its friends. The popular verdict Is held
to imply that the Offices shall be given to the
political party which, under the forms OF the
Constitution, the people have Just invested
with power. So, whenever, at general cleo
ton, o change is made in the political COM
plexion of the country, the defeated party
retires gracefully from Office, and the success
ful party quietly steps into power.
There is no prescription in this. II is a
settled rule of political action, common to all
parties, and well understood when men take
Office. They ally themselves with whichever
party they choose, and then they take their
chances with the party. Removals from Office
are, then, merely incident to change in ad-
ministration in accordance with the verdict
of the people. The fortunate recipient Of an
office under the new regime is merely reaping
an incidental advantage from the triumph OF
his party. Removals and appointments are
made, not with view to affecting public
opinion, but merely of conforming to it; not
as a price to induce men to change their
political relations, but merely as the legiti-
mate reward OF their previous party associa-
tion; not with view of modifying the domi-
nant public sentiment, but of yielding obe-
dience to it. This is the proper, legitimate,
and sanctioned rule of political action in this
country with reference to the disposal OF
public offices, as carried out by all parties for
the last thirty years.
But we are now witnessing the Inaugural
tion of very different scheme, and one most
corrupting in its tendencies and most degrad-
ing in its influences. We are beholding the
patronage Of the general Government used,
not in conformity with the dominant senti-
ment of the country, but in defiance Of it;
not as the incident of party triumph, but as
the instrument of creating a false and fac
tious public opinion; not as a means of carry
ing out the popular will, but as device for
overriding it; not in obedience to any
change in the dominancy Of parties, but as
the corrupt means for creating such change.
By all the recognized rules of party action
in our country, the Republican party is
entitled to fill the offices of the general Gov
ernment 1t has tliumphed at the polls. Its
sentiments are endorsed by the people. II
is the dominant political power. Yet in
defiance of these facts, we find Republicans
daily removed from office, and their places
filed with Democrats. This is proscri ption
d for opinions sake. 1t is political treachery,
for it is the use of political patronage against
the Republican party by those whom that
party has elevated to power.
When, therefore, Republicans complain of
their removal from office, they do so not
from any improper or unusual love of office,
but because they are deprived of that to
which, by all the settled rules of political
action in this country, they are Justly enti-
tied. Had James Buchanan, when elected
President by the Democratic party in 1856
Immediately commenced the removal of those
who had supported him, filling their places
with Republicans who had supported hi
competitor, John @. Fremont, we shoulC
have had a case parallel in its main feature
to that now existing.
But 1t is not merely nor mainly as a measur
of injustice and treacheIy to the Republican
party that we complain OF the present use {
public patronage. 1t comprehends grave
evil. 1t is the use Of patronage as direC
means OF controlling votes and carrying eleC
tions that we denounce. What is the diffe
ence, morally, between Offering man ce
tain sum of money for his vote and influence
or offering him an Office worth that amour
of money to him? Each has in it the essen,
of bribery. Each is corrupt and mercenal
means of controlling the mans polite
action. Yet bribery we denounce as one
the meanest and most dishonorable OF crlm
This is altogether different case, as we ha
lust shown, from that OF changes in office
duced by revolution of public sentime
among the people, and authortatively c
nressed at the polls. Offices are then dist
buted to the members of the victorious par
not as bribes to purchase their votes. not