The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-13
Something for Nothing.

IRON the tribune.
We published few days ago the affecting
story OF young man in this city who has had
the misfortune to lose 1000 in gambling. We
trust that this youth is duly repentant and has
both the disposition and ability to go to work.
The passion for becoming suddenly rich which
afIlicts this country land several others), if you
examine it closely, sPonly an intense desire to
get something for nothing, to ravish fortune, to
extort luck from the destinies, and to make indo.
ence serve us the tuln OF genuine labor. We do
not dare to compute the number of needy men
who at this moment are asking, or mean to ask,
Mr.. Andrew johnson to give them an Office.
Now We admit, TO begin with, that there must
be offices, and that men must be found to hold
them; But why is it that there is such a rush
for these precious places? for the little ones,
especially, which have but meagre stipends
attached TO them2 Are all honest trades smit-
ten by palsy? Is there no earth lett to dig in
Is there nothing remunerative to be done at
sea or on shore? Why this especial eagerness
to serve the Government and 10 handle the
Government paper money? The answer to
this question will not be creditable to the high
and mighty business OF ofiice-seeking.
Places are spoken of as rat" as ''snug" as
comfortable;" and these adectives mean that
in drawing their salaries the holders get paid
far work which they do not perform, which
other men would be very glad to do for a
great deal less money, which is more honora-
Bile, or respectable or easy than ordinary
avocations. There may be exceptions to the
rule. There are we believe, offices so small
that it is not worth while for any but a real
patriot 10 hold them, though even as to SUCH
the contagion is predominant, and hungry
suppliants will take these if they can get
nothing better. But just so far as the emolu-
ments of a place are disproportionate to its
labOrs, it is a prize in the lottery of politics,
stake for which gamblers deal and shuttle and
cut. The scrambling show brings us back to
the old rmula-sonlet ething for nothing!
But the season reminds us that perhaps this
phrase is not exactly accurate; several impor-
tant elections are closely at hand; the eytraor-
dInaIy and wIliul impolicy OF the President is
to be passed upon and thus 1t happens that men
have a chance OF earning political rewards, and
OF establishing personal claim upon the ap-
pointing power 1t is an opportunity we may
be sure, which will, by no means, be neglected.
Ten men will engage i'll doing what one could
do much more eifectually, and will be noisily
prominent in hailing their chief, who, in
triumph, will not ADVANCE; they will give their
time, wind muscles, endurance, pride, dignity,
and conscience, to a cause which it would puzzle
them to define, and puzzle them still more to
defend; and they will Go this in the forlorn hope
of turning out neie ehbor, and of crawling COM
fortably into his nest. To effect this they will
attend thin caucuses, and, maybe, make thinner
speeches.; they will subscribe their money (if
they have any; they wilt travel to conventions
and help to officer them, and, generally, they
will do what they can to earn recognition and
reward. But it is all of piece. Morally, their
labors are Of no value; they aid their party in
although they may win the salve of Office, it is
perfectly clear that they will not deserve it. So
in the end, il they get place, it will be-some-
thing for nothing!
But the chances are that, after ALL the some
thing will slip through their fingers. There is
but one place for the ten, and they are all
equally hungry. Nine, therefore, must weep and
wall and gnash those teeth for which they have
no other use. The doctrine of chances is dead
against them. man may be struck by light
ming, but he would hardly like to rest his
chances of salvation upon dying in that way.
50 man may get an office. No. may be ap-
will have bemired themselves in vain. Their
hopes will be blasted. Their expectations will
be disappointed Their hearts will be broken.
Their status as respectable members of the body
polite will be lost Their wives and children
(poor creatures y Will be mortified and grieved
Their sycophautic speeches about Andrew John
son will never be forgotten; and they will be cut
of from all decent chances, in the future of
making something from nothing!
There is no game so desperate but somebody
Will be found out-at-the-elDows enough to ad-
venture ii. Itis very fortunate for this country
that the vast majority of voters do not want
oflce, and could not be bribed to take it, As
| General karnsworth said, in his speech few
country are not to be bought up by petty post
Offices" and ii they were. there are not post
offices enough to carry on the trade. The can
Yassing will be very fast and furious for some
time TO come, and when an honest voter is
asked TO so cast his ballot that his neighbor may
be made postmaster his best answer, perhaps,
will be that he is not in the habit OF giving
something for nothing.