The Portland daily press., 1867-07-31

few or no political trafickers in Office; there
were no defaulters; no robbers of the public |
purse; no men Of bad example in nrivate
life; none but men oftried probity, WHO loved
their country and were respected and trusted |
by thepeople who honored them. !
r. Washingtonian doctrines, we fear, have
become quite obsolete. The simple patriot
ism of early times has given place TO selfish
designs and the gaming tables of partizan
craftsmen. Probably those days can never re-
turn. Then the Republic was small, the pop
ulation was sparse and few, and every notion
was absorbed in the patriotic one Of securing
a good government wisely administered. Now
the great object of too many active politi-
clans is to make the most out of the go'e
ment for private ends that Is possible. The
rats ON board the national ship may eat the
grain stored in the hold, but this will not sink
the vessel; and SO political rats in greedy
squads or parties are intent on plans to get
the most out of the public crib for the benefit
of all concerned. ..- ID
After the system of personal i,quiries for
the best men went out of date, the caucus
system was introduced. This was in the lat
ter part of Jefferson's administration. At first
it was looked upon by the convention with
suspicion and adherence, as authorizing
combination of bad men for selfish purposes.
The system, however, gradually worked itseli
INTO favor in the North, but in the South 1t
was never adopted. If the free, voluntary, un-
bought attendance of the honest and intelli-
cent people of either party could always be
secured, in the worthy desire to select the
best and most respectable man for office, this
doubtless, in the present age OF the republic
would be the surest and safest way of nomi-
mating candidates; but alas 1t is not always,
nor even often so. On the contrary, caucus
ses are packed by interested ofice-seekers
whose name is "legion," and system of "trick
and dicker" is praticed upon, which looks on
ly to the cool of the shrewdest manager at
the boards So too, In Presidential and Gu
bernatorial appointments. 1t is not LETT to
the executive to seek out the best man latter
washinton's exanple,) but men press their
claims upon the appointing power with vi
vacity absolutely wonderful. This Is most
mercenary and unpatriotic policy, that ought
never to be encouraged or countenanced by
any Executive Office.
In view of the evils, the corrupting evils Of
an Illegal and irresponsible caucus system,
which wields power behind and over the
ballot box, many good meu amongst US have
mad their thoughts turned to some other and
purer method of bringing candidates forth
for public suffrages. Mr.. Greeley Of the N. Y.
Tribune has several times adverted to the
subject and suggested some course authorized
bv legal inducements and restraints, We
think there are few matters Of political inter
est to which wise heads may just now turn
their attention with greater advantage. salf
sd Under all the circumstances we are not
sure that the system of nominations in the
South, which, as we have sand, always ignored
the caucus system-that also which prevails
in England and the British Provinces-is not
on the whole, better.than the one nov in use
amongst us. There no man is obliged to bar
gain for Office in secret places; but il any
considerable number of citizens are found to
desire any individual for the place, they go to
him and ask him to declare his readiness to
serve in the capacity desired, and announce
himself manfnlly as candidate. Ii this is
office-seeking, it is doing the thing manfully
and above board, not by a secret bargain and
trade rat flied by a packed caucus. In this
case there is no more danger Of too great a
multiplication of candidates, than under the
existing system; it is a thing which, like all
other business, twill regulate ITSELF" no man
will announce himself If he has not toler-
able chance of success; and generally there
can be no chance for more than one out OF
two or three in the field. When a gentle
man, thus solicited, consents to advertise
himself as a candidate for suffrage, he address,
es the electors, either personally, or in print,
declaring his principles. affirming what he
will do if elected, and then the voters know
just the man they are voting for. On this
system the chance for intrigue and fraud is
smal-things which now in too many places
control in popular elections. n9t ~ s ,..
At any rate, we hope some measures may
be devised by the ingenious heads Of our pat
riotic editors and statesmen whereby the peo-
pie may secure honest and competent serv-
ants, and whereby men of different stamp
may not succeed in binding men to their sup
port through the arbitrary power of king eau
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