The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-11-06
COLUMBIA.
Wednesday Morning, Nov. 8. 1867.
Tho Age OF Corruption.


in the revenue department.. Distil-
aers, cigar-makers, and other manu-
facturers, are all vieing with each
other to swindle the Government,
and pocket tbs money that should 60
into the Treasury. SO many frauss
as are chronioled by the press, al :
indicative of fraud in the officials,
for they could not be committed
without their connivance, at least,
and that connivance, is unquestion-
ably paid for. But the revenue
officers go further than this, from all
accounts, for it is stated that in many
cases, the officers are hand and glove
With 1hie sTinddiors; and instances
have come to light, of brothers and
cousins of the revenue men, being in
partnership with distillers and othors.
who rob the Treasury. !.
There is no doubt bet that this
evil, which grows with incredible
celebrity in this country, especially
for the past few years, has remote
origin in the nature of our institu-
tions, but more directly to the politi-
.cal organizations growing out Of
sthem. There should be a higher
qualification for Office than that of
being an active and influential party
man, and a higher certificate of fit
ness and qualifications than the en-
dorsement of a party Congressman,
who has been, perhaps, elected
through the exertions or influence of
Che applicant, to whom, therefore, he
owes debt of gratitude. It is, there
fore, that availability takes the place
of merit or fitness.
The organization of the corps of
officials in the civil service in other
countries, is different. Very rarely
although there are dishonest men
everywhere-will a government Off
eial be found O defaulter in Great
Britain, France or other European
Governments. Some years ago, on
official report to the British Govern
0aent, was compressed into single
sentence, which is applicable in this
country: Admission to the civil
service is, indeed, sought after, but
it is for the unambitious and the in
.dolent or incompetent, that it is
chiefly desired"
This report had its due effect, and
competitivep preliminary examinations
now invariably precede appointment
to Office. In France, Napoleon 1
laid down a rule, "that all public
Offices should be filed by the most
competent persons, and that rule,
through all the political changes in
France, holds good. The North
-Americasa RevieU says that the Ger
man States are more advanced than
any other country, in their system of
examination. This is, probably, the
Sohly country in the world, where q
system of examination and promo
tion does not exist in the civil,
though it exists in the military and
naval service.
1t is for this reason that corruption,
incompetency and laziness, rule su-
preme in the administration of the
duties and responsibilities of the
civil service of this country. We see
but little encouragement to hope for
any improvement or amelioration.
The crowd of politicians-no matter
TO what party they belong-make
common cause when it comes to any
invasion of the present system of
patronage and spoils-in short, the
whole people who have made politics
their hobby, for material gain or
party ascendancy, are utterly de-
moralized. But another people,
those who bear the burden Of taxa
tion, who have some moral principle
left, will come to the rescue, and
prevent hundreds of millions, now
fraudulently withheld from the Golfers
of the Government, from being ap-
nronriated tO the Dersona1 11se Of