The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-03-22

NC OMce-SeeAtmX U0mhus
The rage for Office is said to the master
passion of little minds" The rush of Office
seekers to the national capital as we'll as to
certain place nearer home, amply illustrates
the maxim. OF course great many of these
hungry beggars have to be disappointed. Their
fate suggests moral which ought to sink deep
er into the public mind than it has. Happy
is the man whose hopes do not rest upon the
chances of getting Office. Those who in this
alone have hope "are of all men most misefa-
ble." Yet Notwithstanding the untold ankle
ties. disappointments aud disagreeable shifts
in which professional Office seekers always get
involved. the mighty dignity of holding Office
possesses for the American mind remarka-
BILE and in too many cases dangerous fasci-
nation which turns the heads of many in
youth and of some after they get older Often
under the influence of the delusion thew
abandon the pursuit of an excellence and run
after. fame through the devious paths and
labyrinthine mazes of political trickery. The
wonder is that more do not in these treacher-
Gus by-ways lose sight OF all correct moral
standards
This absurd mania for Office is one of the
most disagreeable features of our political sys-
tenn. By debauching the character of nearly
all who suffer themselves to be brought under
the control Of the fatal influence, it democrat
ICES the public service. True merit shrinks
from contact in which it is SO little likely 10
get its deserts. The crowding and pushing
which are the main requisites for success in
the scramble, can but be utterly distasteful to
any unperyerted mind. Before a decent man
can be transformed into o mendicant there is
an "irrepressible" conflict between his better
self and his propensity for Office. If the lat
t.r conquers and he submits to beg his bread
of any political party he thenceforth loses his
independence of character and becomes inca
pable of judging any question on its merits.
In the words of Hamilton, ga power over
mans subsistence amounts to power over his
will" The first thing with such man is to
see how every measure will affect him person.
ally. The merits of the question get if any
thing only secondary consideration. The in
dependent thinking is not done by professional
politicians They are the followers, not the
leaders of public sentiment. 1t is only those
men who have nothing to fear from the loss of
Office that dare to think.
No man has a right to place himself at the
mercy OF scheming politicians by getting into
a position where unforeseen complications
may leave him helpless. 1t is essential to in
dividual independence of thought and action
that a man be able to depend on his own
sources if necessity requires. He cannot do
this sunless he is the muster of some occupa.
ton in which Skill not favor, shall procure
him employment To this untitled aristocracy
every man who values freedom of opinion
ton of our people are really needed for Office
holders and the proportion required will be
constantly diminishing. 1t is part of the
process of amelioration going on in human
affairs that the agencies of government, like
all other agencies, be economical that greater
ends can be achieved with less effort on the
part of the community. The consequences
will be that government Office holders and
office seekers will occupy a smaller and smaller
place in the drama of human affairs. Char
acter, not position, must sooner or later con-
stitute the only claim to distinction.
As tending to bring about this happy result,
to preserve the public service from demoraliz-
alton, and to save our people from this degen-
crate longing for Office which is fast convert
ing us into nation Of Office worshippers, we
have welcomed the Civil Service Bill of Mr..
Jenckes of Rhode Island. It provides for
competitive examinations for positions in the
civil service and practically makes the tenure
of Office good behavior 1t has been tried in
Europe and has worked we'll Tt would com
pletely reform the public service. 1t would
give competent men a chance to get into Office
and would keep them there as long as they
did their duty. There would be comparatively
few offices left to scramble over on change of
administration, and consequently a much
smaller scramble. 1t would restore the palmy
days of the Republic before Gen. jackson set
the bad precedent since too strictly followed,
of unfortunately slaughtering his political
opponents. This reform, SO much needed,
encounters Of course the bitter opposition eth
er open or covert of those demagogues whose
only stock in trade is the bribery of the pat
ronage they can control. These unprincipled
knaves as they see the hope of their gains slip
plug away make dismal uproar not of course
about the patronage they are to lose but about
the danger of creating permanent body of
office holders. Patriotic menl The Silver
smiths of Ephesus did not feel more alarm
about the worship of Diana when Pau's
preaching turned the people away from the
iaolatry which was no profitable to the crafts
men. Let the people spot these fellows. They
need watching. Let such a pressure be
brought to bear upon them as shall make them
feel mot only that the people are not afraid to
have competent men in Office, but that this re-
form shall be carried through, with the aid OF
our present Legislators if they consent, without
them If they refuse.