Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-05-21
OFFICE SEEKING.

few DAYS since we saw an obituary holicc
In which it was stated as evidence Of the dcce
dents worthincss that he had held many pusitiu
uf public trust among VIII ch were those Of may
", justice Of the peace, post ter, probate
judge, member OF the legislstpr aud reprcsen
t,tive in congress. or fthc deeea ,ed We know
tce alluded T.; ana before wo can receive the
facts there stated as proof that he was a good
and worthy man we.mus be advised thu the
"ofices sought him and not he the Offices"
Il these cIsccs were bestowed upon him by
the uuprompted, spontaneous action Of his fell
low cit;Iens,th holding of them was highly
creditable, but II be obtained them as they usu-
ally are about these days, then it was an abso
lutte, unqualified disgulce. In 9 earlier aud
purrr days of the Republic when the office
sought the man. then public position was tru-
ly honorable, ecause the presumption was that
the recipient a been selected for tue reason
that he was both vrtuuus and duly qualified
Then, for a man to solicit ulicc fr himself or
even a vote excited strong dlsapprobation and
was certain il nominated to secure his defeat ut
the polls. II was considered undignifcd, ser
Indirectly, to secure an clccti,n, WAS adjudged
corruption and bribery.
But how is 1t now The selection Of what Of
fcer is left to tue FIVE un biassed Judgment aud
action Of the people What office is there in the
RIh Of the people or Of an executive, for which
there is not crowd Of seekers clamoring for il
asa flock Of vuhures or pack Of wolves over
n dead carcass What chcancry trickcry and
ppe-laying arc hNbitualy practisod 10 Sc
cure nomination what sums Of money are
annually paid for the same purpose and what
time is spent in importuning, eutreating and but
Iou-holing friends aud others for support
0fice seeking has not only become a disgrace
In. but curse upon our people, and continued
statements in the newspapers like that referred
at thccommcncementor or this art iclo, have con
tributed largely To the present unfortunate con
dtiou Of public sentiment upon the subject
These have impressed upon the minds of all
classes the notion that public position is honor
able no matter how sttaiucd, while the compar-
iuve silence Of the press urou the proper and
n'cicntous discharge of the moral, sociNl 9nt
business obligations and duties OF life, has tended
TO beiitle the Importance OF the latter and to rcu
der item, in popular interpolation, insignificant
How il the evil to bo corrected Que remedy
which We would suggest is, that the pcopl,
adopt, aul act upon, ihc rule not t. nominate or
elect to office any man who asks for it, either
directly or Indirectly. let it be conferred up
on him unbought aud unsolicited then will our
officers be more eaplhlc aud honest, and ",
shall hear fewer complaints of incapacity, cor
ruptou and extravaRance then shall we maxi
step backward toward purity in vdicc iron
which we have widely departed.
II mau is fit and qualified to hold la ccrta
ufice his fricuds and fellow citizens will kno'
the fact aud call him to it. II they do not yoluu
tariiy bvstow II upon him the presumption Is, h
is not the proper person for the position, and fo
him then to solicit, importune for or attempt {
secure it for considsrufioa, should stamp hin
Win disgrace. lie should at once be drnouncc,
a'a merccnary office beggar aud thrust aside.