The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-25
cone Moment, MIR secretnry!"

In Is asserted as a fact, and one which dis
interested witness testified to, that it took
Secretary Borie just thirty five minutes to get
from the desk Of Willsrd's Hotel to the foot
of the stairway, distance of about sixty feet.
This delay was not caused by any absence OF
anxiety on the part of the Secretary of the
Navy to reach the goal, for the witness fur
ther testifes that he battled most manfully
against the tide Of button-h holsrs. But "Just
one moment, Mr.. Secretary" was an appeal
which could not be resisted, especially if the
applicant for attention saw fit to throw hm-
self in your way and barricade the passage.
The experience of Secretary Borie is the same
as that suffered by every public man, and is
suggestive of the desperation of the patriots
who are seeking to get at the public "pap."
'It Is pleasant to die for ones coun-
try, or is more pleasant to live for
ones country but, oh how truly
1t is proved that it is "most pleasant to live
ON ones country!' Simple hearted people
who dwell in contentment at home and have no
political ambition cannot realize the process of
"making POINTS" as attempted at the capital.
''To make a point" is the chief end of the
ofice-se He is a cruiser sailing idly down
the avenue, waiting to attack any rich political
merchantmen who has not another cruiser
for a convoy-which, however, is generally
the case. He is shark seeking to devour
the loaves and fishes Of office, and is not to be
scared off by the frowns of the captains or the
discharge of tine batteries of passing vessel.
Thus it is we'll for those who contemplate
applications for Office to calculate the chances
of success, and not, like the unfortunate archi-
tect In the Scripture, commence to build and
then run short of funds, and become laugh
ing stock. In calculating the probability, let
consulate at Frankfort -on-the-Main, there are
one hundred and sixty-seven. This Is type.
Fer every Office in the gift of the United States
Government there are at least six or seven.
There is no spot which gets single mouthful of
"perquisites" which is not sought for with
frenzisd eagerness. When the expense of going
to Washington is considered, the actual loss
of time involved, the probabilities Of failure,
and the slight tenure Of the Office when
secured, 1t is really amazing that people are
willing to do so much for so little. 1t is like
fighting the tiger, the odds being always against
you; or engaging in a lottery, where the chances
are nine out of ten against your success.
We do not wish to discourage the noble
army of martyrs, but from contact with a
number OF gentlemen eager to enter their
oountry's service, we can deduce certain gene
raj principles which may be of use:-
First, petitions amt worth any thing. Every
body has petitions. Everybody signs petit
tions. In Washington every man has his
hands full of petitions. The Treasury building
will actually prove too small to contain all of
these documents. They are filed and never
read.
Then, personal letters frsm some par
ties are good. But as a rule personal letters
are given to SO many by the same man that
the weight which would be otherwise attached
to them is light. They are better than petit
tions, but won't get one an appointment.
Again, personal appeals by distinguished
men are effeotive-if you can get them. But
as this fact is as we'll known to every one of
the applicants as it is to you, 1t ID highly
improbable that you can get them.
"What then can you dof" is the question.
We answer at once, "Keep to your own private
business; 1t will pay better; 1t will give yen
greater freedom; it will preserve your self
respect more than any public Office sttainable." :"
The seeking for Office is the curse Of our coun-
try. 1t Is the blot which will eventually
render iilegible the best portion Of our national
history. Success in gaining 1t is but q sur
render OF individual opinion, in nine cases cut
Of ten, and is step in the wrong direction.
That 1t viii ipiurs the country, az well a. the