The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-09

cal fayorisism, or upon the principle that 10 'ne
victors belong the spoils. He then arsuou 'u'|
while such system is continued, law ike the
Tcnure-of- once act would In all probability be
productive of more harm by lettering the action
of nm exemplary President in the way of remov-
ing incompetent officers, than the good to be
accomplished by preventing improper removals
by n President Of the opposite character
This argument brings before us the fundamen-
tai principle of the modern school of politics.
that "to the vctors belong the spoils.' For this
maxim and the disgraceful system which is
based upon it, the country is indebted to that
most vindictive and obstinate of all vindictive
and obstinate statesmen Andrew Jackson His
services to the country in the war of 1912 and in
various other contests were so pre-eminent that
his elevation to the Presidency followed as
matter of course. The national policy favored
by him was comparatively of trning account
II Henry Clay had been enabled to base his aspra-
tlons to the Chief Magistracy upon such a mill
tary record rs that of Jackson he would not have
been forced to comfort his disappointed and en-
bittered spirit with such unsatisfactory philoso-
ply as was contained in the memorable declara-
ton that he "had rather be right than be Pre-
sident.' Harrison and Taylor, both members
of essentially the same political school to which
Clay belonged, rode into power upon their war
horses; while SCOTS defeat in 1852 was owing
in great measure, to his garrulousness, and the
partial offset of an apology for a military record
which Pierce able to present.
For this reason we are inclined to regard the
legacy bequeathed us by Andrew jackson as one
of those dispensatons of Providence which are
impossible of solution. The character of cold
Hickory" and the terrific contest which pre-
ceded his first election as President, fully pre-
pare the historical student for the Inauguration
of policy of prescription and revenge such as
he indulged in, although it was directly opposed
to all the previous traditions and customs of the
country. During his term of eight years, Wash
ington exercised the power of removal nine
times only. Six of these removals werc from
collectorships of no special Importance, the re-
naming three ofilce-holders upon whose necks
the axe fell being n district surveyor vice
consul, and foreign minister. In the latter case
that of Charles c. Pinckney, who had been
sent as our representative to Paris-the cause Of
the removal was a dislike which the French Di-
rectory entertained towards the victim; and in
all the other cases there was substantial cause
assigned, without any regard to political views
John Adams strictly followed the example set by
the first occupant of the Presidential chair
making but nine removals during his four years
Of power, all of them from unimportant posi-
| TONS and none because of political antagonism.
jefferson was obliged, by the circumstances of
| his position to make thirty-nine removals in
the course Of eight years, but he repeatedly as
| serted that not single one of them was
prompted by political opposition. Five removals
were made by Madison, nine by Monroe, and
two only by John Quincy Adams, making a total
| of only seventy-three cases in which the Presi-
dent of the United States exercised the power OF
direct removal, from the establishment of the
Government in 1889 to the accession of Andrew
jackson in 1929.
Jackson's biographer informs us that up tc
the time of the delivery of his inaugural ad
dress, it was universally believed that the new
President would not materially depart from thu
policy of his predecessors in this respect. Blu
the inaugural contained mysterious referenc,
to n contemplated reform" and before u half
day had elapsed after its delivery, it was know
throughout the capital that this reform mean
a Wholesale visitation of vengeance upon thu
host of Federal ofice-hOlders who had opposed
Jackson's election, without any regard to thei
honesty capacity, or efficiency. He was sooi
found to be as good as his word, and before thc
close of the year 1899 six hundred and ninet,
removals from office, on political grounds alone
were made, according to the statement of Coone
Thomas II. Benton, while other authorities plac
the number as high as two thousand during tn
same period Among the most noticeable o
these was the case of General Harrison, who hat
been residing at Bogota but few weeks as Min
lister to the infant Republic of Colombia but wh
was recalled by jackson just four days after hi
Inauguration, simply because the former soldie
had mildly censured the course of the latter il
the Seminole war years before.
, In this way the advent of the hero of Ney
Orleans upon the Presidential stage witnesse
the Inauguration of system of prescription
which has continued to the present day, result
ing in degrading our civil service into the mos
, corrupt and inefficient now tolerated in tn
, civilized world. But the country has good rea
son to hope that President Grant will confer
lasting benefit upon the country by the establish
, ment of different system, in which honesty
2 caracity and efficiency shall take the place c
, the opposite and heretofore prevalent qualifca
} tions for Office under the Federal Government
THE RECALL OF RE VERDY.
PRESIDENT GRANT has done what was eXpecte
of him by recalling Minister Reverdy Johnso
from the Court of st. James. Secretary Fisf
> at the instance of the President, has signiied
the great after-dinner treaty maker that his rC
> signation will be accepted soon as rendered
| a Dplitn and dDlono r,f Da,