The Portland daily press., 1870-07-09
DAILY PRESS.
Saturday Morning, July 8, 1870.
Letter from Lond N.
PORTLAND


LONDON, ENGLAND, June %, 1870.
MEssRs. ED1ToRs:-Changes in office re-
call MIR. Jenckes' Civil Service bill, and all
Americans abroad wonder when our people
viii realize its Importance. Here fidelity and
ability cain promotion and the civil service IS
administered with some regard to the inter.
ests OF the people. An official beside has a
permanent place, and does not require to act
on the theory of stealing all he can for the
few months he may hold office. So that a
trained corps Of men bred TO the business
looking to promotion in it and certain of
their position, have attached to the diplo-
matte and consular service of England some
of the best talent in the land. But our mis-
cradle system, keeping men in office only un-
til they have become qualified, and then turn
ing them out to make room for needy comers
or to give reward to politicians is burning
shame. 1t can never secure halfdecent
corps OF servants in the public offices.
Thus we lind men coming to Europe with
foreign appointments whose first query is
how am to make the most money out of
this appointment while hold it?"-who are
as ignorant of the duties they are sent IN
perform as of the language they hear spoken
and whose brief experience it is to make lit
tie money, spend much in coming to their
posts; and some morning, just as they are
beginning to learn the duties of their Office
find themselves superseded by some one as
ignorant as.they had been few months be-
fore.
Stranger than all is the defence set up for
such system. Is it urged that the public
service is benefited? No indeed. The onlv
thing which should be urged is the only thing
which is totally ignored. We have heard
whisper that permanence in Office would make
an anstocratic class. Well, let us not deny
that in serving the State there is some eclat.
Let us cling to the idea that our government
does shed some lustre upon those who stand
nearest it. 1t will be sad day when our in
stitutions fall so low as to bring discredt ratb-
er that position to those who administer them,
when TO execute the laws of our land shall
place one in the category of the proverbal
alderman. Grant that holding Office does ele-
vate man above what he would be without
it-have we yet grown 50 elfete as to think
that $4,000 office-holders with their scant sal
aries, their hard work, their limited Opportu-
mites, are to be feared? 1t is whimsical to
argue-to fight the wind-to speak against
an objection raised out of the mere despair of
saying anything respectable. Yet there is an
aristocracy of effice-holders to be feared.
There are the holders of and the aspirants for
offices which are changeable, which come and
60 with the ballot-box. This is powerful
class, and governing the country to-day.
What voice have the American people in the
administration Of their own laws? They are
administered by the place.hunters and the
plac,-fillers. Men are thrust in and thrust
out of office by these place-fllers, to serve
themselves and their supporters.
The people go to the polls on some great
moral issue; the placers designate the men
who shall be voted in; and when lin they use
them for their own ends. Here is an aristoc-
racy feeding on and thriving by the present
system.
May you be delivered from having the tele-
graphs turned over to the government, 10
make so many more weapons with which to
carry out the present debasing process. If
any idea in this whole history could be more
painful than the failure OF the public veal; 1t
is the plea that the "Ins" have had the posi-
tions long enough, and it is somebody else's
turn.
To this is often added the cinching argu.
ment, that so and so has been done and the
doer deserves an office. There are people who
really believe man can deserue a public
office, who do not see the utterly corrupting
theory that Offices are the reward of merritt ?l
Thence comes the great phalanx of parasites,
who are ready on all occasions to execute the
behests of the man who can help them after
they have helped him.
Serving one or the other political party and
then when successful claiming as right, the
public plunder. They have contributed to
the victory, they deserve the office.
It's necessary, also, to admit that this cor
ruption has become so debasing that it has
reached among the highest in the State. That
the feelings of gallantry, and honor are swept
from the category of American virtues by the
mad pursuits Of office.
Yes-a ladys-a daughters letter, is writ
ten in private friendship, stating that a be-
loved father lay at the point of death, forbid
den by his physicians from any cares; stating
this as her reasons for wrting-this letter re.
ceives no answer. Its contents however, are
deserved of enough Importance that they are
allowed to be made public in perverted and
crminally false reading. Should not the re-
ceiver of such letter feel bound to put the
facts fully before the public? r.