Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-16
lailp 5iennebee yomnal.
a U q Z S Il a,
Wednesday Morning, March 10, 1870.
OFFICE SEEKING.
An article in the Washington Chroni,


An article in the Washington Chronicle
of Monday touches in avery sensible man
ncr upon the evil of Office seeking, and
the ANNOYANCE to which members of Con-
gres> are subjected on account of it. In
stead of cultivating habit of self reli-
ance and sturdy independence among our
people, it is making them parasites and
mbeciles, teaching them to fawn npon
those who are supposed to hold the power
of preierment in their hands, and trust
their chance for a livelihood to official pat
ronage. Although there has been large
reduction of the official force of the coun-
try since the rebellion. and the reform is
still continued in all the departments at
Washington, still the hunt for office con-
tinues, and this in spite of thousands of
examples of the better success of those
who have struck out boldly for themselves,
depending upon their own exertions for
support. The article in the Chronicle
spoken OF above says 1.-THE Executive, the
Cabinet, the members of Congress in both
Houses, the chiefs of bureaus, here and
elsewhere. are daily beseiged for Offices
by the outs, and in many cases for pro-
motion and increase of salaries by the
'ins'. No reasonable idea can be convey
ed of the annoyance growing from the
competition for government favor-espec
iallv to Representatives and senators. 1t
is impossible for these men to attend to
their public duties and get offices for par
tisans at the same time" How these con-
is illustrated by a correspondence between
Hon William ID. Kelley of Philadelphia,
and committee of influential men from
his district who requested him to be can
didate for reelection. After telling them
that his nine years service i'll Congress
would have left him Il beggar but for the
rise of real estate which he happened to
own, he speaks of the annoyance> to which
he is subjected by Office seekers as fol-
lows:
To such an extent has this absurd prac-
ticc been carried recently that it precludes
the possibility of social intercourse, or
study in my home; but, annoying as this
may be to the representative, that is the
least of it for it is in almost every ease a
positive wrong to the poor people upon
whom the practice is indulged Assur-
ances thai the representative can procure
employment, given by persons in whose
word they have implicit faith, inspire
hopes that cannot be fulfilled, and not UNI
frequently confidence that leads to desti-
tuition. Days and weeks are lost in pur
suit of the man whose magical power 1t Is
believed will secure them employment;
and the bitterness of disappointment that
overtakes many of them when they dis
cover that their friends have deluded them
is painful to observe. | am unwilling any
longer to be party to such practice. IL,
therefore, the acceptance OF renomna-
ton is to be understood as implying will
lingness ON my part to be longer regard
ed as general employment agent, must
beg leave to decline the honor, grateful as
| would be to receive it freed from this
condition, and rendered in so compliment
AIRY a manner.
We hope that an appeal to the good
sense of those who are creating this evil
try some other method of obtaining sup
port than seeking office. In a large ma
jorty of cases the young man who goes
to work on the farm, or into business for
himself, depending upon his own muscle
and brain to make his way in the world,
not only preserves his selfrespect and man
hood, but acquires more property and a
more comfortable home for his old age
than the young man who enters into office
seeking for living and starts out with a
good salary and seemingly fair prospect
ahead With facts like these patent to
every one, this scramble for office, stirring
up fcuds, faction and bitterness, to re-
suit more frequently in disappointment
than success, there ought to be less of
greed for office and more of self reliant
effort on the part of our people. What
ever effective steps may be taken to bring
about remedy will be benefit to the
whole country, and to none greater than
to those who besiegc the places of power
for the smiles of patronage.
The Kentucky Commercial of Louisville
snaps up late article of the Bangor DEM
ocrat, eXalting the management. of the
democratic State of Kentucky at the ex-
pense OF the national administration, and
makes the pieces fly in lively manner.
Towards the close of its review the Com