The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-10-19

The Evil and the Remedy.
The following very sensible Discus
sion Of Mr.. Greeley's "ones team"
theory IL from Harpsr's Weekly. We
commend it to the attentive perusal of
the public. 1t is a question assuming
some importance just now, and any
light thrown upon it should be thank.
fully received:
Mr.. Greeley has written an interest
ing paper in the Gdlary upon the" one
term principle" advocating the ineligi.
bility of the President for re. election.
It is discussion which is Of greater
point, however, at the beginning than
at the end Of any particular Presiden-
tial term, because at the end the
mischief suggested will have been done.
The change proposed is of the devices
to avoid the dangers Of political currup
ton, the argument being that Presi-
dent who wishes to be renotninated will
devote his first term to securing a
second, and will make appointments to
office to serve his personal interests,
and not the public welfare. But the
Nation, in considering the subject, very
properly remarks that the remedy of a
zone term principle is inadequate to
the evil. In truth, the difficulty is
not the abuse of patronage, but
patronage itself. If a President abu-
ses his appointing power, it is In
strict obedience to the established
tradition, and to n very general and
serious conviction that the office belongs
10 the party. And even in the abuse
q President never acts independently,
but in concert with party leaders, and
with a view to the unity of The party
upon which he depends for re-reection.
And this is the chief evil-the theory
that civil appointments to the inferior
Offices are to be made for the benefit of "a
party, and not for the public welfare.
II President were ineligible for a
second term, he would still use the
patronage for the benefit of his party
and Of his own candidate for the sue
cession. During his first term General
Jackson manipulated the public service
for himself; during his second, for his
friend Van Buren,. The injury to the
country by direct corruption and by
decentralization is as great and banefui
whether the patronage is used for the
benefit of party or tor that of o party
candidate. And the reason that the
President would not be independent is
not only his own party and personal
preferences, bat that Congress, which
has practically usurped the executive
prerogative Of appointment, would de
feat his administration if he did no.,
yield to its will. If therefore, the on,
term principle is to be applied to the
President. still more should it be appIi
ed to Congress.
But even this extension of the pro.
position would not reach the difficulty
The remedy must be adapted to the
disease; and the civil service reform
| which Mr.. Greeley wisely extols in his
article and which the Tribune ably
advocates, and upon the true ground.
| strikes at the very root Of bitterness it,
our politics. "Abolish patronage al
together" says the Tribune: ''give the
place to the best man, aud let him stay
in it as long as he discharges the duties
faithfully.' And the Republican con
ventions of New Jersey and Maryland
| echoing those of Ohio and Wisconsin
declare that appointments to Office
should be determined by fitness and
character, and that removals should be
made for cause onIy,' This is better
than a one-term principle. For what is
the real difficulty.
| A Presidential election is now g
fierce contest for plumber. 1t is struge Il
Tor the control Of the three or foul
hundred millions of dollars which are tC
be yearly raised and spent. The OBJ
jective point of the election, therefore.
is the Offices, through which this money
is collected aud disbursed and it has
become the popular creed that the sue
cessfuI party has "a right to the Offices
Thus party interest has taken the
place of the public welfare az a political
motive; and the spoils of victory, it i.
logically held that those who have
fought hardest shall be most rewarded
So fixed is this feeling that to adyocatt
the reform of system at once 50 fata
to private honesty aud to the public
welfare system which is intrinsically
inconsistent with the progress and
permanence Of popular governments
derided as disloyalty to party, or mere
theoretical folly. 1t is not believed
possible to organize party or to ACT
effectively as partisans without the
prospect of plumber. In mere mill
ta1y armies, indeed. pillage is now for
hidden, and to attempt to stimulate the
fidelity or activity of an officer or sold
Ter by promising him booty and
beauty" is to insult him grossly. But
in the political army we know generals
of division and field marshals who grave
ly assert that faithful and etficien,
service is not to be expected withou
the promise Of illimitable boot
The Horrible Balloon Disaster.
Last Saturday evening near paoli