Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-06-28

IHE Theory on ROTATION The long aud
excited contest for the New Hampshire senator
ship is ended, and a man whose name had no,
been publicly mentioned As an AspirAnt obtains
the prize. The result is triumph Of the policy
that inevitably belittles State in the national
councils The advocates Of rotation in office -
have established another precedent in favor of
their iconoclsstic dogma. One would suppose,
from the determination with which this rule wa,
insisted on, that the object OF L republican form
ofgOvernment wat to provide every man with
81 ofiice, and not ST al to secure the best talent
for public tervice. The power to make change
Of executive or legislative rulers is indeed an es-
sentisl feature Of repubictnisn, but rotation
as sn arbitrary l=w Of political eO11u:t is only
lets pernicious than the impossibilitY Of m.king
changes Ii makes good government quite As
unstable as 4 bad one, AMI If there is any secu-
rity in such conditions We are unable to discover
it.
To the case Of New Hampshire. Tor example.
there was not single reison based on considrs-
tons Of sound craftsmanship or politcA! wisdom
for the refusal TO return SenAtor Patterson. No
one pre;enis to say that any Of the gentlemen
who were at any time propose to succeed him
was, or was likely 10 become, q more accomplish
ed ami influential Senator than be. The change
could not be advocated on the ground that the
State would secure better representative. but
only on tie ground that somebody else wanted
his place, which is as much as 20 say that public
oihces are spoils 10 be psrceilei out by the rule
Of ''share and share alike" instez1 Of respon-
slble trusts. which ia the iH,erest Of the whole
people should be imposed on only the most c.p.-
bic and the most deserving A man of proyei
qualifications and hlelity, in whom his colle.-
CUES ard the whole country repo,ei confidence.
whose long service, coupled with his high attain
ments, would entitle him, under the rules of the
body, 10 leadlng positions the most impor-
t.nt committee, is retired. and in his place
New Hampshire will be rep esentei by gentle
man Of good abilities snd high character no
douo., but unfamiliar with public duties and
with no e-sin to the leading positions in com
mittees and ca the floor Of the Senate now &C
corded to his predecessor by usage and BY right
lie is raw recruit in the place Of a veteran.
We speak Of this matter solely in its rel.-
tions to the public interest. E4ch S:ste owes il
to every other to send its best men to the highest
legislative body IN the nAti0n,' which considers
and determines the most important domestic and
ioregn concerns Of tie republic, some Of them
Of the other House Of Congress
The Senate already contains too few trained
statesmen, whose IDEAS snd energies are conver-
'ant with nobier aims thsn q judicious distrbu-
lion Of their share Of the patronage. or the
presSing Of 4 private clzG Senator Patterson
vas such q man. The gentleman nominated TO
succeed him may be smother but be hss vet TO
achieve his position. Mr. Waileigh is forty-one
Years o!d, @nd : Nes Hampshire psper ia .u-
hority for the statement that he has never held
public offi,e
1t occssi0us some satisfaction TO know that the
'andidste who most iudlstriously advocated his
'wn cause BY proclsiming tie necessity Of TO
aaon. has net prcdtei ty it-Bosfon I'd
ssrtiSer