The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-27
Selfish SOciaioilitV.

The oiire-hoidcrs in Washington are get
ting up what they call "Sociables WIZ,
meetings of ofice-holders first at tho house
Of one and then at that Of another incum-
bent, where the means of selC-delcnce and
the political status Of cilice-holdcrs are to be
discussed along with grateful slimulants and
riands fashionable in these days. Such social,
conyiyial, and practical gatherings amongst
the ofi2c-hollars TIRE recommended by the
Washington men to tie oGice-holdcrs every
where. 1t is upon the principle Of comb!na-
ton of the "ins" to keep the "outs" from
supplauting them. Organization Of the ins >
will, they think, be like forming hollow
squares of infantry to resist cavalry, and pre-.
long greatly the holding Of fat Offices. The
"outs" will come down upon the squares
like the Mamclukcs did upon NAPoLEoNS
army; but the sleek and happy "irs." with
bayoucts fixed, presented in i'll directions,
will, they think, like NAroLEoN's squares,
stand immovable, and huri back their enc
mics That's all they want. They are sufil-
GENTLY provided and content to remain just
where they ure, and the strategy is exactly
suited to the situation.
The plan is admirable. The Gins" can purify
their ranks BY cXpelling the tshy and the
taithess; for which purpose the party rcla-
tons and history Of each oiticc-holdrr are
proper subjects for discussion along with
champagne and turkty-salad. The "out,"
looking for place, may stand at the door
like the wolf in the fable, and say, as the wolf
said of the shepherds fcaStinS OH the cooked
carcass OF 4 lamb, WEat Il fuss these lnen
would make il were to get some of their
food And he may make what consolation
he can out Of that.
Yet this social banding together Of the
Gins" we can hardly think Will have much
strength. As long rs our Government main
tains its present character offices must be the
reward OF party service. The Gins arc
not protected from the inyasons OF their
own party friends. Indeed, those friends are
their chief enemies; and party feaIty and
devotion cannot save al "in" from "outs
Of this kind. Offices cannot be wasted by
leaving them to long occupation by one set
of men. The official capital must be turned
over. Like negotiable notes, the Offices must
| have short time to run, and must not be
renewed too often; if they were they would
become set-lastS or cancers, and would rather
impair than improve and enliven business
So we take it that the Sociables will not alter
matters much. Offices must be stock in the
trade Of ambitious aspirants to the high po-
SitiouS of Government, and tie capital must
be rapidly turned over. Sins must make
way for "outs," and the banding together OF
the former can't save them. On the con-
trary, the Gins" will be sure to be faithIess
to one another when the pinch comes. Each
man will endeavor to save himself by point.
ing out the Office holder that may he turned
out with advantage to the service to make
room fer partisan whose claims to reward
for service rendered cannot be disrcgarded.
The otlice-holdels, the occupants of
snug offices, the receivers of timely and
grateful quarterly quotas of sllary-may
very much enliven their nights by the jolty
Of their socables, and let them make the
most OF it," Yet, alas, in many cases the
jewellers will be like the condemned in Luz
cretia Borgia, singing their gay songs in
sight of their collins.