Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-02-02
(TvIl -Service-HOw the People are
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could not lie accused Of mcrcenary mo
tives. But us the country expanded, SO
did its budget, and in due time. new fields
agencies, land grants, &c. Then did the
''spoils' Of office become 4 great prize, and
then was promulgated that fatal maxim
To the yictors belong the spoils.'' This
corfllp;ing adage has done more ts demOr-
alize the country than all other causes to-
gether. To it we owe the rise Of the Radi
cal party the election Of Lincoln, the
great war and all the robheries and extor-
lions that have followed it. Every presi-
dental campaign has been fight for the
spoils. Every successful platform has been
framed, not for the'goOd Of the country, but
with the sole view Of catching the votes of
he masses and securing the spoils. This
Generalization has gone on increasing
until, like leprosy, 1t has gangrened the
entire organization Of the Government, and
has infected even the STATE administrations
and the municipalities Of our great cities.
The evil became so crying that some no.
tice had TO be taken of il. We have seen
the great municipal revolution in New
York, and have been astounded by the re,
velatiOns of frauds and dcfalcations in every
department Of the Federal government ci-
vii, military and naval. The facts were so
palpable and 50 outrageous that danger was
apprchended, and, to throw tub to the
whale, the President recommended great
81, az, SNtn
reported hy which al the Officers in the va
rious departments Of the government, with
the exception Of few OF the highest, arc
10 be selected by competitive examination,
promoted regularly, and are to hold their
offices during good behaviour. This is All
excellent bill. and one would suppose that
The Preside nt's friends would support, with
All their zeal, measure suggested by him
and promising 50 neediul q r'medy: But
10 and behold some Of the Presidents
wanness suportefs attacked tae hill, while
others q damn II with fair, praise" to such
an extent that if Gen. Grants heart was
earnest in the matter, he might well pray
to be delivered from his friends. But the
TACT Is that th2 WnQsa 40, e.atn{ y :. Trce
and coneAH intended TO throw dust in tbs
eyes Of the country until the next Presiden-
:ial electiQn ls oEer. 4he measurs viii be
discussed, a4aended and emasculated until
it amounts really to nothing; and corrup~
ton bribery, black mailing Gas in the New
York Custom House), peculatiOns and
frauds win 60 on c3n!ueEng &n3 10 con-
! quer, As is'g, as tpe co,tntfyfhas patience to
+, bear.
! The only Wap4eF in thp aaSs IL ti4st
/ Cranes SUGGESTION did nat al once bring
dewn the whole Radical party upon his
; he al. The measure would be suicidal.
! The prime, if not the sole, object OF nearly
| every Radical Congressman, i t. e1EEa
his CWH IG- .ect!on ana ihe second, to- Sc
: cure: for himself, his relatives. adherents
and friends, as smany fat Offices, Jobs anil con:
tYar,s as be mag have nhueAcc TO obtain
nom the government. But what is to be
come Of all this rich vista of spoils, if this
hlischievous and iu-timed bill should be
come law Tow shaii ar. Horse, ,eech O
Cape Goa ensuts his reelection, and wha
win become OF his political influence if h
cap nQ longer reward his faith4il eonIltu
ents with Oad0tships, c0ilectOrshtps, inspec
t0Yshlps or OF the other ships whose cOntrO
made him the very god offsrtune in his owl
district. How can General Blank, of Ohio
!, but now Senator from Louisiana, hone t
w1n o1cr E3c rating 4cai4iiawag u he 'can
, not hold out to him the promise OF the leas
custom house cierkship? How, in th
name Of loyalty, can faithful partisaas b
rewarded, it, when congressman A. B. an
c. apply for any office for their friends, the
, are told by he secretaries that under tn
hw the utmost that can be done is 70 Civ
them chance to anDear a. candidate
Nce. A,9iI4 and ss4, ~ . aQompeGtfEe exam
| nation, there to prove their gnnd NOR
> character, their ability ta read and writ
! the English language correctly and the
knowledge OF the rlIdihlents OF aithmet
f before "a demuition impeltinent' commi
/, tee who want Y know, you know
: Ii is merauy certain that the measu1
( viii come TO naugh. Prominent 8adica
It aud Radica, lale4x hHye a4feadg eHprcsss
@ their opinion, THAT its passage would efte
g the dissolution of the Radical party, who
: only bond Of cohesion Is the spols. The
O ara not going to cut their own thrOatS and
s isvain to expect any good from that quartz
), Reform and reliefmay come at some futu
g day, but, like the millennium, they can har
+ " he looked for in this generation.