The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-04-12


Ii ,hesd days Of political degeneracy
the position Of the private citizen us the
post Of honor The desire for Office APP
pears to be widespread, pefvading all clas-
ses Of society Many an unwilling moth
has been lured BY tho light Of public Office
to SINCE its wings and fall erovelling to
the earth in pain, disappointment and
modification. Many persons have ruined
themselves in their efforts 70 get office,
aud many Others, who have been success
fdl in obtaining Il, have only had their
ruin thereby the more assured Office
seeking is the bane Of the c0anlry. From
the highest to the lowest place of profit or
trust, every avenue leading to it is crowded
with eager applicants. The tenure of Of
fee, in this country, is frail one; the
term brief; and a few years spent therein,
gives a man distaste for private enter
prise or business, as wen as measurably
disqualifes him for the same. 1t is bet
ter, therefore, if a man has business
which affords him living profit, to let
Office alone. The private citizen is also
the only truly independent man. The
public officer is, to some extent, the public
servant, and everyone who feels inclined
to do so, thinks he has perfect right to
give him kick. Keep out ofoifce, there
fore, if you would spare yourself annoy
ance, and preserve your dignity and self
respect. A few men, very few, have
profted, perhaps, by holding Office, but we
doubt not that larger number have lost
by it and their unsuccessful efforts to OBJ
tain it.
These reflections have been suggested in
view Of the approaching election next fall,
when clerk, register, sheriff, commits
sioners, treasurer, and members of the leg
stature, will have to be chosen. If there
be any honor to the incumbents of these
positions, il arises from the fact that they
have been selected to I'll them BY their
fellow citizens on account of their sup
posed fitness and qualifications. But, when
aspirants for public Office thrust themselves
forward, without being called on by the
people, when they run to and fro over
the county and set their district managers
and wire-pullers to work to pack a conven-
ton to subserve their own purposes, with
out regard to the wishes Of the people, it
is simply disgraceful, and such an one
ought to be unceremoniously set aside
and made to feel the force of that indigna-
ton which his conduct merits. The pub
lie offices were created for the public ben
! fit, and not for the benefit of individuals
| When the office seeks the man, and not
the man the Office, then there is honor in
the public service; but when man foists
himself upon his party or the public, there
is no honor in it, and they who do so are
generally the least qualified or the least
worthy. All the jealousies, chickering's
and heart-burnings, among partisans, arise
from this source. II, instead of engaging
in these disgraceful scrumbles for Office,
they would quietly remain at home, and
content themselves with merely Simplifying
to their friends their willingness to accept
position 10 case they should be called on,
there would be no ground for that strife
among members of the same party, which
is sure to arise from contrary course.
The people oaght to turn their backs upon
any and every man whom they find active.
ly electioneering for himself. That would
put an effectual stop to it, and cure this
growing evil, which calls loudly for reform
and public condemnation.
In what We have said above, we make
no personal illusions whatever Our re-
marks are general, and are meant to apply
to any and all persons who come within
their puryiew. Indeed, We do not know
that anyone comes within their purview,
at the present time. We hope not. We
think there is general desire for, and a
determination to have, the utmost harmony
in the selection of candidates for the en-
suing campaign. If all are aetuated by
this spirit, all reasonable aspirations may
be gratifed, and no ground of dissatisfac-
ton will remain to mar our harmony or to
render the result doubtful.