The sun., 1873-08-09
Senator stockton.

Senator stockton.
Among the selections made by The Prcsi-
dent of civilians for appointment as Sec
ond lieutenants in the army, ana just OFF,
cally announced, is "WrLIINM STOCKTON,
son of Senator STOCKTON" Considering the
partisan ana proscriptiye character of the
Administration, and the position of Mr.
STOCKTON as n Democratic Senator from
New Jersey, this appointment of his son
rlust excite surprise Whether he solicited
II or not, IL still stands in the light OF Il
, favor conferred and accepted, which is
calculated TO cripple his freedom of action
and to limit his usefulness as an opponent.
Under an ordinary condition of things.
and with the antagonisms that divided the
old Wing and Democratic parties, such an
act might have provoked little or 10 COM
meut. Even then delicacy would have for
biddcn it, no matter how gracefully done
from the indirect obligation imposed on the
recipient of the favor Now we are living
under the most despotic rule OF party ever
known in this country, when devotion to
the President, his purposes, and his policy,
is u test OF loyalty Honors and Offices are
considered as the spoils of the Republican
organization. and they are watched with a
/ jealous eye by the tens of thousands of ex-
/ pectant ana anxious seekers, who habitu-
| ally denounce Democrats us traitors and
rebels
One of the causes Of the inefficiency OF
the minority in Congress and its failure TO
utilize the opportunities offered in the cor
ruption and cxcesses of the Administra-
] L. hn 10 ant -
| be leaders have been conciliated by patron
age, seduccd by jobs, and silenced by
social influences. There has been no
sterling, vigorous, and thorough Opposi-
tion, from this and other causes. Its
strength has been emasculated, and only n
feeble pretence of hostility waged instead
of manly and uncompromisinG warfare.
| Worse than this, venal Democrats are
| chosen ON the committees 90 advocate the
worst measures and 90 defend the most
exorbitant acts. No voice was louder than
that of Senator STCKToN at the last session
for the enormous appropriations to the
navy and for the building of new ships
Notwithstanding the glaring corruption of
that department and the villainous CON
duct of its head Millions are squandercd
and stolen every year with the priyity
and participation Of plundering officials at
! home and abroad, aud yet no genuine
| effort has been made TO curb or crush
these abuses They grow by what they
feed on.
Mr.. STOCKTON is a member Of the Naval
Committee end a personal ally of SEcoR
! RoBEsoN, whom he publicly endorses as
| honest and honorable, disregardicc all the
70 .
Jealous friend of the navy, and makes that
| friendship the basis of supporting outra-
eepus expenditures. When the appropria-
/ ton bills are up, Democrats follow his lead
because he is supposed To be familiar with
the subject Honest men with the best
| intentions are thus often mislcd, and their
votes are given To objects unworthy of the
least consideration. BY such processes as
these twenty-five or more millions are
granted every year for n rotten and de-
moralizcd navy, to enrich an infamous
Ring OF thieves and to organize a voting
machinery in the yards.
OF course RoBEsoN rejoices at the sue
cess Of his game, which he aids by constant
dinners, and he finds himself able to live
in costly style, build cottages at Long
Branch, and display his fun share of the
shoddy vulgarity which reigns at WASH
ington. He knows that Mr.. STOCKTON or
some other Senator has son whom he
would like to have appointed in the army
or navy to be educated at the expense of
the Government, aud to be rapidly pro-
NOTED over the head of humble merit.
The suggestion is made TO the Presidents
who reioices AZ the chance Of strengthening
himself III this way, aud the new cadet,
lieutenant, or midshipman is gazetted.
|. II is n system of political barter, in
which the President trades of his patron
age for the support or silence Of oppo-
nents. Mr. SrocKToN's case is by no means
exceptional, ana is not perhaps as often
sive as Others, who have sold themselves
for money TO the District Government at
Washington. Senator STEVENSON Of Ken
lucky could hardly find language strong
enough at the last session 10 applaud what
he called the Presidents Indian policy, by
which the cost of our Indian relations has
been more than doubled, and the plunder
Increased In the same proportion. He too
received at least one appointment from
the President, and this was the expression
of his gratitude.
III reform is to come at all il must beoin
by reforming out OF high places men who
nave not the courage or the integrity to
90 their DUTY. 1t Is inconsistent with in
tegrity to uphold public plundercrs, or TO
ll'Hr obligations by which stern exposure
~ restrained. Such men had better be