National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-02
DEPARrMENT CLERKsHIrs

OItcn consumed Dy Lne fTeSiuent, OF ~ Ing
very least by the head of the Department in
which he is clerk. -Thezfact is that he is
probably personally unknown to both. II
it was as well known all over this broad
land what AFFECT slavery is Government
clerical position, both of body and mind,
how very few of the young and truly am
bilious would accept, much less seek, the
situations. 1t is right and just to say that
no true friend of a young person of fair
prospects at home, wherever that home may
be, will urge such person to leave those
prospects for clerical slavery in Washing
ton. 1t may most truthfully be asserted
that there is no other service in this country
which SO utterly and entirely sinks the in
dividual into the machine as this Depart
ment desk duty. A bright, intelligent
young man or woman can acquire all
that is to be learne>' at his or her
desk in from three moths to year, and
after that is achieved it is deemed to be for
the interest of the Government to keep
him there on account of his peculiar eff
cheney. But it can easily be seen that after
the first year the experience of each sue
ceeding one has tendency to dwarf the
intellect and confine it practically to a sort
of automatic routine, with no opportunity
for expansion, no field for preferment, no
stimulant to ambition, and little expecta-
ton of promotion for modest merit. There
may be a few exceptions to this rule in
some of the divisions or in the offices of the
several Secretaries. But as general prop
osition Department clerk who has served
four years is emphatically finished man,
and heartily wishes he had never entered
the service. He has acquired no trade or
profession which will qualify him for the
battle of life. This requires energy, force,
and self-reliance. He has formed the lux
urious habits incident to life in political
capital, including slight application for a
few hours daily, succeeded perhaps by ex-
pensive diversion at billiards, cards and
juleps until late hours of the night, and be-
comes victim of constant fear of discharge
from his situation that transforms him into
, political acrobat or trimmer of the first
order.
1t will be thus seen that these clerkships
are only suitable for middle-aged persons
past the prime of life, who, having become
through reverse of fortune,
have no heart to renew the struggle with
the world for o living; whose social habits
are fixed, and who desire nothing so much
as to be laid up in ordinary with sure and
definite income to rely upon that will keep.
the wolf from the door and enable them to
pass down the decline of life in peace.
The cases are exceedingly rare in which
Department clerks have graduated thence
after service of four years into active
business life and succeeded in attaining
eminence and wealth, either through the
professions for which they were originally
or mercantile, mechanical or agri-
cultural pursuits. During an observation
Of twenty years we can now recall but a
very few instances in which Department
employees have become either rich or great
through economy or merit without the
lid of powerful political influence.
Presidents, Secretaries, and members of
both Houses of Congress have frequently
appointments upon their sons,
such as private secretaries, clerks of CON-
nittees, chief clerks of bureaus, and the
ike; but how seldom has it appeared that
my of these have attained even respectable
,minence in the political or commercial
world? These facts arc stated with view
If showing to members of Congress and
,ther persons of influence that they infiict
. positive and permanent injury upon a
voung person when they import him into
his capital to work for the Government for
What may appear to him to be a liberal
with light duties attached.
There are probably at this moment more
han one half the Government employees
n this capital who, if they were discharged
rom the service to-day, would be unable
o pay their Indebtedness and pay the fares
If themselves and their families to their
homes. And, as rule, the single men
would be found to have been the most i'm
provident, and those who have been long
est in the service the farthest behindhand.
Official life is not conducive to economy
anywhere, and least of all places at the ma
.ional capital. 1t is no fair field of effort
for the young, energetic and aspiring youth
of this great nation.