, 1874-04-18
SPOll-S.
The Scramble in the Congress.
aionnl Districts.
How the Dear People Are Bamboozled
by the Politicians.
Impossibility Of Reforming a Corrupt
Party in Power.

Impossibility Of Reforming Corrupt
Party in Power.
Tho politicians In tho various Congressional
Districts arc stirring from tl,oir wintor-quar-
tors. The Unitod States AsaeBaor In ono county
makes Walt to the Collector In another, and
both conBult with prominent Postmasters, and
mako preparations to tako an ncoolnt Of political
stock. Now Ii the timo to make IN inventory Of
tho dobriH OF blnsted parties and broken poll
tioans and, II possible, bring order out Of chaos,
and organize for future contests.
THIS ORGANIZING POWER
is very grent, md ono must admiro tho Blsill with
which 1t is distributed. However, great mly
be tho patronage Of Il Congressman, ho mover
has Offices enough to go around, but thoso at his
disposal aro we'll distributed. The Collector and
tho ABaoasor aro novor both in tho samo county,
and usually noithcr liyoH in tho county in
which tho Congressman rcsiloB. This organic
ing power, 80 we'll distributed, can work ByAte-
mastcaIly. Tho merchant who sos goods can
refer to books aud eco Which Of his
customers are married. a l or other
wiso but this knowledge on tho part
Of the merchant can hardly compare with tho
knowledge Of the political organizer. Collectors
and Postmastors, who have 1earned thoroughly
tho science Of political organization md cnucus-
management, know not only the political ro-
sponsibility Of their men, but their disposition,
character, influence, the local Offices they have
filled, tho conventions to which they have boon
delegates, how often they hnyo boltc1, how
many times they have boon candidates, tho posi-
tfonH to which tley aspire, and many other
is invaluable In political contest, and explains
how political power iB long retained by n,en
whom every ono denounceB. Thoy can strike
tho weak npots. It ia impossible for my oppo-
sition to bo organized against these mon without
their knowledge. They can find out the whole
matter, and play upon tho wcalsnoss OF human
nature until the combination Is broken up.
The calculations OF politicians arc sometimes
complicated by
TIE YOUNG NIFN
who arc growing up and becoming yotors. Tho
| young man who attempts to exert political inllu-
! ence has q novel experience. His character is
! we'll known, md ho is used for that kind OF po-
litical work for which his qualities fit him. But,
| il lie is independent, his path Is thorny. Gov
ornmcnt officers do not directly oppose him, but
thoy quietly overlook him, and act as II he had
no oxiatenco. Ho finds that notwithstanding all
OF his exertions, people soen1 to be utterly OBJ
iyioua to tho fGct OF his prosonco. If lie attends
CAUCUS or convention, lie finds himself sin1-
| ply ono of tho multitude, and can influence only
one vota-his own, He Ia mover eent as n dolo-
onto nnywbere nor can lie find ont ont inviting. M
| The political atmosphere is made chilly, and ho
ia frozen out. He is then pretty sure to lot
politics alono, or to p1ay into tho hands Of Post
masters Tho Nation aaya that Gen. Butler has
corrupted whole generation Of Young men in
influence is to be- gained by moaus which honor
| nbie mon condemn, In doing this, Gen, Butler
is simply showing how tho prosont Ciyil-seryce
cau be- used +: and that l,riGor this system, the
successful politician is the ono who actively
Ecrnrnh]es for apoils, Young mon naturally tnke
lessons from tho successful men around them.
When the young man fresh from tho classic
shades Of his Alma Mater, his imagination
fired by the deeds Of ancient heroes, takes his
first plunge into political ifo. The old politicians
pat him on tho lioad kindly. but give him to un
derstand that lle iB yot somewhat yerdant bu
that, it ho takes their advice, some hopes may bt
entertained Of his moving in an elevated sphor,
| and exercising great political influence. Hi
conscientious acrl,plos aro mot with smile. ant
an intimatiou that, ono of thoso days, ha will b.
but an ambitious young man knows tho power o
such D hint. How long does he then remembe
loroos to whom spectacled Professors hav
pointed h,m2 What kind of figure docs Ii
imagine those old fellows would mnAe at a ca'l
and the teachings Of sundny. school superlntend
onts and wiao Professors count for little whe,
old politicians toll ambitious youth not to DO yor
lanf.
In tho various Congressional Districts. it will
ba found that large proportion Of tho Town
County, and District Committees for calling
conventions, are Government officers. The timt
OF calling caucuHeB and conventions and thei
orcauization. arc in tho hands OF these men al
Of Which secures their hold on the party In
docd, 30 poworful arc the Government oiflcor
| in tile variouB districts, that it iB sometimes
question between them aud tho Congressman q,
to wllicl, are the masters Ono Of tho slarpos
men to distribute patronage WINS
nm. n. n. wAs1gunvE,
. His annointoes were sl,arp-oyou. quick-sightc
mon, and ho could mako a little patronage 70
long way. If any opposition was started, Iii
anno;ntaeR would brenk IN caucusos and brin
tIonb,e beadeti deleeationg into conventions: nj
;; so norsistont and actiyo woro thoy tint u
thoncht Of nnnoaition to him yanishcd who