New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-13
BREVITY OF POLITICAL LIFE - IT'S
CAUSES AND ITS CURE.

men had passed away. "A similar pnras
might be applied to the politicians, VIII
: are as ephemeral of history as the gentle
a men of the road.
Who can look back on State or fedora
politicians and remember the men Of evel
FIVE years since. The memory become
confused in the effort to identify, and Oh
less some especial act of personal gain O
of party treachefy comes and dispels tn
obscurity of g. name by some glazing
CLEAN of infamy it is forgotten forever.
, There are. unfortunately. grave con
! sequences resulting from this endless pro
cession of insignificant politicians. Tbert
is always wanting ia the public service
experience and ability. The immense
revenues and lavish expenditures Of ou'
!! government afford temptations 20 all
rapacious people. They resort to nomi'
nation as the key TO office. Qualifications
for public service are with them unne.
cessary. An office-hunter will accept n
judgeship or an inspection ct -four; he
will 60 to Congress or pack up for con-
sulate at Ontigbee. with an utter and
notorious incapacity to perform the duties
of either Office. but with p sublime assuf-
ance, Indifferent alike TO q sense Of shame
or the shafts Of 1idicule. This incapacity
for most appointments is covered by the
practice of employing subordinates who
perform the duties of which their principal
| is incapable. An opportunity is thus fu--
nished fos frauds upon the public service.
of which the public records are full.
1t is in like manner in legislation. Men
| have nomi mated themselves into Congress
| and other legislative bodies for the oppor-
tunities Ct plumber, with no care or ca.
| pacity for the position. Such men are
but the accomplices Of the lobby. pu: in
side Legislature as burglar gets admitted
into q household to upbar the doors OF
thrust out to them the valuables he has
been intrusted to protect. From this
despicable standard Of qualification comes
the multitude Of legislative clerks and
employees, the dry nurses Of incompetency.
Hence arises the evil of bills drawn by
outside attorneys and parties in interest.
and the legislation which follows she
want Of skill or integrity embodied in the
laws.
These dazzling gains IRE not enjoyed
much longer than those Of Buiwer's tran.
silent heroes. Rivals arise who push the
spoilers from their stools. and thus the
public are afflicted with fresh swarms OF "a
aciouspoliticafadve In Che mean
time the public interest suffers. Even the
parties to which such persons are nomi.
hally attached suffer and are held &C.
eountable From such representatives
can be expected neither knowledge nor
example. and representative station be.
comes SO infe cted and infested tina. few
competent men will consent TO waste their
abilities OF contaminate their character
in such associations. IN other communi. !
ties men educate themselves 70: public !
services. and are retained by a sagacious
constituency during the entire time Of
their capacity 70. service. The ministers
Of Great Britain, and the leading members !
OF Parliament, are chosen for their in. |
;egrity and ab lily. and are continued in
public life 20 an advanced age.
Webster. Sumner. Calhoun Clay and
other representative men have marshalei
The armies Of the republic and served their
particular constituencies for long periods.
Each OF them has achieved the yecogni.
ton Of the particular theory Of government
or policy o: legislation for which his con-
stituents have contended. With the self.
ish and se,,se!ess system Of which we com.
plain. the selection or continuance Of such
servants becomes impossible.
Can we not change this system: The
American people are tired of its abuses.
They have established the principles Of
the Republican party. bu. they demand
and intelligent candidates for
office or-they will stay at home. or scratch
heir tickets. Does not the welfare of the
country and the very duration o: the re.
public demand that this reform shall !
% consummated? VIII the honest and
Industrious man who may have borne a
nusket 10 establish his principles be con-
'ent with q taxation imposed in good part
by those who hired substitute or filed
game leg as evidence Of exemption: The
ate action Of the Northwest shows that
honest and industrious men will no. stand
his humbug. We revert to the brevity
# political life. o! this we have in Lou.
siana had some sigma! examples. We have
lad men Of exalted Professions and IN.
doubted taien. for -vackin: conventions
md emptyin. LaIlot-boses. More
laye been eminen. advocates Of State
oans. gold bonds. railroads, canals. lot
cries. gas bills. butchers shambles. !eyee
,rabs and the endless tai! to that lobby
ute. the appropriation bill. Where are
hese bright. trillian: and particular
neteoss: some in cthes lands. some J
niger. Specimens Of defeated ingenuity.
'ut mos: Of them are ont Of a.! employ.
somehow their success in outwitting the
has impressed private patrons
vim 4 sa!u:ary suspicion. Cor no profas. .
iona: politician. turned on: o: public ,
flee. saS 20 Ous knowledge. succeeded s
II getting emp!oyIea: :som any private ,
esson whateveS. /
Eu. the chief responsibility 70. these
objectionable ac.s and incompetent Off.
IS, CIT