National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-05-24

p ain to them that this could be male the
N cans of indefinitely perpetuating the
power of the Representative that through
it he might soon become the dictator IN
stead of the servant of the people. The
theory of the fathers was that an ONCE
seeker was the last man who should re-
ceive public trust; that the very IacL OIL
his applying for an office, or instigating his
friends to make such application in his be-
half, wss at least probable cause for sus-
pecting that he was impelled by SELFISH
rather than patriotic. motives. In other
words, the true theory Of pure Republican
government is that the office should seek
tue man, and not the man seek the office.
That we have drifted very far from this
state OF political affairs no intelligent per-
son will deny. With us politics has be-
come profession or a speculation. When
men enter its arena they almost invariably
drop their other business AID devote them
selves to the very laudable pursuits of
maintaining themselves in position. Cliques
are formed IN thei Districts whose business
it is to see that their Representatives are
reelected, and it is the chief political duty
of the Representative to see that the mem
bers Of this clique are appointed to and
maintained in Office. Since the war began
and the Internal Revenue patronage has
been added to what before pertained to the
District, politics have been more lucrative
than formerly, and Representatives have
become more wealthy in property and ar
rogant in demand. The distillers and to-
bacco manufacturers who get into trouble
almost invariably turn up here in Washing
ion with their Representative as next friend.
Then comes a long story of personal honor,
important political services rendered by
these revenue thieves; a full Endorsement
of the honor and fidelity of gaugers, store
keepers, coll ctors, &C., all of whom had
been selected and recommended by this
patriotic gentleman chiefly on account Of
their irreproachable integrity and great po-
litical services as well; and finally, when
confronted with an array Of facts and &C.
currences which would convince and over
come the most obstinate prejudices, this
pink of patriotism, this heightened Repre-
sentative, will coolly swear that the whole
thing is a ''put up job, out ofwhole cloth,
by the secret service detectives. And he
will turn upon the Secretary or President
or Commissioner, with an air of injured
innC cenCe, and ask if those detectives are
to be believed before him, and if the pat
ronage in his district is to be interfered
with and his friends and himself sacrificed.
Now, this is just the difficulty which the
President, Secretary Bristow and Attorney
General Pierrepont will have to encounter
in the settlement of these revenue frauds.
Propositions for compromise in lieu Of fiAes
and penalties will be put in and enforced
and pressed to the utmost extent by those
very Representatives who probably feel that
in a great degree they owe their posi-
tons to the parties involved. To with
stand such pressure will require an i'm
mense amount Of backbone. We believe the
high officials have it, and will stand their
ground firmly and will come out victori-
ously.
But what we wish to call especial atten-
ton TO is the fact that this state of things
could not have existed under the design
and theory of our fathers strictly carried
out. If the people sought the right men
for Representatives, instead of allowing eau
cuses of paid politicians and strikers to
select them, they would not have men who
were seeking to pay political debts by lucra-
tive appointments. Everybody knows that
an honest officer cannot spend ten dollars
a day and put money in the bank when
his pay is only four or five. And every
body knows that men will not run whisky
mills night and day to make highwines to
sell at less than cost and tax, if they pay
the tax and other expenses. These facts
alone are prima fdcie evidence of fraud to
every one else but lenient and friendly
Representative. If the President and his
counselors and their subordinates shall
succeed in bringing the revenue thieves to
punishment, they have taken the first step
toward the restoration of the Executive of
this nation 10 the standard of independence
commensurate with its responsibilities. 1t
will then stand exactly where the Consti.
tuition designed it should remain when il
framed the peculiar oath of office which is
impOse6