New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-06
PATRONAGE, AND how no USE III.


more potent for good or evil than the gift
of Office. The Democratic party first in
troduced the doctrine that Offices and
contracts are the spoils of political war
fare. 1t is now fixed rule Of politics
which no party can be SO Quixotic as t.
attempt to repeal. According to the true
theory of republic, the political opinions
OF the ministerial officer who writes &C.
counts or adds columns are of no conse
quence. An ordinary clerk can not be
expected to discuss with much ability
the principles of party, nor to add much
to its strength by the fire of his eloquence.
| Accepting, then, the Democratic doc
trine, it becomes the duty of Republicans
to SO regulate its application as that the
greatest good will result to the greatest
number. In considering the gift of pa
tronage, therefore, we will examine two
questions: l. To whom does the bestowal
of this patronage of right belong? 2.
How can it be bestowed to the most party
advantage?
1t is very common error to think that
Offices are the personal property of the
official incumbent who makes out the
commissions. The least reflection will
show that this is wrong on principle. An
executive does not succeed by his own
personal force. He owes his election to
the votes and efforts of the party which
has nominated and elected him. Under a
different form of government, chief who
has by conquest established himself at the
head of a government may take to himself
| and his personal adherents the opma
spolia or best fruits of victory. Under an
elective government, each supporter of
the successful administration has right
to require-not that a part of the spoils
shall be awarded to him personally but
that they shall be 50 disposed as to
strengthen the popular approval of the
principles which he has aided to estab-
ish. The executive of an elective gov
eminent holds this patronage, not as
property personal to himself and his per-
sonal adherents, but as trustee for the
whole party to which he belongs and to
which he owes his power and position.
For We may, at this point, estimate what
man owes to the power of party or to the
people, by observing the consideration
due to that man while in Office and when
out OF Office. We have seen men en-
dowed with the power of patronage who
could not walk the street without being
stopped by solicitations-who could not
enjoy the solitude of chamber, even the
repose of exhausted nature, without the
invasion of importunate attorneys and
political mendicants. We have known the |
same individuals when out of Office so
obscure that it was difficult to learn their |
address or ascertain whether they were
in or out of the city or State of their |
residence. Patronage then is not due to |
the personal consequence or services of |
the official incumbent who may have it to
bestow, but to the power of the people
who have assigned to him the duty of dis
tribution. If it be admitted that the
distributor of offices is the agent or
trustee for the benefit of the people who
have conferred this power upon him, it
may be proper to inquire: How may
patronage be bestowed to the greatest ad-
VANCE of the party to which it belongs?
The partisan incumbents chosen should
be men who can illustrate the principles
Of the party. This requires, in all repre-
sentatives nominated, or in officers APP
pointed, better than average ability to
expound or defend these principles Sup
pose member of any party should buy a
convention, and 60 into the
assembly of the nation. Suppose him
stupid, Ignorant, vicious. Imagine that
be can not make an argument or a reply.
Concede that he could not draw COM
mittee report, or even write an Ineligible
of inquiry. Believe it for a
possible that he returns to his
constituents to be cudgeled around his
district as the bought and bribed member
If lobby ring. Of what use is such a
nan to party? 1t is to post sentinel
Who gets drunk. Or lies down to sleep, or
sells the countersign to the enemy. 1t is
ntrusting charge to an officer too cor
:upt or too cowardly to do his duty. The
,esult, in the political or military view, is
N injury to the party in one case, or to
he army in the other.
For a similar reason, no man should
% appointed to Office unless he is honest
md competent to the discharge of duty.
soldier is brevetted because of courage
md conduct. A man should be called to |
flee for the good be can do the party
which appoints him. He who is capable {
IT soliciting Office is rarely of much use
9 the party which appoints him. An ,
Incompetent appointee to Office sometimes
performs his duties by substitute He
nay give the underling share of the {
alary to perform the sworn duties of I
'tiice, or he compensates the substitute
~ the facilities of gain Which the alb 9
ence of the principal affords him. This |
nay be very we'll for the nominal ircum-
'ent but how does it serve his party? I
Whatsoever the incumb ent's gain belongs q
o them, but if there be the disgrace of a l
letalcation, or the loss by maladministra-
ION, all the responsibility falls upon the
arty to which the incumbent Office |
older belongs. "a have seen eva rninlnc | L