The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-26

pIsHoNoRABLE posTMAsTERs.

reason for this is obvious. Although a
business office, it is not filed upon bust
ness principles. 1t enters into the arena OF
politics and the postmaster is appointed,
not for qualifications, but as reward for
partisan services. In the larger towns
and cities. particularly in those where the
salary is worth the seeking, the Office IS
slnecure, the duties thereof being perform
ed by subordinates while the responsible Oh
ficer devotes himself to the drawing OF MS
salary, talking politics, packing caucuses
and endeavoring to f0yestall the action oil
nominating conventions. In nearly every
community there are more or less insignl-
fcant men, politicians of the curbstone or
der, whose chief object and aim in life is
party success, not for the sake OF the coun-
try, the party or the principles it processes,
but that one Of their number, some pro-
fessed politician conspicuous only by his
insignificancc, may be rewarded with the
postoffice. They talk postollce, think
postoilice, aud only live in the hopes of the
postoflice. Such men as these were the
objects of Nasbys satire, and he has sue
ceeded in making the whole brood ridlcu-
lous and in rejecting discredit upon nearly
all postmasters.
Notwithstanding all this, as general
rule our postoflices are well and worthily
filled. In most instances, the postmaster
possesses every requisite qualification, and
administers the duties of his Office with
credit to himself aud satisfaction TO the
people. When we remember how these
amendments are made, we wonder not
that there IS so little honesty and efficiency
in the department, but that it is managed
so well. When we remember that these
positions are held out and conferred as the
rewards of party zeal, we wonder how it
happens that so many mon are appointed
who prove to possess the requisite qualifi-
cations.
The qualifications for postmaster
are few, but these few are absolutely
requisite to the proper administration Of
the office, The positive qualification are
that he should be a good business man ard
of the strictest lntegrity-in other words
that he should be honest, efficient, capable.
The negative qualifications are perhaps i'm
piled by the positive ones. In word, he
should not be an inquistive, tattling, busy
body. The most responsible, the most del
icate the most important trusts are com
United to the postmaster. He is entrusted
with the correspondence of the communi-
ty. More sacred, more delicate trusts could
be placed in the hands of no man. Should
the postmaster be capable business man,
should he faithfully fulfill the trust reposed
to him, his administration is an honor to him
self, a benefit TO the community and cred
liable to the country.
But capable business man though he ma.
be- should he prove faithless to his trust
may be robbed of valuable letters, and thi
no system of guards and checks can pre-
vent. The patrons Of the Office are at hi
mercy their reliance is simply their fatl
in his integrity. lie may be detected ant
punished, but his crime cannot be prevent
ed. But let this consideration pass. Sup
posing that his integrity in money matters
is beyond question, but that lie is possessed
of an ungovernable prying inquisitiveness
and curiosity and of an unboundcd person
al and business Jealousy? What then
What correspondence is safe in his hands,
and, being unsafe, what results? Letters
and packages are opened, their contents
eagerly scanned, and the information, Sc
surreptitiously and dishonesty gained
communicated here and theie as it may
crafty his personal spite or seem to sub
serve his business jealousy.
These are the general results, what arc
those which are immediate and particular
The trust once betrayed, correspondence is
no longer sacred, and the contents arc
made use of for personal ends. Bank
ruptcy and ruin may follow, pecuniary
loss often does. The community is regaleG
with scandal aud SANDER. The mos
sacred secrets between man and man arr
publicly bruited about and made the sub
ject of idle gossip, of unseemly jest. Mer
are attacked personally and in their bust
ness relations through information thus
stolen from the mails, and the poison
works while the victim may be and remain
unconscious of the hand which is scattering
it. or the manner in which it has been OBJ
tanned. Facts and statements, harmless
and proper of themselves and in the con.
ncction in which they are used, are seized
hold of and, distorted by personal malice
or business jealousy, are made to subserve
the base ends of which we have spoken,
and with them personal reputation may be
blasted and individual business ruin
wrought.
1t is the existence of such black sheep as
these, as well as, if not more than, the
causes named, that has subjected post.
masters as class TO so much Of unmerited
obloquy and reproach. The many are
compelled to bear the sins of the few, and
together the just suffer with the unjust.
II is these practices, not the exposing OF
them, that ''saps the foundation" of our
confidence in public men and federal office
holders. Only la t week, Vermont post.
master possessed himself of package be-
longing to another, the package being
plainly and distinctly marked "Tricate
and Personal" and not only made himself
acquainted with its contents but communi.
Gated them to others. Is such man fit to
be postmaster We will not call his
name, should the guilty postmaster per
chance read this article, he will know who
we mean. Is he flt to he entrusted with
private correspondence ? Is the founda-
ton of public confidence ''sappod" by the
exposing or the committing of the dis
honorable, dishonest act
viii he be suffered to remain post
master? We shall see. Unknown to