New Orleans Republican., 1875-10-12
PATRoNAGE-A PARTY TBUST NOT
PERSONAL PEROUISITE.

mlschlevous abuse A principal, having
procured his nomination by means no
unknown in New York and Pennsylvania
finds himself in possession Of power tc
award numerous and lucrative salaries
and contracts. If this principal be base
enough to have bought his nomination,
will he not be sufficiently mercenary tc
indemnify himself by the sale Of his sala.
ries? Will he net be sufficiently astute
and unscrupulous to secure part or q
percentage upon the contracts? If the
incumbent be ambitious, will he not SO
use his patronage as to promote the
chances of his own Idvan cement to still
higher political honors? The conscien-
tious officer, however, who is chosen for his
ability and devotion to the principles of
his party. will feel that this patronage is o
sacred trust reposed in his hands to be
used for but one purpose: to prove the
value of the principles professed by the
party to which the conscientious officer
owes his election.
To prove the justice of this doctrine we
have only to point to the obvious effect of
its perversion. An individual elected to
a responsible Office upon the programme
of party, makes number of objection
able subordinate appointments. These
subordinates are dishonest, profigate and
incompetent. They even farm out their
Offices to deputies who acknowledge no re-
straint upon their rapacity.
The mass of the people judge political
tree by its fruit. If Democracy in New
York or Pennsylvania bring excessive
taxations, increased debt and wasteful
expenditures, the people do not pause to
read the Democratic platform. They say,
if such are the results of Democracy, away
with Democracy. The process is pre-
cisely the same with Republicanism. The
reformation of abused patronage may
then involve the overthrow of q national
party and of its principles. For the sue
cessful party at once claims and proclaims
that the defeat Of their antagonists has
been in consequence Of the popular dis
content with its principles. Thus the
doctrines established in behalf of party
may be actually overthrown by the abuse
of trust by its own official agents.
We are compelled to apply this doc
trine to the administration of our public
schools. The system of patronage under
which the members of the board have the
virtual appointment of teachers within
their several districts, has prevailed, and
was indeed inaugurated, under Demo-
cratic auspices. That it is wholly wrong,
we assert upon the authority of the report
of Division Superintendent Boothby.
This faithful and able officer says, under
date of sixth of October instant:
1t is greatly to be regretted that in quite
q number of the schools the stand ard Of ex-
eellence and efficiency has been lowered
since the opening of this session. vista
tion and critical obsery alton of the schools
will cOvince any impartial person that the
late unusually great change in the corps Of
teachers has caused decline in the inter
est and prosperity of all the schools, and
have been the greatest.
The motives of the Superintendent for
these outspoken statements is the deep
interest which he takes in the cause of
popular education, and in the reputation
of his own department. 1t is, however, of
the political aspect of unsuitable appoint
ments that the REPUBLICAN has the right
to speak. The Republican party having
charge of the public education should ap-
point none but the best teachers. This
can only be done by a committee or COM
mission to examine the credentials and
qualifications of the teachers. Preference
should, according to party practice, be
given to teachers whose principles accord
with those Of the Republican party; but it
is far better a school should be taught by
a person of opposite political principles,
or Of no party affiliations whatever, than
that the Republican party should be held
responsible for an incompetent appoint
ment of its own party. iG
In this sense we do not know SO high a
political trust as that involved in the
proper organization of our schools. Not
only is the party liable to be condemned
for any dereliction, but there is no small
danger that the whole school fund might
be repudiated and repealed upon such
demonstration of incompetency as may be
supposed in future to exist from an abuse
of the patronage. We have only to sup
pose union of all the elements opposed
to the school tax, and those who demand
that it shall be sectarian OF nothing. The
consequence Of repeal would be that
the white people would have the best pri-
vats SCHOOLS and schoolhouses, while the
colored people would not be SO we'll pro
vidsd. 10 eea i'et
The appointment of teacher is next in
importance 70 that Of clergyman. We
may saprose that nobleman indifferent
to religion should through his influence
| appoint - q clergyman Of an established
ehurchisols person not remarkable for
his piety or even subject TO objection for
| irregularities. The scandal Of such an
incumbent would not fan upon the noble
man who virtually dispensed the patron
Ane buf unon fha GREAT hodv ~ tha