Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-11-19

We have often had occasion to remark
upon the demoralizing influence on the
people of the pursuit of office. Indeed
sometimes it has struck us that it seemed
to be national disease And we very
much fear that there is no present prospect
of any relief from it. Grant when he first
acceded to the Presidential chair, either
earnestly or pretentiously attempted to
institute civil service reform, but met
with such resistance within in his own
party that he speedily abandoned even
all pretense of it. We have no doubt that
a President could adopt such a system as
would work out most benefcent results to
both the people and the government, pro-
vided he did not have before his eyes the
glittering bride of second or third term.
Probably if the Presidential tenure of
office were limited to one term only-some
man, sufficiently patriotic to prefer the
proper administration of the government
to the advancement of his party, might be
found, who would bring US back to the
Jeffersonian rule, knock rotation in office
in the head, and cease to prescribe faith
full subaltern, because he might not vote
the same way that the chief Executive
might think right. Such man would
undoubtedly ruin himself with his own
party friends, but he would make for him
self a name for patriotism which would
be enviable. But we have no more hope
of seeing this condition of things brought
about than we have of seeing the millen-
mum.
We have been forcibly reminded of all
this during the past week by being parti-
ally witness to the scramble which has
been going on in this county for office.
The applicants or seekers have been as
thick as the leaves in Vallombrosa, or as
an old friend of ours would say, as thick
as hairs OR dogs back. They have dur
ing the past week been marshalling their
forces and laying in supply of recommen-
dations from persons of supposed infiu-
ence. What may have been the experience
of party leaders we do not know, but it
may be imagined, when We state that so
humble a person as ourself, without poll
teal influence or aspirations, has been
called on by at least twenty-five different
individuals for letters, &c, TO the powers
that be. Candidates for every position in
existence, and...for some not yet made
tobacco inspectors, clerks in the ware
houses, laborers, screwmen, &C., captains
of the Oyster Police, assessors, clerks to
committees, pages-and their names is
legion-have sought our insignificant en-
dorsement. Nor have the applicants con-
fined themselves alone to State offices, but
they have gone for Dr. Hsnkle's scalp, and
we are sure the Doctor could organize the
whole House of Representatives out of
this county. Now we want to say to our
friends that they are wasting their own
time and that of Others by this sort of
thing. Charles county is not likely to be
looked on with much favor by the authori-
ties at Annapolis, as long as we send there
delegation such as will undertake to re-
present us there this winter. Nor are we
likely to fare any better at Washington,
for the rule among politicians is well
settled, that ''to the victors belong the
spoils," and as we do not belong to that
class, we will most probably be left out in
the cold