The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-20
Thursday. January 40. 1876.
Warnings Which Sould be Needed,

Ex-Gov, John A. Dix delivered a lee
ture 10 New York last Monday evening on
Social and Political Evils" The nature
of the theme quite as much as the reputa
ton Of the speaker, attracted very large
and highly cultivated audience, and iudg-
ing from the comments of the press, none
had cause to be disappointed Whatever
differences OF opinion there may be in re-
gard to the ability and the actions of Gov.
Dix as statesman, even his strongest
opponents are willing to concede to him
honesty and purity Of purpose, a high
sense of honor and unhinching patriotism,
The best advantages of early education
have been supplemented by the lessons of
long and varied experience. He has been
United States senator, a cabinet officer,
major-general in the army, and the
chief magistrate of the most important
state in the union. When such a man, so
qualified, having reached the advanced age
when prejudice and passion are subdued
by CAIN reason and the dictates of ma
tured judgment, points out to his country
men the dangers which threaten national
prosperity and perpetuity, he should not
only be heard but needed.
We are not surprised to find that Gov.
Dix looks upon the present mode of distri-
buting public Offices as involving the grav-
est perils which heset the republic. He sees
in this mode the elements of widespread
decentralization and decay, and traces its
pernicious effects in every department of
government and in almost every grade of
society. To have good service we must
have good servants, and it is manfestly
impossible to secure these-eXcept by ac-
cident-so long as appointment are made
to depend upon the politics of the appli-
cant, instead of his mental and moral
qualifications. The federal patronage
ought to be so emE Logged as to obtain for
the people the best men for all positions,
thereby lnsuring economy, energy and
conscientious fidelity in every office, from
smallest to greatest. But when this pat
rOnage is used merely to stimulate parti
sanship by Offering rewards for kind of
work which thoroughly honorable men
must always hesitate to perform, and in
which, If they do perform it, they must
always be surpassed by less scruIulous
persons, the machinery of administration
must necessarily fall into incompetent and
unworthy hands and suffer accordingly.
There can be no real and permanent re-
form in our civil service until we 90 back to
the principles which prevailed during the
earlier days of the republic, when offices
were given to those best fitted to discharge
the duties pertaining to them, aud not
thrown as bones to the pack of hungry poll
ticians who were barking at the heels of
this or that party. And the change will
meyer be made until the people, irrespec-
tive of party, rise and demand it. 1t is
plainly for the interest Of the politicians to
keep things as they are, and nothing but
persistent and memorable popular pressure
can eradicate forever that inexhaustible
source OF corruption embodied in the mot
to, To the victors being the spoiIs."
The other danger which Gov Dix indi-
Gates may be inferred from the remedy
which he suggests: The extension of the
presidents term to six years, and the con-
ferrlng upon him of constrained disinter-
estedness by making him ineligible to office
for second term" 1.-THE civil service could
be reorganized on the plan proposed the
presld- ncy might safely be left as it is: but
as the chances for such reorganization are
not at present very encouraging, much
would undoubtedly be gained by removing
the executive from the atmosphere Of
temptation which now su; rounds him. A
second presidential term has become so
common that each incumbent feels entitled
to it, and consequently spares no pains to
acquire It, Much of his policy, and nearly
all OF his appointments, have this object IN
view; and so the FIRST four years are mainly
occupied in preparing the way for the next
four. denomination and reelection are
continually before the presidents eyes:
they haunt him day and night; they force
him to do what he otherwise would not
think of dong, and TO leave uudone what
he would otherwise gladly do. We can
seldom, however, have perfectly indie
pendent president while second terms are
allowable; an! as no president can be
worthy OF his office unless he Is indepen-
dent the people have direct and deep
interest in the chang. advocated by Gov.
Dix. Whether the term should be ex-
tended in order 10 compensate for the
future inelligi5iity, is matter which need
not now be discussed; but the experience
OF the past twenty five years has demon
strated the necessity Of abollshing second
terms, for In 10 other way does it seem
possible to exercise that spirit of intrigue
and selfish ambition which the abest pres
ldents have not altogether escaped, and to
which feeble presidents yield an unhesi
tatiDg obedience. And until that spirit is
exercised, misgovernment will he the rule
and not the exception. Louis Rep,
Leap Year
1t is the popular belief that this entire