New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-06
Trr ap0rIs OF VICTORY.

I THE srons OF VICTORY.
The Democratic party is credited with
the undisputed honor Of the maxim, ito
tho victors belong the spoils." We be-
lieve We may say that with the late sur
render to the decretory authority Of the
Supreme Court, the maxim quoted is the
last distinctive principle left to Democ-
racy.
To American progress, however, is due
the great improvement adopted by all
parties. This improvement consists in
awarding the spoils in advance. and as q
means of achieving the victory. Both
systems are reprehensible, the last es-
pecially SO, because it requires a hun
dred mon, competent to an Office, to labor
| for the success of one who has received
the Office in advance of the election.
The first maxim has destroyed SO many
governments that no higher evidence Of
the intrinsic strength of our own could
be given than that it has withstood
its whitening tendencies. There is, per-
haps, no political idea SO fallacious as
that such commerce of patronage strength
| ems the power that bestows it. The
Democratic party is shown by history to
have been overthrown in 1910 with no
other issue than its defense of the frauds
committed by its own offceholders. In
New York, where this system originated,
the Democratic party has been brought
into disrepute by the fragrant robbery Of
sir millions of dollars by W. NJ. Tweed,
the Democratic sachem or leader Of Tam
many Hall. This political association
conducted the commerce in Office very
much as any other board of trade deals in
corn or cotton. Its monopoly, its AFRO
gance, its frauds, had become SO fragrant
that society demanded its abatement as
nuisance, and such sterling Democrats as
John Morrissey would not rest until it
shall be dismantled, and its members
dispersed into more upright organizations
We have said the Democratic party was
ruined in 1910 by defending the spoils
system, and even the despoilers them
selves. The Republican party, taught the
error by the evils which followed, has
avoided the trap set for them by their
willy antagonists. They have counter
acted this flank movement by a timely
and vigorous prosecution Of their own
official offenders. This is due in good
part to the assistance of the Democracy,
who argued, as General Diaz has done,
that the assertion of wrong in the exist
ing government qualified them to succeed
to its administration. This doctrine is
an improvement on the law that gives the
informer half the values received through
his testimony. Diaz and Democracy
claim the whole control of government for
having discovered and disclosed depart
mental abuses in its administration.
Each would at once enter upon aud oc.
cupy the government sought without Of
fering the slightest guarantee of improved
morality. The recent elections at the
North prove that the American people
can discriminate between the punishment
Of thief and the abandonm ent Of prin-
ciple. The Republican people will spank
their own babies. They will reform al
abuses without putting the principles OF
government in peril.
The Republicans are then obliged to
the Democracy for its aid in preparing
clean honest mans Republican ticket for
the next election. The Democracy has
aided to buoy the channel, and with pro-
fuse thanks for their pilotage there will
be no further or future need for their ser
vices, unless they shall in common consis-
tency vote for the Republican nominees,
nominated upon the principles which they
so much applaud. We have never had
doubt but that the indiscriminate be-
stowal of Office according to an applicants
estimate of his own value will impose
more responsibility upon the appointing
power than the influence such appointee
can possibly bring. We need only cite
the experience of our Republican execu-
tive department. General Grant entered
the executive department with personal
popularity second to that Of no one Of his
predecessors. He has done nothing in |
his own person to impair that popular
ity. Appointments have been pressed |
upon him of whose merit he could have
known nothing. He has been held per-
sonally responsible for them. Does he
suppose these charges delight none ex-
cept his political opponents? There are
thousands of his own party who would
oppose his election for third term be-
cause there would be few or no vacancies |
in Office under him.
The Governor of Louisiana possesses
larger measure of personal patronage than |
any other Governor of the thirty.seven
States. With characteristic sagacity and |
true perception of Republican doctrine,
his excellency protested against this viola
ton of Republican principle, and re-
quested the Legislature to provide for
filling all Offices, other than those speci-
fed in the constitution for executive ae-
pointment, by popular election. The re-
sponsibility for any defects in this system |
do not properly rest with the executive |
Those who improvidently &C
cumulated this dynamite power upon the |