New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-22
pERILS OF PATRONAGE

belong the spoIS' "aS wv
tried by all parties which have adopted
lit. These same spoils act somewhat as
those in the opera bouffe, where a cunning
strategist so places a quantity OF liquor
in bottles that the enemy capture the
spoils, get blind drunk and are oeiald
and captured at the will of their foe.
The operation of patronage is some
what this: A large percentage OF poll
ticians watch the contest as they would
any other race or preparation for race,
and plank their bets on that side which
they believe will win. When victory
has been won in accordance with their
speculation, they are the first to rush for
ward for reward. They leap over the
heads Of men who had founded and fought
for the party, they force their way through
the weak and the timid, and show their
ticket and are assigned their stake won in
advance Of all others.
We have heard the case of policeman
who fought through the riot of Sep
TENDER IA, 1874, and was one of the few
who returned his arms and accoutrements
after the fight. He was young, healthy,
honest and, of course, courageous. He
| was placed on the list to be called upon
! when wanted. He went at once to work
in some other business, but has never
since been served with notice Of REIN
statement
The appointing power can not. of
course, compare the merits of applicants
by the thousand. There must be many
incompetent and corrupt men appointed
to Office. Then there comes day of set
Element. All the evil deeds Of all the bad
appointed by party will be grouped to-
gethel, and the frightf,l aggregate will
be charged up against the party. Per-
haps it may compel the party to sur
render among the spoils the very prin-
ciples which it maintained. American
history shows that this Democratic
practice has repeatedly defeated the
Democratic party and driven it
from power. The administration of Presi-
dent Van Buren, was charged with extrava-
gance, with corruption, with the defalca-
ton of millions through dishonest re-
ceivers of public money. History proves
that Democracy was expelled from power
in 1910 for no other cause than devo-
ton to their own doctrine. It was the
maxim proclaimed by New York Dem
ocratic politician. It was carried into
the federal government by New York
Democratic President. 1t drove the De-
mocracy from power in o contest in which
there was no issue of political principle,
but a question only of official honesty.
The same doctrine gave to the perpetual
corporation Of Tammany Hall the sole
monopoly of dividing the Democratic
spoils Of State and city. Out of this
monopoly grew Tweed and his ring.
The Republican party has now to an
swer for the nisdeeds of the same mean
and selfish class. They are all heaped up
and hawked about all over the Union as a
reason why Republican principles should
be repealed. is it right that grand party,
which has established the principles OF the
government, should be driven from public
trust for the selfish and sensual profits of
the few who dishonor and destroy it? Do
men remember that if the Republican
party is expelled, the Democratic party
will take its placs? That defeat occa-
stoned by the default of few bad men
will be claimed to mean condemnation
Of Republican principles? Do men reflect
that if Republican principles are set
aside, there must be another war, either
in or over the Union?
This will not be so. The Republican
party will courtmartial it own cowardly
soldiers and roguish quartermasters. 1t
will advertise and pay reward for all in
formation which may bring one Of these
dangerous offenders to justice. 1t will
stop the leaks in the treasury. 1t will
clean out the sluices by which the money
comes into the treasury. Hurt whom it
may, it will save the Republican party
and its principles.
President Grant was right in his earlier
administration when be advocated a sys-
tenn of civil service under which clerks
Were inspected into the government ser
vice as soldiers would have been in the
army. Under this system the govern
ment of the United States would have
been relieved, as that of England was I'M
der precisely similar circumstances, from
the responsibility of thieyish officials of |
high or subordinate station. The ministe- |
rial and financial duties confded, as in
to competent hands, the govern
ment would have been left some time to |
and shape a policy for the |
Illustration and maintenance of its princi- |
pies. Now, at the close Of an admins
Iration in other respects satisfactory,
comes the accumulated scandal of in
formers, turn-coats and traitors, with |
the inscriptions devices Of Democratic
Congress to so faint the reputation Of Re-
publican officials as that the spells VIII
be taken from those who have held them
On principle and given TO the victors, who
make no pretension to any principle at
Ill.
Patronage. then, has its pelils Prop
erly awarded, it strengthens party by
tie added influences Of honest and COM