The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-07-10
Executive Appointments.

Rarty platforms are distinguishing
feature in American politics. They are
found nowhere else; and are OF very
little consequence here. And yet, the
studied care with which they are pre-
pared, and the solicitude with which
their coming is awaited by conventions
and by the people, would seem to indi-
cate that these quadrenniai creeds are
matters OF the greatest possible pith and
moment in public affairs. Notwith-
standing all this, everybody knows that
directly upon the closing of a political
campaign, and frequently even before,
these platforms are as utterly ignored,
and their enunciations as completely
forgotten as though they had never been
written, Like the staging around a
building, they are cast aside as useless
lumber Immediately on the completion
of the structure.
In the Republican platform of the
present Presidential campaign there is,
however, one feature that ought to be
preserved as q doctrinal element in fu-
ture administrations, ne matter which
may be the party in power. We refer
to that clause which speaks of appoint
ments to office, and says--''That Sena-
tors aud r representatives, who may be
judges and accnsers, should not dictate
appointments to Office"
In view Of the fact that the Constitu-
tion confers the appointing power upon
the Executive, it would seem strange
that such declaration ct prohibition to
the dictation Of appointments by Con-
gressmen should have ever become need
full, by any political party. The simple
fact Of the occurrence OF such a declara.
tion in the political creed adopted by a
National Convention argues gross and
persistent invasion Of the Executive
prerogative on the part of members o.
Congress. Such interference is, how
ever, too publicly known, and has beer
too long persisted in, to present an as
peot OF strangeness to the public mind
But such interference In the matter Of
debating executive appointments ii
not, on that account, any the less wrong.
tpl and misehieVous.
The author OF that utterance in the
platform made use Of phrase none toe
strong when he wrote 'dictate appoint
ments to Office" For 1t is no news Il
the public that this Intrusion upon the
functions OF the Executive Department
by members of Congress has virtually
reached TO the degree of dictdti0a. Ap
pointments to ONCE are no longer re
quested, or solicited, but are demanded
by members of Congress. And il re
fused from any cause whatever. mani
festations Of personal hostility towards
the Executive speedily appear in the
sayings and doiDgs Of such Congressmer
in the legislative halls whenever oppor
tunity can be found to display theil
resentment.
Nor is all the blame for this perver
sion of the functional duties Of the re
speeiiye Departments chargeable upoI
the CoDgrsssmen. The Executive
branch itself has lent encouragement t,
this invasion OF its own prerOgatives b!
requiring applicants for appointment u
office TO obtain the endorsement OF thei
own members Of Congress before thei
applications can be favorsbly received
BY this meaps the patronage Of the gov
ernment Is actually iarmed out anon
the congressmsn friendly to the admin
tstratIon; apd what was Originally
..s>f Ia