The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-06
GOVERNOR DIX ON POLITICAL EVILS.

Ex-Governor Dix delivered lecture in
New York city, Monday evening, on $50
" ciNl md Political Evils" which, from
the high character and extended experience
Of the distinguished lecturer, will command,
"a it is worthy Of, wide attention. While
much that is familiar is presented, some
new ideas are suggested, and the produc-
ton, as whole, is exec edingly timely at
the opening of this centennial year. a
functional defect Of administration. he
says, is the immense number of appoint
ments made by the executive department,
n defect which seems to require constitu-
tional amendment To remedy. While all
Will undoubtedly agree with him az to the
defect and the remedy therefor, we appre-
bend that there will be general dissent
from his belief that no president ever
gained personal or political advantage
from the appointing power. His reason
for this belief is that for every successful
candidate there are number OF dsap-
pointed ones, from which lie argues that
of strength, is rather one of discomfort.
While We agree with him that the eXer-
else of the appointing power is, in some
respects, an element of discomfort, yet we
think that the history of politics will show
that it is a far greater source of power to
the incumbent OF an executive Office if
shrewdly managed and Governor d X,
himself, further along says that it has been
used to promote the denomination of q
president. 1t is unquestionable, as he
states, that the hope and expectation of
appointments to Office is an active agency
in our general elections that selfish inter.
ests are thus allowed to control nomina.
tons that offices have been aud are be.
slowed as rewards for partisan services in.
stead of in the interests of the public ser
vice and that, in their distribution, the
theory of our system that the men best
fitted by their talents and integrity for pub
lie trusts should fill public offices has been
almost entirely lost sight Of.
1t would, perhaps, be impossible, to ex.
pect that chief magistrate could be toupC
who would see, as would be the case, thai
the surest way of winning the confidence
of the country and gaining its appreciation
is to disregard all selfish interests and the
bases of party, and personal associations
and be guided solely by the best good Of
the country, and so, as partial remedy
for the existing evil, he favors constitu
tional amendment making president Inc
leglble to reelection.
This would not entirely remedy the evil
although 1t would curtai IL. Congress ha.
enhanced the evil by the passage of a law
requiring the geographical distribution OF
offices, the effect of which is to make then
regarded rather as beneiices than as public
trusts Under this act, taking effect the
first day of this centennial year, the ques
ton TO be asked in making appointments
TO subordinate positions in the several ex-
ecutive departments-in addition to the ole
Jeffersonian qualifc atoms of honesty, ca
pacity and efficiency, even If these are nov
deemed worthy of inquiry-is, is he Yer
monter, a Californian, Virginian, as the
case may be, for however much New
Yorker may be desired for particular po
stion on account of his peculiar qualifca
tons he cannot be appointed because, for
sooth, New York's complement is full
However much this act may commend 1t
self to oi,ice-seekers from a given locality
we appreheni that Governor Dix ha
shown The absurdity of it, for what mat
icrs it to tue country 50 long as the dute
whether the incumbent Is Rhode Isandc
or Michigander
The same evil tendency aud the sam
danger are found in the practice of remoy
Ing these subordinate employees upon
change OF the politics of the adminstra
ton. We have had this amply ILLUSTRATED
from the days Of the rule of Andrew Jack
son down to The advent of Kerr an,
Adams in the house OF representatives
during all the phases of politics, demo
cratic, wing and republican alike. Tn,
right view Of this whole question, IN hi
opinion, was embodied in an address unani
mously adopted by the New York delega
hon to the national democratic convention
III 1882, In substance rs follows Al
"l'lces belong to the people and shoul,
be filled and administered for the
Deneht on change OF administration
" Involving change of measures, chang
" OF men is, to certain extent, necessar,
:" to give effect to the former this chang