Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-05-13
Tennessee River News.

| Editors Wing and Tribune:
have recently heard it asserted that
the doctrine of "Rotation in Office is
who0ppOse this doctrine have not studied
difficulties they will be required to over
come, to condemn 1t. If "official rota-
tom is not principle of our democratic
system, then history is not reliable, and
the utterances of our statesmen and great
men of every class may be considered as
glittering sham and hypOcracy. Our
American youths are stimulated to effort
when they are told that they can reach
the highest stations of honor and trust
The teacher instills this idea into the
minds Of his pupils, it is proclaimed in
gushing essays, heralded BY the press,
talked at every hearthstOne, and repeat
ed by our greatest men, A brilliant and
ambitious young man has been taught
that he can ''reap honor" and climb
high upon the political ladder. He as
pires to a position in the halls of Con-
gress, but is contensed to pass the ordina-
~ gradations, the first step of which is
the lower branch OF a State legislature
He becomes candidate for this posi- ton,
but as soon as he becomes a candidate, he
learns that he cannot be elected, owing
to precedent of which he has never
heard until now. Mr.. Smith, the pres
ent incumbent, b ing competent, has
held the position during the period of the
last ten years, and so long as he proves
himself worthy and competent, no other
man can be elected. The young man
waits until he Is eligible to the Senate,
but he learns that Mr.. Jones, being fully
competent, and having made g,,od SEN
atOr, will be re elected. He then con
cludes to declare himself for seat in
Congress, but he finds his district repre-
scented by an able and competent member.
Finding the way to political distinction
completely blOekaded by cable and COM
petent" men, he gives up his aspirations,
convinced that he has been the victim of
false teaching. Now if the doctrine of
rotation" be ignored, this false teach
ing should cease.
Because a man has made good repre-
sentative; because he has mzie a fine
speech; or because he has originated and
consummated some important scheme, it
does not follow that he should be elected
again and again to the same POSITION
Because man has served a dozen terms
in Congress rs the representative of the
same district, it docs not follow that he
is the only man in the district who has
studied national politics. Nor does it fol-
low that he is the only man who can re.
fleet credit upon his constituents. If the
principle of rotation is to be denied,
and that only men who are acquainted
with the tricks of legislation should be
elected to Congress, what will we do
when these men die?
There is an idea in this country that a
man is not a good Legislator, unless he is
good schemer and wire worker, which
is to say that Congress is body of cum
ming tricksters, and that we must elect
tricksters in order to maintain our rights.
Then, if such is the fact, let it be changed
to body of honest, fair-dealing men, by
electing new material.
1 do not wish to detract from the mer-
its of any man. would have this dis
trict ably representedin Congress, but be
it far from me to say that Gen. Atkins is
the only man in the district of sufficient
ability to represent it. That he has ably