New-York tribune., 1877-03-10

political revolution OF 1910. when "TIppecanoc and Ty-
Ter too were elected adanyb0dy predicted in le37-4o
that in the event OF its gaining the Whg party
would go back on all It's teaching about the necessity OF
practice the spos system which 1t had so bravey de,
with Hszael But what, is thy servant dog that he
should do this great thngf And yet 1t j. matter OF
This question melted into thin air. and but for the
death Of Gen. Harrison few Democratic oilcehoders
spoils poison had already infected the whole country,
cpgendering frantic lust Of office which aughed to
that since the Presidency Jackson that of Gen
Grant the p0ils system has been pracced alike ny both
parties state and nation, and Is to-day the ruling
policy Of the country.
CONGRESSIONAL PATRONAGE.
td) to the fourth and final stage III the de-
veopment of the SYSTEM vz the transfer NJ the Exec
tive patronage at least large portion of it, from the
President to members Of Congress The transfer was
made gradually but is now become established GUS
of party politics. and has wrought virtual change
in the organic law That gives the power of appoint
ment TO the President and the Senate an executive
body; the power is actually welded by the individual
members of the legislative body The practice is gross.
twofod breach OF the It usps one OF the
only in defiance Of general principle but OF an express
po%er in the case Of nferor Officers of OF the United
States il taken from the President aud Senate then
shall he vested in the President alone in the courts OF
law. in the heads OF departments Congress has no
more power TO vest these appointments in ITS own mem
Supreme Court The penicious effects of this usurpaton
of executive power by nebers of Congress cannot be
y
able le ter accepting the nomination Tor President.
The offices In these have become not merely rewards
This stem destroys the Of The separate depart
the Government directly to extayaganee and
official iucapacty il temptation TO dishonesty II hners
Impas careful supervision and strict accountability
obsirTcts the prompt sure punishment the
character OF the Government II is felt am confident by
large majority Of the members OF Congress 10 De an toeIae
charge Of their legitimate duties u ought TO be abolshed
Such the four principal stages by which the Fed,
era patronage has come TO be so tremendous political
Inc country. The tenure Of office law passed curb
UPON President Johnson after he had begun To swing
around the circle" modified somewhat the then existing
practice, but il enacted in the interest of the Repub-
'I ~ b liz naonnat a cnrn Of the spois system IL
leaves untouched most OF the old eVlfs.
MACHINERY OF THE SYSTEM.
No great political abuse becomes established without
az the same time organizing an appropriate system of
agencies for maintaining and perpetuatng its power.
Although diseased action OF the body polite II yet has,
like all disease, its laws of growth and influence.
1t works both by contagiOn and by design in the way Of
ev example and by crafty, Interruptions management
With equal energy aud Skill II sezes upon weak points III
existing political machinery, or dcylses new methods
The primary election, the primary assembly, the caucus,
the executive committee and the nominating conYen-
tOn will illustrate my meaning. These are the ordinary
and cOnvenent not necessary arrangeents for ultat
thern has a weak point; 1t is liable to he neglected by
the better class OF citizens and so to fa INTO the hands
il NOT of the worst yet OF an inferior class or
citizens Each of them therefore may readily
into U'VSe mefe instrument Of selfish and sclemng
partisans. And this sjust what Is all the time occurring
But when the primary assembly, the caucus, the eXccu-
five committee and the nominating convention are once
the hands OF scheInng part5als, the nohes enhsl-
enCd sentiment OF the community Is paLayZed; the
right man for the right place is ignored; all is done
cOrdiug TO what is called "the slate" prepared ny the
secret wtepulcrs; and il the best man is selected and
right policy laid down, it is not on principle at all, but
incidental means of success 1t is tub thrown out
10 pacify the popular whale and divert his attention
Everything IN ne IL managed Just as If an election
game Of chance, the pubic Offices so nucn money
stake Aud when the election involves the principal
Offices OF state-st more, when it involves the prin-
of the natlOI-DO argument Is needed 10
show what exciting game II becomes In the great
cities where the Federal patronage is chiefly dispensed
this prostitution of legitimate political agencies to per
sOna and partisan ends Is easiest aud most eheclVe,
and here, accordingly the evil reaches It's lnaxim1n
become ruling centers OF eectOncerlng influence ana
intrigue not to say Intimidation. Candidates for GOV
cnoIs Senator'S and Representatives in Congress are
often named aud virtually chosen by them, ana thus
league of mutual friendship, cooperation, and defense Is
FORMED between the powers at Washington City and the
army oiceholders throughout the country, whereby
their common interests consolidated into sort Of
political joint stock company and insured against hostile
attack and loss
POLITICS AS TRADE.
Having noticed agencies Of the spOls system will
now point out Of the specific evils of which 1t is the
direct cause or which arc greatly increased and nensi
fed by its influence. And the first is that 1t makes poll
ties trade Public service, in free country is certain
y one Of the noblest spheres Of human excron IL
cd 10 the best talents and the sefdevOtOn OF the best
men. But the instant Office is sOu-nt, or bestowed, or
used for mGre pecunay considerations the instant he
comes matter of sale and purchase, character is
gone from Of the highest It Is degraded to one Of the
lowest and most ignoble spheres of human exel,
ton; ali who have 10 DO with 1t receive an evil
taint, Trading in office is really one Of the worst
cry was raiscd-and very jnstly-aganst those
managers of the Credit Mobilicr VINO distributed It's
shares among members of Congress where hey " Mo1id
do the most good" Public opinion was NATURALLY
such means And set, IN point OF TACT the spos SYSTEM
is Credit MObilier OF another sort ON vastly larger
scale, and hundred times mOlc GeDasng II is, from
first 10 last. scheme OF hiIsih Sha sile. OeS M o
distributed where they VIII do the most go0d' III ne
of party leaders 1t is, in effect bribery ON the one hand
and venalIty the Oher. Place is bestowed ana ac-
cepted with the act If not express, understanding tnat
IL is TO he paid for If not in money, yet III votes III Ill
huence and active, entire subserveDcy to the behess
Tie practice Of regularly assessing the Government
employees in the departments at Washington ana All over
fle country il order TO raise funds for elecuoneerg
purposes sa point 1t said that tls practice as
been far modified as 10 make the con contribution III @ purely
& u thc tolnniaTv and the Involuntary aud the party
pmps and detectives know them we'll Then so lar as
votes influence and active eXertiOn are concerned
these are still denanded and often far yalu
able than money. Of MS many claims to pOpu-
lar respect and good viii that III the late national eec
ton Mi James the Postmaster OF tins eity refused 10
allow his subUrdDatCs TO be used even as United Stcs
deputy narshas What but evil Only eVll ana that con-
tinuay can result from conducting The Sh ana grave
affairs Of government on such prlhclpe!
1t would require volume TO poht o9t III ae,i G9 tnS
various methods and tricks OF p0luSs US trade one o
the most noted is what is called lobbying For years
votes necessary pass certain Dls through the @s
lature of Ncw-York bought up BY our late master
MIR Tweed ana his emssarieS with as hitle ado as IL
ofrcd Tor sale: ana votes needed to defeat all bills
which Mr. Tweed deemed hostile to his interests were
purchased with the same cool onr0ntery II an he oD-
bVng secrets of the Capitol at Albany, and OF the City
Hall and party wre-puers of this city, both Kcpublcan
and Democratic, during the past ten years, were 10 DC
fully revealed they would doubt. tale unfold at
which thc honest men of both parties would stand
gghast Reference has already been maze 70 tle ma
tnaj scandal growing out of the Credit MODor. Lob
byng not only at Washington but all over the country
has become a deep political art, and they VINO nave
LEANED if Thoroughly and it with skill are men
In IIrnt rsduest; for the power Of securing votes,