Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-30
rHE orrIcr.sEEKINe BRIsADEs.

Mr.. Henry Watterson woke
up one fine morning and found
himself famous. So much for being
an able and a progressive Journal
list. But along with and after the
houors and emoluments of a seat In
congress, which he filed with great
credit and ability, comes the pen
atty of greatness. No sooner had
the fact become fixed in the mind
of the great office-seeking
public that Stanley Mat
thews is brother-in-law to an
other man, who is own brother
in-law to President Hayes, than
another revelation almost equally
as important is made by some en-
terprising newspaper commissioner,
to.wit: Stanley Matthews married
Henry Watterson's aunt. The news
was taken up on the morning breeze
and at night it was known from
the nethermost corner of Maine to
the remotest ranch in Texas, from
Key West to British Colombia.
The item within itself would not
have attracted any notice, but it
suggested to several hundred thou
sand office .seekers, Of all sizes and
conditions, a new avenue to the
Presidential mansion-a side en-
trance through which a private
audience might be had with the
President ahead Of the crowd at
the front door, The applications
and recommendations intended for
Washington were redirected and
forwarded to Louisville, KY, (care
Courier-Journal newspaper. The
Ky. was no doubt often written with
little Ok" but the letters went all
the same, and Mr.. Watterson's
amanuensis has had to increase his
working time from three hours to
sixteen hours per day-at least we
presume SO from this extract from
an editorial in yesterdays Courier
Journal:
A word with those who write Us re-
questing our influence 10 obtaining
appointments to office from the present
administration. That the President loves
us we cannot doubt. In that event we
should not strain his love. But. in o
business way, our relation to the existing
political fabric is hardly close enough to
Justify US in making exorbitant demands
upon it. We are second cousin 10 no
member of the cabinet; and when we 60
10 Washington we shall not-at least we
do not expect to-occupy a trundle bed
in the executive nursery. People should
not write to US soliciting letters.
This is to notify the public not
to apply at that Office. In one sense
it il rather ~ludicrous, but in an
other light it is not SO funny. Hun
dr6ds and thousands of worthy and
competent people are driven by
want and poverty to seek little ap-
p~ointments under the government
which would barely yield a living.
Others are mere adventures, lazy,
and thriftless, and search for a sJft
place rather than do any kind Of
hard labor. They are a grade above
the class Of tramps who knock
at the back door, or walk in if it is
unlocked, to ask for something to
eat. 0lfice-seeking has become a
mania in this country, a growing
evil which permeats all grades Of
society. Every civil district, ward
and neighborhood in the United
States has its great men in embryo
who dream by night and plan by
day Of office. Some expect to make
money, Others think only OF shirk.
ing labor, and others have a vague.
indefinite idea that almost any pub
lie position confers dignity ant
superiority to the holder, immunity
from want and trouble. 1t wal
stated recently that Mr.. Key baC
received over $500 application
for office from Tennessee alone
How many of these people are max.
ing a living now or living within
their incomes, if they have any
This is a more serious question
than at first appears. To follow
this subject up it would be seel
that the disproportion between pro
ducers and consumers is fearful,
on the increase, and will continuI
until the political situation is read
justed and the country restored t.
its normal state Of confidence ant
good faith incident to an homes
administration of the national an(