New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-06-02
THE APPOINTING POWER AND ITS Re-
SPONSIBILITY.

oppose railroads and their connexions.
THE APPOINTING POWER AND ITS Re-
SP0NSIBMITY.
Who can be ignorant of the crowds of
needy political mendicants who besiege
the appointing powers of the Democracy
and Republicans? Who has not some
friend or dependant that claims public
subsistence with as much confidence as a
soldier would demand a pension? The
universal prevalence of this evil demands
that some explanation should be given of
the true relations between the government
and the employee. Under the true theory
of republican form Of government, the
public service should be entrusted to the
most competent. AS the government has
been administered, qualifications being
equal, the political supporters of the ap-
pointing power should be preferred. The
defense of this consists in the fact that
competitive systems of administration
having been submitted to popular choice
the system selected should have an OPP
portunity to present fair exhibition of its
merits which might be prejudiced or pre-
vented, if conducted by officials ignorant
of or inimical to its adoption. This vim
dication of party appointments excludes
all idea that an Office is conferred as a re-
ward for breath or money expended in a
canvass. The sole consideration of sp-
pointment is the capacity for official
service.
In giving an honest, able and popular
service to the public consists the sole
justification for appointing a friend in
preference to an opponent of an ad-
ministration. If this doctrine be correct,
the appointing powers of the Republican
party are under obligations to reward no
one. 1t needs men useful in the future.
We are not to recruit political cripples for
the battles they have lost, but able-bodied
and effective soldiers who can repair the
defects of the past and organize victory
for the future. Neither party owes any
member anything. 1t has right to dis
charge or furlough any one. 1t may en-
list, promote or breyet any one. Nor can
the appointing power be held responsible,
except for the proper execution and illus
tration of the party principles committed
to its direction.
If, then, there be no outstanding La
bilities upon the Republican party for
services alleged to have been rendered in
the past; if the administration accepts
power on the chart of the constitution
and the Republican platform, it will be-
come duty to execute that trust rigidly.
The Republican party has been aban-
doned to defeat, on an allegation that its
official material was not popular and its
soldiery not strong enough to maintain
its rights. How, then, should the admin
istration correct this weakness? Certainly
by appointing none to Office save those
who can supply the want prescribed with
such virtuous severity. 1t will require,
therefore, the exclusive appointment Of
Republicans who have a foothold and q
following in the State. 1t demands that
the colored voters shall be represented
by men whose sound influence and indi-
vidual strength shall protect them to and
from the polls. We fear no authentic
contradiction when we say that If the
coloTed Republicans shall not be pro.
tected by such system of appointments,
they will protect themselves in Louisiana,
as in Virginia, Georgia and Texas, by
surrender to those who can protect them.
We do not mean to say that there are moi
many Republicans who have ever since
their residence in this State held and ad
ministered its Offices with fidelity to the
party. Unfortunately they are unpopular
and lead nobody. They have no suoE
associations as enable them to give pro
lection to the colo1ed voters, or indeed Il
secure it for themselves. The parishes
are full Of such persons, We do no
mean 10 say thas such Republicans an
not worthy Of appointment. We wouli
not insinnAts that they have not RICH
to demand public subsistence. We meeklJ
submit that saoh claimants, hays no NOR
claim 10 be subsisted hers than anywhsr
else. The demand Of non-residents,. on 0
men who have proved their incapacily i
defend the party, is properly upon til
national party and should be satiahed a
Washington or elsewhere. It wiz Be injuri
ons 70 ihs Republican party e place an
man II Office whose record Is unfoEtnnatr
No general Who has lost one campaign
proper 10 organise and condnea another
Ths coincidence Of he pspoinAing poVs