The Portland daily press., 1877-08-01
To the Editor of the Tribune.

To the Editor of the Tribune.
SIR: 1t is very easy to see that Congress-
men, with the consent of the Executive, may
get improper and vicious men into Office. 1t is
still easier to see that President, utterly dis
regarding the competent knowledge and proper
recommendation Of Congressman, might Stun
BILE blindly and err most fatally in attempting
to make appointments over the entire CONT
nent on mere hap-hazard testimony and chance
endorsement.
'"This Is the one matter" says the Reformer,
Sin which Congressman, as body, have per-
sonal interest. wholly apart from and opposed
to the public interest. But it is by
his control over the Federal offices in his Dis
trict that he expects to get and keep his own
seat in Congress" WHOLLY question the accu-
racy of this statement. So far from being cor
rect, it is in many cases precisely the reverse
of the truth. Most Congressman find little or
no aid from the influence supposed to come
from Federal patronage; many of them find it
hindrance, stumbling-block, cause of un-
expected and even unfair defeat, rather than
victory. 1 admit that 1t is difficult to attribute
the attitude and acts of the Reformers to any
thing but sincere and profound belief that
power comes through patronage, but all the
men of whose election to Congress know any
thing made themselves felt by their own power
and prowess before they were sought by con-
stituency. All the men I know in public life
were abundantly able to take care of them
selves out of it. They did not scramble up on
the heights for dear life, but belonged there by
force of natural elevation. Any child can see
that for one man pleased by Federal appoint
ment, ten men are displeased by non-appoint-
ment and disappointment. The newspapers
are constantly telling US how great is the
scramble for office. how numerous the bafted
applicants. Ii is not every man who has the
Presidents knack of sending every one away
hopeful-and even that is but short-lived ex-
pedient. They will all find out presently that
they are out in the cold, all but the one who is
warming himself within; and while he is en-
thusiastic over his President or his Congress
man, where are the nine who went away
empty?
But granting his assumption to the Reform
er, does not the case fully vindicate the wis
dom OF the Constitution and the Father against
himT LII IL Is Dy his patronage the Congress-
man Is to secure his place, does it not instantly
become all important to him to distribute his
patronage wisely2 His opportunities to know
the character of the men whom he recon-
mends for office in his District are immeasur-
ably better than those of the President. His
clie.itelage is smaller and he can be held to a
closer responsibility. He has an immediate,
personal, ever-present stake in the character of
the men whom he appoints. The President,
the heads of departments, ,.are far off and hard
to get at. The Congressman is handy, and an
indignant constituency can make a set upon
him any time. Every man in town knows
whether his letters are promptly delivered, and
the Congressman Can do no worse thing for
himself than to put in drunken, or default
ing or dilatory postmaster 1t is not only the
Democrat over the way who is waiting to
jump on him, but his own Republican COM
rades who are all ready to take his place.
This Is not merely the simplest A B Q of the
theory of human nature, but 1t Is proven by
general experience. Loud and deep and wide
declarations and declamatons of official cor
ruptlon and Congressional intrigue are not