Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-29
TIE MANIA For OFFICE.


A New Orleans journal discusseI
efice-seekers and offices in the fol
lowing philosophic style. 1t says
"0fice-seeking is always disgust
ing. There is no occupation, which
if diligently followed by a compe.
tent person, will net yield better re-
turns than are furnished by the
public service. Offices may be filled
by anybody-which is perhaps a
reason for the indiscriminate appli-
cation-but few get them. Since
the war there has been no change
of party in the general government
Nevertheless the wild hunt for
office a term bestowed when it
implied by comparison merely a
duck chase around a frog-pond, has
increased until there is no peace OF
rest anywhere from the crazy peo-
pie, male and female, who, with
horns and hounds, pursue the
ignis fatuus, the fox-fre delusion,
which draws and guides the
lunatics to the capital Of their
native, and, in this respect at
least, their most unhappy country.
Somebody has said that war legis-
lates. The President know it; the
members of his cabinet knows it,
aud the members Of congress knew
it. Our war legislated with a ven
geance, and everybody knows it.
1t legislated at least forty men into
the senate and not less than one
hundred and fifty into the house of
representatives. These men in the
good old days Of peace would never
have reached either branch of con-
gress. The door Of the Presidents
room before the war often hung
wide open, and the visitor found
him solitary ndalone. Now thirty,
forty or fifty men and women sit in
the ante-rOom daily, waiting for an
audience. One wants a foreign
mission, and if he can't get
that he is willing to accept
the position of consul in the
little city Of Hoodad. Another
is an anxious seeker after a post.
Office in the interior, and, if that is
not at his service, he is ready to be-
come a gauger in some big distil-
lery. a third wishes to serve the
government as secretary Of Arizona;
and if there be no vacancy to fill in
that wild territory, he is patriotic
enough to take anything that will
50 on to the end of the
chapter. Only think of it. The
President has to see all these peo-
pie, listen to what they have to say,
and send them away as best he can.
We come to the cabinet. The ante
chambers of the treasury, interior
and postoflice departments are
equally full of people, male and re-
male, in search of clerkships. They
are at'once told that there are no
vacancies. This information does
not ut all satisfy them. They hang
on and hang On-hoping against
hope-till their exchequers are
exhausted, and then
they in no amiable mood return
to their homes. Such is the expe-
rience Of many a man and many a
woman. A word in regard to con-
gfessmen. Where he received one
letteron business twenty years ago
he receives fifty now. These must
all be attended to or there is a fuss
at home. Depend uponi it, his posi-
ton is no sinecure. The facts we.
have grouped together are true and
all the parties we have mentioned
know it. The sGddest part of this
Oaiee-hunting mania is its embrace
ment Oh our feminine population.
There is no doubt that our women
should have a fair share in the gov
eminent. Moreover, there are many
functions performed by men which
they can I'll. But, because a few of
them have been favored with Office,
the mass of them, who seek en-
and are dependent upon
their own exertionS for support,
seem to have gcue clean daft. They
enter into the s%crimmage with all
5be a%bsurdity of men. They have
luite as little practical sense as
,omposure, and they become, all Of
~ A.,