The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-10-25

giving me a new lease to the position
And thus he shows his high regard fol-
the dear people by holding on the posi-.
tion under the political Statute Of Lin.
itation, and tacitly, at least Informs the
people that no II else within his par
t%icular jurisdiction Is qualified for the
position or worthy to hold it but him
self. Aud he commences early 10 dis
parage the claims 81 his fellow men,
and not unfrequently calls to his aid
tho position itself in the formation OF
special rings to enable him 10 bring
himself within this political Statute, 50
he can say TO all claimants, your
claim Is barred at least until hold ano-
ther term" o, how grateful! But the
strange part is that a free people will
so suffer themselves hoodwinked as to
allow such supremacy selfish practices
to prevail,
1t il contrary to the spirit and genius
of our free institutions. 1t is feeding
and pampering narrow contracted self
ish bigotry. 1t satisfies manly effort
and praisewOrthy emulation, and like
sclGshness itself, is a blighting sirocco
from the Lybian deserts of bigotry
blighting manly aspirations and chill
ing to death the intellectual advance
ment of our country.
Men should be placed in high posi-
lions as a Just reward to merit, thus
stimulating homes cXertion, because he
| who merits position, er vi termii is well
qualified to fill il. And the greater the
number rewarded for merit, the great
er will be the number who will exert
themselves to merit honorable distinc-
ton, and it follows as a cOrollary that
the less the number who are hOnored
by merit, the fewer there will be TO
make honest effort to merit honorable
distinction.
But these lifelong office seekers and
Office holders would brand any II who
would dare TO express his opinion in.
this regard as a selfish wretch, and as
wanting an Office, and would look upon
him as the vilest of sinners, while he
himself would cling to his office to the
exclusion of the whole world like Il
drowning man to the last plank. Yes,
whether deserving or not duplicate his
term at least, and especially as he is the
only sound official timber there is in
the whole land. This is the regard
that some of IL officials at least have
for their dear friends. Aside from cXpe-
diency and dencency, in a free country
like this, when the humblest boy in the
land has the right, by merit, to arise to
the highest position of trust and honor
in the government, the custom of a few
dividing out and monopolizing all the
positions of honor and profit, and du-
plicating their terms, and holding on
to them as a birthright, is wrong, and
not only wrong in principle but mean
and contemplate, because unmanly
and selfish. And he whose soul is not
withered and blasted by the lethal wind
of selfshness would not ask a generous
puHlic to extend his lease of power and
patronage, when so many of his fellow
men are at least as wei qualified for the
position as himself. Bnt he would en-
large and expand his soul by returning
to the people the charge entrustcda 10
him loaded with his grateful acknowl-
edgements, and in the true spirit of
Christianity ask them to tender the po-
sition to some one of his equally merito-
riOus friends. Rotation in office, quail
iications being equal, is the rule
prompted by the true spirit of democ-
racy, while monopoly of office savOrs of
bigoted despotism. The officer, in ma
ny instances, who should always be the
servant of the people, and act alone for
their benefit, by long lease of power be-
comes the master of the people, little
despot-serving his W proposes and
reckless of the rights and interests of
the community.