The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-30

many strong qualities. His communication
to the HEGALD makes two Of these conspicu-
ous-namely, his courtesy and his frank
ness. The courteous and considerate tone
of his letter makes it model in that re-
spect, and we trust that his example may
have some influence in banishing from po-
litical discussions the coarse vituperation
by which they are so often made revolving
to people who think respectful bearing
toward others is an evidence Of just seli-re-
spect 1t will be great gain to public man
ners when all of our public men
shall have come to adopt the urbane
tone which seems so natural to Mr..
Kelly in political discussions. The other
quality which is conspicuous in the Comp
troller's letter is his frankness. Mr.. Kelly
avows, without hesitation or concealment.
his opinion that municipal Offices in New
York are the property of the democratic
party. Whether this avowal is not more
frank than judicious may be regarded as an
open question. The phrase which after
ward became SO famous-"to the victors
belong the spoils of the enemy"-was first
employed by William l.. Marcy in speech
in the United States Senate. The use which
the opponents Of the democratic party af-
terward made of the phrase proved that it
was blunder, but it did not stand in the
way OF Mr.. Marcy's political promotion.
/ He was afterward elected and reelected
Governor of New York, and as Secretary OF
| State in the Pierce administration he
acquired an enviable reputation as a
statesman and diplomatist. Not long after
Mr.. Nancy had made that noted speech in
the Senate to which we have referred he
fell in with Chief Justice Ambrose Spen-
Ger, who rallied him on his yfaur pas.
Mr. Marcy replied that the spols principle
was always acted upon by political parties.
..But," replied the Chief Justice, "they
act on it quietly, while you have put it in an
epigrammatic form, which lodges it in the
public memory and enables political oppo-
nents to quote it against YOU Mr. Kelly
advocates the principle without repeating
the epigram, and we presume it will do
him no more harm than it did to Governor
Marcy.
What Mr.. Kelly really asserts is that the
Mayora.ty and al! the city Offices are the
property, or, to use Governor Marcy's ex-
preston, the ''spoils' of the democratic
party--in other words, of Tommany Hail.
This is at least frank and above board, and
we honor Mr. Kelly for attempting no dis
guises But is this the true theory Of pub
lie employments In our judgment offices
are not created as rewards OF party service
any more than for the personal advantage
81 the incumbents. General Jackson once
said coffee is considered as species OF
property; and government rather as means
of promoting individual interest than as
m instrument created solely for the
good of the people," Jackson did not state
this fallacy to indorse it, but to brand it.
II public Offices are not created for the
benefit of individuals they are just as little
created for the advantage OF cliques or
factions or political rings but only, to re-
peat Jackson's expression, "as an instru-
ment solely for the good of the people. '
To translate this excellent sentiment into
language suited to the present situation,
the Office Of Mayor was not created for the
benefit Of Tammany Hall, but as an instru-
ment Of efficient government for the city.
When Mr. Kelly claims it us property of a
dominant political faction he is frank in
deed, but not wise.
We are glad that Mr.. Kelly quotes and
approves, even though he misapplies, the
famous saying of Jefferson respecting quail
ifications for Office. Anybody who takes
the trouble to look at the letter in which
Jefferson gave that admirable and Oft
quoted description of the proper qualifca-
tions for office will see that he intended 1t
as declaration that, in all ordinary cir
cumstances, Offices should be filed without
reference to party considerations. When
Jefferson became President oil the Offices
were filled with federalists, and he
thought it right that few removals
should be made to give his own party some
share in the administration. "But that
done" said he, 81 shall return with joy to
that state of things when the only ques-
tions concerning q candidate shall be, Is
he honest. is he capable, is he faithful to
the constitution Jefferson's plain mean
ing was that he would gladly return to q
state of things when party should have
nothing to do with appointments to Office
Mr.. Kelly, in quoting this maxim, reverses
it, putting party first and making the
Jeffersonian qualifications secondary. Mr..
Kclly's idea Of Mayor is that he should be,
first OF oil, democrat, but that ho must be
also honest, capable and faithful to the con-
stitution. We are pleased that Mr.. Kelly
recognizes these important qualifications,
although he makes them subordinate. A
democrat who possesses them would indeed
make a better Mayor than any candidate
who lacks them; but, conversely, M. Kelly
himself ought to admit that an independent
candidate who possesses them is better en-
titled to the support Of voters than Tam