The daily gazette., 1879-03-27
Party Patronage.
From the Baltimore Gazette.


There Is something exceedingly ridicu-
lous about the tenacious way In which the
Republicans of the Senate cling to the
patronage which they have for eighteen
years enjoyed in that body. On Monday
last Mr.. Cohkling made almost as much
of a struggle TO retain the gang of SEN
ate officials in office as he generally makes
when his beloved Custom-house in New
York city is threatened with annihila-
tion. He eulogzed in terms of sycophan-
tic extravaganza MIR. George q. Goiham,
the Secretary of the body-a gentleman
who has for ten years been the chief Or
ganizer and manipulation of the Republi
can party in Washington City. He has
used his position, which pays him sala-
ry of $4,000 year, rs tender to the
Republican National Campaign Commit
tee. He has sent out year after year the
blackmailing circulars which robbed
Government employees of their salaries
to swell the campaign fund funds Of the
Republican managers. Mr.. Conkling
whined over the displacement of his par
tisan henchmen as though the dearest
doctrine of civil liberty and Civl-Service
Reform had been stricken into the dust.
1t may be true that Mr.. Gorham has
faithfully and courteously discharged his
duties as Secretary of the Senate but
under the oldest law known to the poll
tics of our country his removal was de-
| creed when his party ceased to control
that body.
30 with every Republican official con-
nected with the Senate, from the Secre-
tary 1own to the polishers of the cuspi-
dors, aud the frantic attempt of the Re
! publicans to save their brood can only be
described, IN the terse phraseology of
Senator Eaton as the work of cry babies
The fact that eighteen years ago the Re-
pubicans found a Senate full of Demo-
cratic employees and religiously and
scrupulously rooted them out to make
room for persons of their own faith, is all
that is necessary to nerve the Democrats
in the work which they have undertaken.
The patronage Is theirs and they should
use it, A good beginning has been made
and their should be no delay in remov-
ing every Republican place-holder in and
about the Capitol. 1t may not be in ac-
cordance with a strict Interpretation of
the idealistlc rules of Civil Service Re-
form but it will be in keeping with fhe
precedents established by the Republi-
cans ever since they obtained control of
the Government. 1t is the fixed aud un-
| alterable rule of the managers of that or
| ganizat on to extend no aid or comfort
to their enemies. They divide their pat
ronage as the eagle distributes her prey
or as the pirates of the Antilles were
wont to divide their booty. They make
IL a point to give no patronage whatever
to Democrats and by this stern, unyield-
Ing policy they unite, strengthen and
soIdify their party.
With uimidity, which is almost akin
to cowardice, we find Democrats ev, ry-
where endsavoring to purchase the good
Will of their political enemies by feeding
them with such scraps of official patron
age az they may be able to commando
We have here In Maryland Democratic
officials who carry food and raiment to
the organs of Republicanism, IN the
shape OF advertisements, as though the y
would purchase silence and immunity
from assault on the part of their heredi-
tary enemies. Newspapers which daily
magn and assail The Democratic orgasi-
cation here every dayhave their stomachs
distended with the patronage of Demo-
cratic otfice-holdeTs. AS a matter of fai I
dealing by the public this might be eX-
cused but it is remembered that when
the Republicans have power they divide
no patronage with ther opponents
When they enjoyed full swing here in
Baltimore and Maryland it Is remember
ed that not a dollars worth Of their of
fieial advertising found its way into
Democratic new papers. The rule which
they seem willing to live by is the one
which should be rigidly applied to them
| When the Democrats kill IA bullock 1t i,
not incumbent upon them to give the
hide, tallow and choice steaks Tor theil
foes. If there are such things as party
spoils in the land Of party government
they certainly belong to the victors.-
Therefore; let the Democrats of the Sen
ae, gracefully and with dignity such a.
beeometh the gravity of the case, pro
ceed at once to displace every Republi
can partisan now on the rolls of thei
body, amid loud cries of anguish from
the able Republican Senators who nevei
SO much as gave peanut to hungr,
Democrat. The spectacle Is edifying.