The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-04-09
THE TYRANNY OF PATRONAGE.
Reform Needed--Extract from the Ma.
jorIty Report Of the Potter Commit

But behind all these dangers remains tho
fundamental danger resulting from the cen,
traliZation Of oil appointments to office In
the President. In no government In the
world Is 20 vast o patronage dependent on the
absolute control OF q changing Executive. II
the Executive were pernIanentP II the pa.
tronage were distributed, or II the tenure OF
office wcrd In any way fixed by law, the evil
would be lcsscned. But now ut the end OF
each four years the entire Federal patronage
sand otticos-is collected In one lot, and tho
people divide themselves into two parties,
struggling In name to choose a President, but
In fact to control this enormous patronage,
which the President, Is compelled to give
80 distribute it. The temptation to fraud, to
usurpation, and corruption thus created Is
beyond calculation. 4 prize SO great, an In
tiucncc so powerful, thus centralized and pu,
up for contest at short recurring periods
would leopard the peace and safety OF any
nation. The election OF q President would
never lead to the effort and struggle and bit
tcrncss with which 1t Is now attended, nor be
followed ny any question as 10 who was real
ly tho choice OF the people. nor be the sub
jcct OF any attempt to defeat their will. but
for the offices within his gift. No nation cur
withstand a strife among It's own people 81
intense, and 80 dcnlOializinG. No cOntrlv.
ancc so c%f:cctual 10 eimbarrass government
TO disturb the public peace. to destroy p0litl'
cal honesty. and to endanger the common Sc
curly was ever before invented. lS exist
ence In this nation was not designed, bu
WAS the result OF a national growth and cen
traliZatlOn which the fathers could not fore
sec, and failed, therefore, To provide against
Every principle upon which they founded
government every practice which they In
ctt,catea, demands OF us In some way Il
break up this system, and by removing til,
evils remove the dangers with which Il
threatens US.
The power OF an administration with tho
al,cfh1tlfn ItSnnynl ri M hYnHrn1 np,t fo,
thousand Offices, sorfie OF whose members arr
most interested In disposing OF them so a.
To sustain themselves and their action, !!
the investigation. There * no form of con
control to that OF an office. II q man be brlb
ed by n sum down, he may lose 1t or waste 1t
and then the control It gave over him will =!
gone. But In an Office which he holds ut ttIt
pleasure OF the person who appointed him M
Is under continuing control. While he Il
compliant and serviccable he receives a sup
port; but when he falls In either regard, OF
conlcsses when he might have kept silent
his supplies are cut of, and he Is turned GU
OH the world without means and without
character. ruined by his confession Of tn,
truth. Patronage has, besides This, the fur
thcr advantage that II affords the possibility
Of aScribing It's bestowment TO just causes
and while being used for the most reprehen
sible purposes, the motives Of its use may bt
concealed. 1t is the history OF all state con
! spiracics tina II the consplrators succeed, thu
! means by which they do so arc rarely dis
closed or published while their yarty remalni
IN power or control.