National Republican., 1880-09-17
POLITICS AND sroILs.

Those who credit General JACKSON with
being the first public man TO introduce tho
idea into American politics that TO the "vr.
" tors belong the spoils' do him an injustice.
1t began with the fist of democrats,
THOMAS JEFFERSON, who, when president,
removed ELIZUR GOODRICH from the Office
OF collector of the port of New Haven to
make room for SAMUEL Bishop, whose
children continue TO absorb Offices in Con-
necticut whenever the democratic party is
in power In explaining his action to GER
tain protesting merchants Of New Haven,
JEFFERSON wrote:
When it is considered that during tho late
administration those who wcrc not Of n par.
ticular set OF politics were excluded from all
Office; when by n steady pursuit of this meas.
uro nearly the whole offices of the United
States were monopoized by that sect; when
the public sentiment at length declared itself
aud burst open the doors Of honor and conf
denco to those whose opinions they approved,
was it to be imagined that this monopoly of
Office was to be continued in the hands of the
minority?
II was in this remarkable letter that JET
FERsoN gave as a reason why removals
should be made, because "iew die and none
"resign." MADISON carried out the spoils
doctrine enuncated by JEFFERSON. In or
der to make clean sweep of the post
masters in the state Of New York he was
obliged to make change in the Office of
postmaster-general. GRANGER was re
moved and MEIGGs of Ohio was appointed,
and under his administration every federal
ist in office was removed to make way for a
worker for the administration. President
MADISON carried the system of rewards for
political services into every department of
the government.
General JACKSON, before he was presi-
dent was as strongly in favor ofcivil-service
reform rs are GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS
and CARL ScHURZ He wrote letters to
that effect which would please even the
Nation. In reply to JACKSON, who advised
MONROE "now is the time to exterminate
that monster called party spirit by select
"ing men conspicuous for their probity,"
MONROE said: ITO give effect to free gov
" ernment and secure it from future danger,
sought not its decided friends who stood
firm in the day of trial to be principally
"relied on?' When JACKSON became
president he changed his own opinions and
adopted those of JEFFERSON and MONROE
Such has usually been the case with civil
service reformers. When "out" they are
very bipartisan and virtuous. When "in'
they begin to see that the "best interests OF
"the country" demand that the friends OF
an administration should hold its Offices.
The history of the administrations OF
VAN BUREN, PIERCE and BUCHANAN
proves that the democratic party has al
ways applied the rule ascribed to JACKSON
with searching severity.
| Those who think that there will be any
mercy shown to republicans in the event OF
a change Of party control of the national
administration Ure simply fatuous fools
The sweep that would be made would
probably include even those democrats who
by mistaken clemency, have been allowed
to share in the fruits of republican victories
They will have taint upon them in the
eyes of the hungry wolves who viii then
throng the avenues of Washington,