Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-09-08
jackson Not the Author Of the Spells
System.

since the shooting OF the President
we nave seen no end of philosophy
ABOUT tie so-calied ''spoiis SYSTEM"
and how it raises up assassins. We
NffA not stop to inquire whether the
system is responsible for the evils
charged upon it. But its history. as re-
gently given, is much in need OF correc-
s5ou.
With one voice our esteemed Repub-
1acan contemporaries impute it to the
Democracy, and denounce General
jackson, sometimes as the author, and
sometimes as the tnisher of it. But
size truth is, General jackson had no
z1aore to do with it than any other Presi-
dent. He never removed man for
aasere hostility, or appointed one for
aas ere friendliness to himself. He had
motions about the integrity Of the civil
-serSice and the nature OF the appoint
Rfg power as q public trust, which, ii
Fheg were not theoretically as beautiful
an paper as those OF some OF our senti-
2ssent;ilisis, were at least nonestiec car
wied out. -,
The spoils system, ike many other
abuses which have assai!ed the purity
.. the Federal Government and filed
the country with scandals, was inaug-'
Irated by Alexander hamilton Je.ier-
so0 found it i'll full OPERATION in the
Treasury Department when he entered
the Cabinet of Washington and it
reached its full development in all the
departments under John Adams. It
consisted OF a multiplication of offices,
sad the creation OF useless patronage,
dispensed 70 personal fayorites and po-
liGeal partisans. This is the spoils
~
Hamilton. was the author. de be-
lieVed it necessary to increase the
weight and influence OF the Executive
IN Congress and in the country. 1t is
act worth while to describe the lengths
ia which he carried it when relieved
from the restraint Of Washington by
The accession OF Adams. i. is enough
20 say that it never again reached such
proportions until the times OF Grant and
Gsantism, Hayes and Fraud. Mr.. .Jei-
aetson reversed the Federalist principles
z4pasi which Hamilton and Adams pro-
ceede9. and the first Democratic Adj
znaa;stration was the first and greatest
&c form Adm nistration- 1t abolished
two-thiras OF the civil list. 1t cut off
every needless office. 1t reduced ex-
grenditare and d jnlinished taxes.
jefferson made the Government SIM
E,!s and honest by making it economic
al. His plan was to coniine its BUSH
ness to the few fuEct ons specifically
sfatned in the Constitution. and to COM
8scl the faithful execution Of these by a
9utslber of servants sufficient for the
purpose, and no more. He did not turn
anea cut of Office because they were
5'ederal:sts, but he filed vacancies with
democrats. or Republicans, as they !
were then called, because they were
2rsae 10 the Constitution, and were |
heartily in earnest, as he was. in giving
lie experiment Of local self government
II far trial.
This was and is true Civii-seryice Re- |
2crin. We have tried the Eederalist |
e,Iaa long while, under Grant and /!
HAYES and GARFIELD, and nobody seems |
pleased with the result. Why not make |
:. change, and try the Jefferson plan, as
so,,v fathers did in 1902 Itwcrkcd sat |
5stactoriiy then. and as long rs It was !
honestly followed. We commend it to |
the roformers of the day. Meanwhile
ieG them stop railing at General Jack
500 ard the Democrats. and read a page /
OF Two of their own partys history
n. I. Sun. |