The National tribune., 1881-10-01
Appointments to Office.

discharged from the military or naval service by
reason of disability resulting from wounds OF
sickness incurred in the line of duty, shall be
preferred for appointment to civil office provided
they are found to possess the business capacity
necessary for the proper discharge of the duties
Of said Offices"
With such plain provision of law before
them, it would seem that the heads of the various
Departments ought to have no difficulty in under
standing their duty in the premises, and that,
having such knowledge, they would gladly carry
! out the requirements of the statute. It is noto-
rious, however, that the section quoted is dead
letter. so far as its practical effects are concerned
in a large majority of instances in which APP
pOintments are sought by those whom it was
intended to benefit. We venture the assertion
and without fear of successful contradiction
that the appointment offices in the Executive
Departments in this city are, so to speak, flooded
/ with applications from honorably discharged and
disabled soldiers, since the filing of which hun
I dreds, if not thousands of appointments have
/ been made from among applicants who were
never in the army and who never rendered any
previous service to the Government: and we
further assert, that in majority of these cases
the question of capablity or fitness for the posi-
ton was never considered as an important factor
in making the appointment. Political influence
/ OF personal interests in too many instances were
stronger than the law or the obligation of the
appointing power to enforce it.
1t Isl sad commentary upon our Wanted regard
for the soldier that such state of affairs should
exist; and in the interest of our comrades (of
whose sutferings we have some knowledge from
our own experienced we propose to do whatever we
can to that change for the better is effected
We believe that it is the duty of the Govern
ment to show a preference to those who in serv-
ing it became disabled in any manner while in
the line of duty, and on that account received an
honorable discharge from the army or navy
And the Government has recognized its moral
obligation to do this by the passage of the statute
section 1854 already referred to; but the diff
Guilty lies in its enforcement. AS already stated,
it has become virtually obsolete. An ex- Union
soldier, with but one leg or arm, applies for
clerkship. He is educated intelligent honest;
in fact, possesses the ability and all the require
ments to make an efficient servant of the people
He, however, has no Influence" There is no
Senator OF member of Cong ess or other person
high in authority whom he can find to advocate |
his cause. He is told there is no vacancy. On
the same day, perhaps youth, the son or
nephew or protege of some great man, it may
be, files his application. His patron, whether
Senator or member or great man, sees the Secre-
tary or chief of the Department, introduces the !
applicant, and lets it be understood that he must
have place-and he gets it.
Or the contestant for place may be one of those :
who, during the war. fought against his unfortu-
nate competitor who wore the Blue The number |
of such now in Government employ and APP
pointed, too, upon the recommendation of or by
those who claim to entertain the highest possible
regard for those who helped save the Union, and
to be in full sympathy with them is almost be-
yond belief.
We have no i'll will against those who fought
against US, especially if they have been thor
Oughly reconstructed in their views touching the
late unpleasantness; but, to quote an old saying,
" Charity should begin at home" and there is
no reason why they should be preferred over their
old antagonists unless it be found in the fact that
they dependent upon the Government for a
nj n
a good one 1t is the first duty of the Govern
ment as it is Of an individual to look out for its
friends, those who were such in it's time of need
and especially is this true where the law so plainly
declares it to be so.
As regards the political aspect of the case, we
believe that no distinction should be made as be-
tween the two great parties when section 1854 is
being considered. The Government did not stop
a man, who wished to volunteer during the war,
to learn his politics. nor should it now inquire
into that matter if the applicant for office is
clearly within the statute. 1t is natural how
ever and in accordance with precedent for the
winning party in a campaign to provide for its
who assisted in winning the victory
Ifthis provision for friends ismade in conformity
to the statute, by the appointment of disabled eX
soldiers and sailors no one has the right to COM