The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-12-17
Csrryiag Virginia with Federal Pat
rOnage.

Csrryiag Virginia with Federal Pat
r0nage.
A Washington dispatch to a New
York newspaper on the eve of the late
slection told how Virginia was to be
carried for the Readjusters by the en-
ployment of Federal patronage. The
truth is. the hundred thousand federal
offices are used now, and have been for
years. to perpetuate the rule OF the Re-
publican party. The percentage as
sessed on so large number OF salaries.
and the enforced party drudgcry OF q
hundred thousand dependents, is an |
immense leverage to use many contest. |
Power is thus used to perpetuate itself.
OF this vast army of Office holders. all
are of the party in power. They are
paid out of the common Treasury, and
arc paid enough to allow them to con-
tribute q per cent. of their salaries
usually ten per cent.-to campaign
funds This is plainly but an indirect
method Of assessing the whole people
to aid a party. 1t makes Democrats
furnish a Republican campaign iund.
1t is pretended that these official con-
tributions are voluntary. They are vol
untary in the sense that the office-hold-
ers cannot be proceeded against with
execution to collect them Their prop
erty cannot be attached or levied on.
They are voluntary in no other sense. !
The one who has the temerity or indie
pendence to refuse simply loses his
place. This he knows.
1t is said they prefer to pay to losing
their offices, and that they can better
afford to pay than to give up their
places. The obvious and only honest
answer TO this is that if the salaries ex-
coed the value of the service they
should be reduced. The Government,
and not a party, Is entitled to the
| amount in excess. If the services are
worth the whole amount of the salaries,
| it is cruel extortion to take per cent.
of them. 1t is a species of blackmail
amounting to cowardly robbery.
But we are also told that these office
holders know they would lose their
places if their party did not triumph in
the elections, and that it is their own
sincere wish to be allowed to make the
sacrifice of a per cent. to save the bal
ance. This is an assumption only. But
suppose it true. Is not the inference
overwhelming that il the unbought suf-
frages of the people would make a
change of administration such change
ought TO be made? Is it not the theory
OF our Government that the selection
of its officers shall be perfectly free,
and that the competition for its control
shall be without such advantage to any
party as the use of the common
Treasury?
A majority of the people of the Union
are Democrats, vet they hold none OF
the hundred Thousand places of trust
under the Government. If they were
ellen enemies they could not be more
rfgidlv excluded. If they do not object
to this, they at least have right to OBJ
iect to the use of the public Treasuryto
perpetuate their official ostracism. II
the doctrine of the rightvf those in pos
session to use percentage OF the pay
! of the employees Of Government be con-
ceded, its abuse to any needed extent
will unquestionably follow in due time.
If ten per cent of the Civil Service
fund shall be found insufficient to rem
der secure and perpetual the hold o
those in Office, that fund can be in
] creased to meet any exigency, ant
thirty, forty, or fifty per cent. OF it b
appropriated by the same coerciv'
/ power which now makes poor, one
armed letter-carriers give upsthe tel
per cent. which is wrung from thei
). moderate pay.
/ Precedents, as afforded in the histor.
of the Democratic party when it was il
/; power, are without force or opposite
{ ness. The Federal patronage in thos
DAYS was triiiing. The number of FEEDERS
> officials in the several States wa
. wholly inconsiderable in any real con
, test. The subject did not present il
{ self in form and in proportions t
) elicit serious consideration. Democrat
, could not have considered an evil whic
: did not exist. The you are another
J argument has no APPLICATION. Ths
/ Democrats, if in power would prostitut
4 the power and patronage of the con
!; mon Treasury h, therefore, gratuitou
I assumption, false as to fact and in
\ probable in the light of the history {
' the Democratic party. st. Louis Pel
ablican.