Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-12-07
SpOils.

lican administration has developed
a condition of things unparalleled in
the history of any civilized country.
Under its influence every politician
Of tie ruling party, from the high
est TO the lowest, is compelled to
DIN in the general scramble for
place and the profits that may be
made out OF its emoluments. He is
worthless as party man who de-
cllnes to be used Tor this purpose.
Public office. under the scrupulous
system OF Jefferson, was regarded
as sacred trust confidcd by the
people to a faithful servsnt. 1t is
now treatea as the property OF the
office-holder, to be held for the bene
fit OF himself and the choice spirits
who share with him the plumber
that may be wruug from the tax
payers by its INSCRIPTIONS admin
lstration. Under this pernicious
system public officials become the
dispensers of what are regarded as
the spoils OF victory-the offices of
the Government with their salaries,
perqu!sites and stealings.
Politicians are expected by their
supporters to be always ready TO
help any hungry a1venturer, who
has voted the winning ticket. to
whatever he chooses to ask fo;.
From the proud Senator down to
the petty gambler in ward election
returns are all expected to be zeal
GUS and expert spoilsmen. The in
huence OF this corrupting system
permeates every branch OF the pub
lie service. 1t promotes vulgar
traffic among the lowest subordina-
tes, such as that recently disclosed
in the Treasury Department. where
petty larceny has been Tor long
time practised in connection with
the furnishing OF supplies, With
out snch q system and the easy
facilities it affords for frauds on Il
gigaukic scale, the corruptions in
the War aud Navy Departments
under Grant, aAd ottha Post Office
Department under Hayes, would
have been impossible.
The spoils system has been the
fruitful source OF greater corruptions
and moro grisvous scandals, during
the past twelve years, than any
other vice in American politics. And
now the dominant party, ina tenn
pest of passion, is being rent and
torn into discordant and angry iac-
tions, each struggling to overthrow
and destroy the other; and aHab0ut
Sp0iks. Ga the surface no other
cause for quarrel appears. Mean
while the Department OF Justice,
assisted by the Postmaster General
and a corps of lawyers and detcc'
tives, is buslly engaged in laying
the foundation for a series OF prose-
cutions, which Republican officials
declare will expose unbeard of tas-
calities under a former Republican
administration. 1t is proposed to
show how certain men we've Tempt
ed, and how they tell, through the
banetul influence Of a system which
made the vast revenues Of great
department Of the Government a cor
rup ton fund, and source Of Illicit
pers onal gain. While this is IN
progress, place-hunters, spoils-men'
and polltlcal traders crowd the ap
proacheS to dispensers of patronage.
clamoring wildly tor office, and
gloating over the ruined regulations
OF fellow Republicans.
This melancholy spectacle recalls
the lines in Macaulays "Virginius;'
"Where'er 80 shed the honey, the buzz
lug flies will crowd;
Where'er ye ding the carton, the Ia
yen's croak is loud, y
There is no remedy Tor this pros
titution OF the public service, and
this decay Of public virtus, but in a
speedy return to the simple and
honest methods oil Constitutional
government, "Ot the people, by the
people and Tor the people. "-A@'.
Register.
- 1900 T.,,;1, nell cunplia1 wift