Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-07-15
The Spells System.

The recent attempted assassination Of
the President seems to have accomplished
more in awakening the public mind to
the iniquities of the "spoils SYSTEM than
all the agitation which has heretofore
been made upon the subject. 1t seems to
be universally conceded by the press and
other expressions of public opinion that
the immediate and chiefcauses which led
to the dastardly crime, was the reprehen-
sible system by which appointments to the
government civil service is now regulated.
1t is to he presumed that the mind of the
President, should he recover, will also be
directed with renewed vigor to the i'm
portance OF reforming the civil service
1t is thought that the impetus given to the
movement by Guiteaus crime, will result
in some definite measures being enacted
at the next session of Congress for the at
tainment of this most desirable end. If
this prove to be SO, and the President shall
be fully restored to health, the attempt
upon his life will work blessing to the
American people, after all; for though it
be painful to admit that the moral to
so palpable political truth had to be
poln.ed by the assassin's pistol vet the
attainment OF an end, carrying such far
reaching advantages to the country, and
averting great future perils to the Repub-
lie, will perhaps justify even such detest-
able means
1t has been said that the Democratic
party is the parent of the::'spoils SYSTEM"
and it must be admitted that there is more
justice in the accusation than is entirely
comfortable. The policy pursued by
President Jackson did, no doubt, form
the basis upon which this monstrous struc-
ture Of political rottenness has been erect
ed, bul to charge the paternity of the pre-
sent horrible monster to the Democratic
party, is an unjust and false accusation
We have the high authority of Mr.. Jeffer-
son Davis, at one time Secretary of War,
for the statement that the most obnoxious
features attained by the "spoils system"
prior to the war, was due to Wing admin
istrations and influence. And it is fact
that under the Democratic administrations
Immediately preceding the war, The 'spoils
system had fallen in a great measure in
to disuse, and was not vigorously applied
in the appointments to the civil service
1t remained for the Republican party,
which assumed the reins of Government
at the commencement of the war, to build
up and establish the present monster
known as the 'spoils system" 1t has been
under Republican domination that it has
received its most obnoxious features and
most rigorous application.
From these facts it is apparent that none
of the great political parties can claim
immunity from the odiun of the ''spoils
SYSTEM" but that the record of the Demo
cratic party is decidedly clearer on the
question than that of the Republican par
ty or its predecessor tie Wing party
While the Democratic party is undoubt-
eddy in a better condition to accuse the
Republican party, than the Republicans,
the Democrats yet recrimination and
cross accusations are useless and absurd.
1t is fair to presume that the administra-
lions that have encouraged and built up
this system did not contemplate the grave
and dangerous proportions the system
would assume. The only thing that the
two parties can now do to atone to the
people for their past misconduct in this
regard, is to join together and cooperate
for the thorough divorcing of the govern
ment civil service from political influences,
not as partisan measure, but for the good
of the whole country, and in order that
political parties may henceforth stand up
on their true foundation of political prin-
ciples. 1t will be remembered that a
Democratic Congress has already favora-
bly, reported bills for effecting these meas
ures, and it is only to be hoped that the
impetus given to the movement by the late
startling crime, will serve to secure the
cooperation eff the next Congress of diff
terent political complexion, and that the
'spoi's system" may be, hencetorth and for
ever, known only as thing of the past