The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-09-24
Jackson Not the Author Of the Spells
System.

Since the shooting of the President
we have seen no end of philosophy
about the so-called "spoils system"
and how it raises up assassins. We
will 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-
ton.
With one voice our esteemed Repub-
lican contemporaries impute it to the
Democracy, and denounce General
jackson, sometimes as the author, and
sometimes as the finisher of it. But
the truth is, General jackson had no
more to do with it than any other Presi-
dent. He never removed a man for
mere hostility, or appointed one for
mere fr.endliness to himself. He had
notions about the integrity of the civil
service and the nature of the appoint
ing power as public trust, which. If
they were not theoretically as beautiful
on paper as those of some of our senti-
mentalists, were at least honestly car
ried out.
The spoils system, like many other
abuses which have assailed the purity
of the Federal Government and filled
the country with scandals, was lnaug-
urated by Alexander Hamilton. Jefier-
son found it in 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. 1t
consisted of a multiplication of offices,
and the creation of useless patronage,
dispensed 10 personal favcrites and po-
litical partisans. This is the spoils
system truly defined, of which Mr..
Hamilton was the author. He be-
lieved it necessary to increase the
weight and influence of the Executive
in Congress and in the country. 1t is
not worth while to describe the lengths
to which he carried it when relieved
from the restraint OF Washington by
the accession of Adams. 1t is enough
to say that it never again reached such
proportions until the times of Grant and
Grantism, Hayes and Fraud. MIR. JET
ferson reversed the Federalist principles
upon which Hamilton and Adams pro-
ceeded, and the first Democratic Adj
ministration was the first and greatest
reform Administration. 1t abolished
two-t thirds of the civil list. 1t cut off
every needless Office. 1t reduced ex-
penditure and d minished taxes.
jefferson made the Government SIM
pie and honest by making it economic
al. His plan was to confinc its BUSH
ness to the few funct ons specifically
named in the Constitution, and to COM
pei the faithful execution of these by a
number of servants sufficient for the
purpose, and no more. He did notturn
men out of Office because they were
Federal:sts, but he filled vacancies with
Democrats. or Republicans, as they
were then called. because they were
true to the Constitution, and were
heartily in earnest, as he was, in giving
the experiment of local self government
fair trial.
This was and is true Civil-service Re-
form. We have tried the. Federalist
plan 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
our fathers did in 1900? Itworked sat-
isfactorily then, and as long as it was
honestly followed. We commend it to
the reformers of the day. Meanwhile
let them stop railing at General Jack
son and the Democrats, and read page
or two of their own party's history
N. r. Sun. i3.li