National Republican., 1882-08-15
Tho Doct.Omrau

1t is safe to say that nine-tenths of the
post-offices in the late confederate states
are filed by either unrelenting, incor-
rigible Bourbon Democrats or by syco-
phantlc, time serving, sunshine Republic
cans, who 80 conduct themselves politi-
cally as to never displease their Bourbon
surroundings. Why this condition of
things exists, and how it was brought
about, it is not necessary now to discuss
Suffice it to say that the present Executive
found it so when he came into office.
The consequence is that the United States
post-oflices constitute the most reliable
branch of the Bourbon Democratic or
ganization in the South. The small post
offices, which yield very little compen-
sation, constitute by far the larger num-
ber of these Bourbon political agencies
These are the political hornets nests
where all the devilment is concocted
before elections. The incumbents hold
their places by the recommendation of
Bourbon Congressman, who have
decorated their trustiest and most
unscrupulous followers with this mark
of their esteem. When Republi-
cans have been so numerous in n
locality as to make such recommend
ations imprudent, then one of those
miserable devils who has been Republi-
can enough to hold office, but not Re-
publican enough ever to speak word
which could in the least jar upon the
Bourbon ear, has been trotted out and
eulogized as "a Republican, but gentle
man." These creatures are as rule less
Independent and self-respecting than was
the average negro slave in former times,
and they serve as the fence from behind
which their Bourbon clerks pepper the
party of which they beg their bread.
The Republican party does not have
an equal show with its enemy in the
South for mail facilities for political docu =
ments. Not only So but the post-offices
are the rallying points for active and
aggressive political work for the Democ-
racy. If the Civil-Service Reformers
really desired to accomplish a reform,
they would attack this great Bourbon
agency, which has grown up by degrees,
and which has made the post-office at
the South mere Bourbon political club
house. The Democratic party has a
larger number of active political agents
at work in the South, drawing govern
ment pay, than has its opponents. If one
of these barnacles is scraped off, the
Democrats, and their willing tools, the
Reformers, scream in unison that great
outrage is committed. The Administration
isso fastidious about not using the official
machinery of the government for party
purposes that Bourbon enemies are left
in possession of offices to which they
were never entitled, for which they are
seldom fit, and which they prostitute tc
the basest political uses. The motive is
good. The result is unfortunate. Per.
haps other duties have not yet permitted
the Post-Oftice Department to investigate
these things. We hope the time will
come, and that shortly, when the
AK will be laid at the root Of
the tree and the active political
agents of the Bourbon Democracy
be elected from the crossroads post.
Offices. Ifangelic men, with no political
opinions, or heartless men, with no polit
ical emotions, cannot be found-if post
master must be partisan like Other
folks, let him he on the side the depart
ment believes to be right, and which the
people have for twenty-five years de-
clared to be alone fit to be trusted with
national interests.