The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-02-16
The Spells System.

"The spoils system of distribu- t
ting the public offices as rewards for .
political services at the elections, /
says the Amerscan Register, has be- s
come a great, growing and corrnp- /,
ting evil. The proposition pend be- I
fore Congress- to amend the Consti-
tuition by taking the appointing pow
er from the President, and confer
ring it on a commissions an essen
tial measure of reform, and the only
effectual means of abating an intoler-
able nuisance.
By the terms of the Constitution,
as construed by Alexander Hamil
ton, remo0alS from Office required the
consent and approval of the Senate,
as well as the appointments by the
President. (See American Register
Of last week, p. 242, and The FEEDER
a5ist No. ny But this salutary
check upon executive power has been
long since broken down, and the
maxim of barbarian warfare that, "to
the victors belong the spoils," has
been adopted and applied in our
elections and political affairs. This
leads inevitably to political corrup-
tion. The offices, honors and the en-
oluments of the Government have be
come the gorgeous prizes staked on
the Presidential race at the elections.
These prizes are promised as rewards
for political services. Money in large
amounts is raised and used to cor,
rupt the elections, The right of suf
frage, which should be exercised
solely from honorable and patriotic
motives is corrupted and controlled
by money and the promise of office
and it's emoluments. Every presi
Dental election brings about a revo-
? luton in the official agencies Of the
Government throughout the land,
) and cupidity and ambition have Ia
, ken the place of integrity and pa
triotism in our public affairs. The
President, who is the head and lead
. er of the political party in power, and
the commandment chief of the army
and navy, and of the militia of the
! several States in actual service, col
lects and disburses annually some
three hundred millions of dollars Of
o public revenue, exercises vast iniu
ence- over the finances and bushes;
affairs of the country, and control:
s at will between one and two hundred
thousand offices and agents Of The
Government. When, under such cir
eumstances, the leaders of the politi
n cal party in power proclaim as thei
rule of action, in their struggles t.
maintain their partisan ascendancy
that anything IS justifable an mon
ais and IN EaW that will beat dow
the opposing political party ard keel
their party in power,"how long cal
y the liberties of the people and TIL
n free institutions CT the country sur
/ vive? They only await the arriva
l. of the crisis, and must go down ii
p the first conflict, unless the peopl
can be aroused from their lethargy
E. After a presidential election, pee
a pie from "fen and forest and the fou
y quarters of the Union" congregate i
i tumults at Washington, ,demandin.
the rewards for their services at tn
H.. election. They crowd the Executiy
Mansion and press their claims wit
:. opportunities which cannot brook re
- fusal. The f~iercest and most savag
passions of the human soul are her
aroused, which had vent in the as
sassination of President Garfield b,
= Guiteau. The country has bee
startled and appalled, by one of tn
boldest and most daring assassina
tions on, record, which was one Of til
, immediate and direct results of thi
= spoils system of office. 40
:, The evil is apparent, fragrant an
undeniable. The only effectuaI rem
" edy is to take from the Presi lent tn
, appointing power. Ifthere beinteg
z rity, patriotism and independents
enough left to preserve the libertie
N of the country, the remedy. by con
g stitutional amendment will be at one
applied. Let this glaring and mor
strous defect in our political syster
&c be at once removed by an amend
!, ment of the Constitution.