National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-12

VINO uecOratcS the editorial columns oil
the Washington Post with airy SCOTS at
the groveling love for office which he
says is confined to Republicans, had yes
terday some very witty filings at ex-Lieu-
tenant Governor Flanagan, of Flanagan's
Mills, Texas, and a humorous insertion of
the word "hell for additional effect into
q remark made by him at the Chicago
convention. The Post has seen an inter-
view in newspaper, in which Governor
Flanagan expresses hope that Republi-
cans and antieBourbon Democrats may
be able to overthrow the Bourbon De-
mocracy of Texas. This the Post fears
looks toward Offices in Texas. Well, yes.
The elections will be held to decide be-
@ween opposing candidates for Office.
We know what q pang will 60
through the heart of stilson Hutchins
as he contemplotes the disgusting
fact that wherever q Bourbon can
didate receives majority of the
votes land generally when he does not
the result involves the degradation of
that noble Bourbon by comforting upon
'''''' " NiiN tllu ullNIlIplllt IL 10
not the Bourbons who want the Offices
That is not what they carry elections for.
Not for that do they insert ,020 ballots
in single box las ut Columbia, S. C.),
with not voter behind them. Oh, no !;
not at all by no manner of means! 1t is
only to insure honest government. They
do not want office. They never did. That
is why they crawlcd at the feet Of
Rutherford B. Hayes for four years-the
man they charged with having stolen the
Presidency, and who rewarded their
servility with offices in the Southern
States in the proportion of nine to one.
ITO the victors belong the spoils," said
an apostle Of Democracy, hnd the last
Democratic President spent his energies
i'll trying to buy slave code for the Ter
ritories by the use of Federal patronage.
We can well understand how shocked the
Post is, therefore, at thoughts of any man
who udaccept an Office, or who would
coniine official appointments to the po-
litical party of which he is n member.
There has been much amusement over
the blunt expression oft distinguished
Texan above referred to at the Chicago
Convention. After the committee on
platform and resolutions had reported
and the question was on the adoption of
their resolutions, Mr.. Barker, of Massa-
chusetts, offered an amendment contain
ing his views on the subject of the civil
service. Among other things, it advo-
Gated a Lye tenure Tor during good be-
havior) for all administrative offices,
except those through which the distinc-
tive policy of the party in power is car
ried out" During the consideration of
this amendment, Mr.. Flanagan, of Texas,
said
"Mr. President, Texas has had quite enough of
the civil service reform. During the last four
years, sir, out OF 1,i00 officers appointed by the
President of the United States one hundred and
forty represented The Republican party! We are not
here, FIR, for the purpose Of proridiHg Offices for the
DemocrdcN There is one plank in the Democr attic
platform that / have ever admiGcd, and that s /:
"To the victors belong the spoils." After we have
won the race, as we will, we. will give those who
are entitled to positions Office"
That is to say, if the people decide by
their votes to entrust the administration
of affairs to the Republican party the
party will not discharge its trust through
the agency of Democrats. That was
sound. The people know which party
they desire to trust. What apology is
necessary for obeying their voice :?
Should the Offices go to the defeated :?
Are the rights of majorities belittled by
calling them "victors," or should they
any the less control the Offices because
some one has called these "the spoils "
If the "victors" must be excluded from
Office the vanquished must bear sway.
Mr.. Flanagan went on with his remarks
What he said did not refer to himself or
to the delegates in convention. 1t re-
ferred to the whole party. He was trying
to say that the National Convention was
being held to organize victory over the
Democracy, and not to help continue in
office the thousands of Democrats who
had crept in under President Hayes.
And he did say, "What are we up here
for? l mean that members of the Re-
publican party are entitled to Office" lie
was antagonizing Mr.. Barker, who was
advocating the disregard of political
opinions in the selection of all but the
highest officials. He placed himself on
the exact level of his civil-service re,
form antagonist, who had no theme
but the offices to discuss. If any
civil-service reformer ever thinks OF
anything besides the offices, or of any,
thing connected with them beyond the
devising of hoisting-works by which tc
get himself or his cronies in, or falling
in that, to get out those he hates, thenth,
public have been keptin ignorance there
of For twelve years we have listened t
some men who wanted Office undel
Grant and could not get it, and they
have made every effort to appear solely
devoted TO getting Office for the public
good. They have talked necessarily Of
the offices. AS swine have ever the
trough in sight, so the Reformers have
not room in their minds for anything
but the question of spoils. Mr.. Flanagan
claimed for the Republican party what
the Reformers claimed for themselves
viz: the offices. The subject is not a
sire for place, but the Civil-Service Re,
formers are always shouting "What arc
we here for?" They rage if any are ap,
pointed outside of their crowd. Is their
clamor for keeping the Offices within
their own narrow circle any more pa
triotic than Governor Flanagan's PROPOSE,
ton to have the field for selection eX