News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-05-11
Party and Patronage.

"A STRIKING ILLUSTRATION OF Iue UlSaS-
trous effects OF the spoils system is
shown in the present angry imbittered
condition of the Republican party.
The defenders of the abuse constant
~ assert that if non-political places
under control of the government are
given to the most competent instead of
the most powerfully 'tbacked' appli-
cants, the party will 60 to pieces. The
fact is carefully forgotten that parties
in England are as highly disciplined
as ours, and even more strictly or
gained, and that English elections
are quite as absorbing and exciting as
ours, yet that in England not fifty
changes in appointed offices follow q
complete change of party ascendency.
Nothing is more plainly demonstrated
than that the spoils system is not es-
sential to government by party. If it
were so, government by party would
defeat its own purpose, which is TO
show the majority of free voices. If
success depended upon buying votes
by the bribery of place, an election
would furnish no clew to the condition
OF public opinion. What is sought at
IN election is to know whether ma
jori;y of the people prefer this or that
policy. not whether a certain number
of persons can be bought to vote for
it. Under the spoils system, as the
-sss.>>t--- &C x>l~,>s ;.>"~a~eas- t~,.a S>o>sA-
,iiar character of the government di-
minishes.
Yet while the patronage serves to
buy votes, it serves also to repel them.
To try to consolidate a party by pat
ronage is hopeless undertaking, be-
cause when a party is divided into
sections, it is impossible to distribute
fayors so evenly that one or the other
side will not complain. But when a
party is divided, and the patronage is
used to strengthen one Of the sections,
the breach is in danger of becoming
irreparable. President Arthur, like
Mr. Thurlow Weed and Senator Cam
eron and other conspicuous politicians
of both parties, believes sincerely in
the spoiis system. Practical politics
to him, as to all who are trained in
that school, means a shrewd distinc-
ton of patronage to favor certain par
ty views and persons. In his Message
at the opening OF Congress, the Pres
ident treated the question of reform
with more care and detail than it has
ever before received in a Presidents
annual message. He admitted certain
abuses, stated certain principles, and
criticised certain methods. He evi
IDENTITY doubted the wisdom of competi-
ton, and countered the example of its
undOubted success in England by the
suggestion that the English situation
was different from ours. But he en-
gagged to enforce the reformed system
if Congress should authorize it. 1t
is possible that he suspected Congress
to be resolutely hostile to it, and it
was obvious that he meant to leave to
Congress the initiative Of reform.
In his exercise Of the appointing
power President Arthur has done what
we said at the outset must be expect
ed. He has favored his own side in
the party. This be has done gradual
ly and quietly, but surely, and it is
the result of this course which shows
how disastrous to party harmony the
power of spoils may be. The four
years law of 1920 vaca;es with few
exceptions all important offices and all
their dependent places during the term
OF an administration. The President
has thus the opportunity of filling
them all to his own satisfaction before
the end of his term. President Ar
thurs method is simple. He has made
few peremptOry removals. But as
commissions expire he appoints from
his own side of the party, so that when
the next election approaches, the civil
service will be manned by that side.
This policy inevitably dissatisfies two
classes of persons, both of which are
very numerous and powerful in the
Republican party. 1t dissatisfies the
"Half- Breeds," who, as the Conven-
ton of 1880 and the events Of last
year in New York showed, are the
great majority of Republicans, and 1t
dissatisfies also the independent Re-
publicans, who hold that good officers,
OF whatever section of the party they
may be, should be re-appointed, and
that merit and not influence or faction
al sympathy should determine original
appointment. The President pursues
a course which is unquestionably in
accord with his convictions and his
previous practice, but it daily divides
the Republicans more dangerously than
they has eyer been divided. fPresi-
dent Garfield, as is alleged, would
have pursued the same policy, the re-
suit would have been the same, with
this difference, that President Garfield
the great majority of the
party, and whatever concessions he
might kave thought it polite to make,
to views which were not his own, he
was known to be fully in sympathy
With the progressive political spirit of
The country.-Harper's Weekly.