The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-06-30

The Assessments IN Once Holders.
Andrew Jackson, whom all Democrats
a2rcc, at least 'ou!wardly, ID apotheoslzihg
Ms demi.god, was the author Of tho IA.
nous political declaration Tint "to the
victors belong the spoils," Back OF Jack.
son, however, stands Thomas Jefferson,
an other deuli.goi, dear 10 Democratic ira.
dltion, as a patron Of the same policy
jackson, however, stands out prominently
rs the first President who openly and
boldly propounded the doctrine that the
spoiis Of office should be apponioned
among not only the political but partisan
followers Of an administration. lie en-:
forced the policy with an uuspariug hand
in his own day.Tand since tina. time It has
been the custom for MI parties to follow
moro or less closely in his Iillustrions foot.
steps. h'r'' ~ n. itS' -, 14''t r n
In Jackson's day, however, the humber
Of Federal office holders WINS comparatively
small-a few thousand only, Now they
areialmost OF as the sands Of the sea for
-multitudt-lO000O strong. They are seen
in every community, In some shape Or
other. As a rule they arc expected 10 be
politicians Of more or less pronounced
character We say expected, although
there is no requirement Of that sort in their
official commissions or letters Of instrnc-
..tions.r 1t Is only by reading between The
lines that we discover rs genera! thing
what a Federal appointment includes. It
is only by knowing the conditions that in
so many cases influence an appointment
that we can understand what the appointee
Is expected to do. Custom makes tho. i'm.
written law Of politics as well ls the I'm.
written law Of other departments Of life.
Custom has made the unwritten law Of
politics to be that the appoiutec must be
to some extent at least an active il not an
Influential person in party politics. Gen
orally speaking, it is among the active and
aggressive list OF persons who train with a
party that the distribution o. awards is
made. rtii - -, ~ a,.Izt. =rS ,-rrl
L Perhaps this is rs it should be, looking
at the matter in a general why. Indeed it
is difficult 10 gee how it can DO otherwise.
Ii politics were purely theoretical it might
be otherwise, but politics partaks largely { t
the practical They follow. the general
DRIFT. \ party organization cannot exist
without Jealous and active spirits coming
to the front in every community. They
are stimulated to activity from several
causes; frat, say, by; their temperamcnts
aud convictions; second, by their inherited
or acquired prejudices against tho other
side; and third, by their love Of prouin.
ence and hope Of reward. All these in,
iuences operate to make many persons &C.
tive and efficient workers in the cause Of
party organization. They feel and manifest a
yicarious anxiety about the condition Of
! the party Mt home and abroad. They arc
willing to work for its success when it IL in
the minority and they expect to be recog.
nized when it is in the majority. VI. /.
This state Of things can not be remedied
very radically. 1t haa its disadvantages
we admit, especially in cities and large
town. II converts a certain number OF
men into -, what arc 81 known b. as
party managers, who I. to some OK.
tent become the head and front OF the par
ty OH oil occasions. They are tho visible
presence OF the party to the eyes Of the
masses. They are always on hand when a
political scheme or a campaign programme
is to be laid out. They expect to manip-
ulate said scheme or said programme is
fur as any manipulation may be necessary.
BY common consent this duty, so to speak,
falls upon them. They fancy it and are ex:
perienced and expert in it. And this fact
is recognized among the rank and tileand
the rank and file are rs 4 rule eitherso pas.
sive or SO willing in the premises, tina, the
leadership goes - in this way with.
out serious opposition 1t is 80 anong all
parties--always HIS been, and We may say,
always will be. Some men have natural
love for md natural talent for political
management. Thcyure as happy as clans
at high u ater in the midst Of IN exciting
campaign in which they are taking I'M nc-
tive managingpart. ~ i'Is,,f ttfA
Now il men Of this sort were always the
best men in the party,or even 4 fair aver
age OF the best men, there could be no yely
serious consequences resulting from this
active manipulation. Some such work and
some such men arc a necessity. The I'm.
fortunate fact however Is that in all
cities politics become an occupation by
which certain men expect to live and
thrive. 1t has como to pass that practical
politics arc coming more and more to mean
the use o.; money 10 accomplish success.
1t is not only Office now. ) a.days tia,
stimulates activity but the raising and
distribution Of largo sums OF money.
The men who hold Office or ex.
pcct Office are expected TO contribute,
soici, and disburse this money. Every
large city has its political coterie for this
purpose. In the large cities the men who
control are known as the machine. They
handle immense sums Of meney and trade
! in votes as as IN article Of merchandise.
So notorious and fragrant has this business
become that Congress felt compelled to
pass special law upon the subject, which
provided, Sg;ISis5 ,gytyf IN FL ss.,ss,
"Thut NIL executive officers or mployes
not appointed by tho President, with tho
advice and consent Of the Senate, are pro,
hibited from requesting, giving to, or re-
ceiving from any other officer or cmployl
Of the Government any money or property
or other thing Of value: Tor. political pur.
poses" 5H4:s i,.l'i@j4;;, - ~ u. & .
This law wus :inteuded TO correct tho
{ ,h,,rca tlof have cyenk ;pto nol;t;,, e.. y