National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-01-21

transacted by capable and honest Off
cials. They expect these men to be Sc
lectcd from the ranks of the party placed
in power by the constitutional majority.
They vote on election day for the ex-
press purpose of determining what shall
be The political complexion Of The men IN
office. They are not frightened from this
determination by the puerile talk of
ofiice-seeking reformers, who denounce
it as a "spoils system" They do
not regard the duties and compen-
sation of public officers as spoils
Spoil is defined to be that which is
taken by robbery or violence; plumber;
pillage; booty; prey" The people,
divided into parties, contend with each
other lawfully, peacefully, and properly
to determine by voting which party shall
be intrustcd with the law-making power,
and with the duty of executing the laws,
A Democratic statesman said many years
ago that "to the victors belong the
spoils." This wasa mere rhetorical flour
ish, intended to liken the contests be-
tween parties to the struggles between
armies, and to assert the claim of
the prevailing party to the OBJ
iects voted for. When General Garfield
was elected, he and not General Han
cock was entitled to so much of "thes poils"
as resided in the office of President.
The right of the people to determine who
shall hold Office is quite an important
feature of our Republican system, and,
offensive though it be to the dawdling
and pcrfumed di,ddnte element which at
titudinizes as being above the vulgar
herd, and "all that sort O. thing y know"
the offices will in the future, rs in the
past, be controlled by the party which
carries the election. Mr.. G. w. Curtis
and other aesthetics may think that to
the vonquished belong the offices, and in
| their elevated thoughts the salary of the
offices hcy so much covet may be-nay
it is-likened to the spoils or booty of q
midnight burglar. These are matters Of
opinion and TASTE and their expression
is as clearly matter of personal privi
lego as Oscar Wilde's knee-breeches oil
Murat Halstead's views on the effect o.
sensitiveness to poverty" or "boyish
integrity" But the people will take the
liberty of ruling just as though politica,
eunuchs did not object
Having stated somewhat explicitly the
grounds upon which the prevailing party
is entitled to control the administration
of the public business, let a few words be
said as to the manner in which those Of
the prevailing side might with propriety
act in the premises The Constitution
provides for the nomination by the Presi
dent and the joint action of Presiden
and Senate in appointing to certain o
the offices. These officers appoint somc
subordinates. There is not q plac,
the appointment of which is not pro
vided for by law 1t is for tn,
appointing power to determine wha
sources of information shall be draw
upon in selecting men for places. Thu
fact that citizen has been chosei
in power has been deemed by most Presi
dents as some evidence of responsibility
In other words, the peoples representa-
tives have often been asked their opinion
of some of their constituents.
Then as to seeking office. Any mai
may aspire to honors or desire employ
ment. He may also make this know
to the appointing power. He ma
have as many concentrations from hi
fellow-citizens as his pride Tor the wan
of iU will permit him to collect or thei
generosity may prompt them to Offer
Having done this, he ought to proceed b.
the methods prescribed by the appoint
ing power. If the appointment is one t.
be made by the President the petition
should go to the appropriate Department
and when the appointment is to be mad
he will surely see all the application
and all the papers of recommendation
If it is vacancy to be filled, action will
not be long delayed and the suitors 70
place ought not to wreste with eacI
other for chance to get to tn
President and cry their ware
No man who will aid in maxim
the Presidents daily life unendurabl
with ill-mannered importantly, in spit
of requests not to do so, is fit for an
office, for the reason that he lack
decency. But the fools continue to rus
in where angels fear to tread, and som
, do carry off prizes. If importunit
meant sure defeat to the one who Ell
gagged in it there would be small GROVE
ing at the White House. But President
do not want to seem unkind, and there
fore what is thought by them is probabl
not always, or often, expressed.
Let any Senator or Representative
multiply his own struggles with oflic,
seekers by the number of Republican
in the two Houses, and then in
agine himself made the unhappy cent?
of it all. Let each one of them fame
how many thousands of things are sai
} to the President every hour of the da,
, and how patiently he stands and tries {
listen, knowing that he cannot remembe
Let him think over the situation, and
will see that he is only one of man
equally entitled to be heard, and that
he would only put his earnest words i
writing they would surely be considere
before determination of the case i
+ hand.
9 The President is now talked 10 abol
r eight hours day increasingly, in rapi
and excited manner, and then he Civ,
, audience to people who cannot we'll be r
8 fused during the evening and often far in
. the night. What time can he have for d
- | liberation When can he do any of II