The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-10-10
ApRo,rIrurEp DrrARrMENT

The country has had its expression of
opinion about the JAZZ HCBHELL assessment
policy, and 1t has spoken in Enthusiastically
condemnatory terms Of the neiarious prao-
Gee wherever there has been respectable
journal to voice public sentiment, the Sc
we're criticisms thereon not being confined
to any party or section, but coming from all
parties and all sections, or ut least the de-
cent portions thereof While this is true,
there is another disreputablc means of in
iluencing sentiment and whipping those
into the party ranks, who would be free,
that is even more repIehensible than the
assessment plan, because in more di-
rectly governmental interference with
the freedom of the ballot. And, strange
to say, but little comment has been
made with reference to it when compared
with the universal attack upon the HUE
BELL plan, IL is the open and shameless
prostitution of the government depart
mcnts for party or campaign pur-
poses. For some time past there has BEEN
decided reaction in Virginia against Ma
HONE, particularly in the ranks OF his re-
cent allies, the republicans. Convinced of
the personally selfish and ambitious
schemes of this grasping boss, and seeing
the roadjustors monopolizing the spoils the
republicans have nominated in most of the
districts, and for most of the offices in
Virginia straight-outs. In this attempt to
cut loose from MAHoNE, many of the re.
publican postmasters in the state have
Joined and raised their voices and hands in
behalf Of the candidates of their own party.
In every case, at The dictation OF this
tyrannical dictator and political
boss of the Old Dominion, the
occupants of such offices as referred to
have been compelled by the head of the
post-ofllce department to step out, and a
reajuster of the pronounced, rabid type
has been given the appointment. Indeed
1t is said that much Of the business of the
department at present consists in removing
postmasters and postmistresses in Vir-
GINA in IL way TO best subscrve MAHoEE's
interests and that he practically controls
the department. What is true of the post
office department is largely true of the
Others, and the prostitution of the entire
machinery of the government for personal
and party purposes continues to be fla.
GRAVITY and shameessly INDUCED. 1t can
not be denied that civil service reform is
something very difficult of Inauguration
under our peculiar form Of government,
and with two great partic, so nearly
equal, striving constantly for the mastery.
but there is limit of decency TO
the utilization of government patronage
beyond which il would seem that not even
a party would 20 for party purposes. ri
there are two arms of the government
where appointments should not be made
with view to the influence politically of
OF the appontoes, they are the postal and
treasury departments. The one handles
our money and the other our secrets, and
to fill them with plant tools and bench.
men OF political bosses is an insult to the
people and n mockery OF affairs There are
so many of these bosses, men who WELD
such power as practically to control cleo.
tions and therefore become Indispensable
to the party, that nothing in the way Of
the correction of the abuses referred to can
be hoped for until they are put down and
robbed OF the power to dominate the al.
from the head down. 1t is |
therefore doubly gratifying to note the de. |
opposition in the many states
now bossed by a particular influence, to |
cast OF such letters and assert boldly their |
own Individuality and the right of freedom !,
of choice in political matters of each and !
every one ftheir citizens, however poor and !
obscure he may be. II there are no auto. |
Gratis holding the states and thinking for
their people, spurning opposition and |
crushing every ran who dares to think for
himself, there will be no departments run |
exclusively in the interests of the bosses
1t is bad enough to administer lhe govern !
mcnt and use its patronage for mere party /
purposes, but it is disgraceiu and humili. |
ating to the citizens of the rest of the Union
10 SEQ cabinet officers turning over the com,
mon property OF all to political adyeuturer
to further simply his own individual
schemes for. personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT aud
power. 1t is certainly to DO hoped that
next month the people OF the various states
will in no equiyocal manner express their
condemnation of the whole matter, and by /,
declaring for the Importance and rights of
all the citizens, so prevent the further use
by anyone of the most Serviocablc and nee. |
essary arms of the Federal government.
-
HON RICHARD CONr,
Ernp, tho San A,tn,,,,