The Southern herald., 1883-09-15
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Every Fstsl Ebsa Be gees e BE PoIls
sssuii ia sss.iaz Be ballet Be sslasisa By
kishs ssa mars Pst1iaiis uaiivsa Than
asrsly lie desire is sssars ihs slsslion ol
sous f.isaa. salsly Ess that fisss's homer
sd smolansal Oassss are crested in all
iaai gors1ums1is fsr ths benefit IF The public.
lni ret fer The aivaaesmsnl ef lhs indis
vidaal eisssf. de uks aadsFsakss the dis
charge of = psblie duty Is entitled to pay
iusl as anY snPloyss iu a private station
deserves uagss 10 proportion to The services
rendered. u private life man IS engaged
ia . particular capacity. not because ths
price paid viii benefit bin. bat because the
verb doss is Of thai value to The employer.
sad We never fsd contracts given 10 one
knoWn to Be without The necessary quAlifsa.
lioas. simply because We like lbs nan. los
aividual preferences 10 private smPlOynsnis
have their legitimate effect when other things
are sqasl, bat 20 man Is 50 foolish aS to be
blinded to his own interests By his friend,
ship. The same principles should govern
men in lhs election Of officers, for they are
nolhiDg more lhan public servants, each being
assigned The discharge Of duties defined BY
Law. 10 The choice, therefore. Of any par
sieular Ofiesf, the question should always be
asked BY every voter. Is this man fully
eOmPelsn. for the post which be sesksl II
ths answsf comes from the eonssisnss that
be Is unfit. either for want Of proper sduea'
liOn, honesty or industry. then the vote
should be given In aeeOrdaues with the die
talss Of the judgment on thssi vital ques'
lions. The powers Of government are dis
tributsd among q variety Of Offices, each
requiring some special qualification probably
not needed 10 another. A man who will
make FIRST rate constable or sheriff may b
whslly unfit for a clerk, assessor or judge
The peculiar qualifications Of an assessor
tO'wit, thorough knowledge Of figures, and
the patience and industry to pore over long
columns by the hour, are not needed 10 !
clerk or a justice Of the peace. So the higl
legal aItainmsnts required for q judicis
slaliOu are not 10 be demanded for that Of 1
mere ministerial post, For each particular
Office The voter should inquire as to lh'
special qualifications needed, aud then By
bis vote should refuse 10 call candidate Il
the discharge Of responsible duties for whict
be is believed 10 be unfit. There is prOba.
bly, no cause which will bring the govern
msnt and lie laws into contempt sooner thar
Incompetent officers. As all gOvsrnmeu
and al laws are, or should be, for the public
good. It therefore behOOves the people, wh'
are to be either gamers or losers, to be- eau,
tiOus 10 the selection Of those who are Il
administer the government and the laws
Il we carsleSsly or knowingly elect iOcOm'
pstsni men for public stations, we must suffer
the penalty. and however great may be Oul
sufsfings under such circumstances, we will
not deserve either pity or sympathy. Gov
eminent in the hands OF men either mentally
or morally incompetent, does not command
respect. and losing the support Of cheerful
obedience, sinks into rule Of force. Ant
there has never existed on the earth good
government where the principle actuatiue
the rulers was one Of physical rather than o.
moral power.