Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-08
Z PLAIH REPLY TO A soLTCITIoUs
CORRESPONDENT.

"Paussnias " is a correspondent whom
we know to be patriotic citizen, desiring
the best for his country. Our correspond
ens asks us to very plainly and simply
explain what we mean by "spoila hunt
ers, and says:
"The men who contribute of their
means to insure party triumph, who labor
for the political organization, the ascend.
ancy of which they believe to be essential
to national prosperity, should enjoy the
rewards that flow from victory. He is no
partisan who is simply enrolled, but gives
neither of his substance, his energy, nor
his time, 70 secure party victory. There
never was time in the United States
when the popular will was not expressed
through party forms, nor ever will be.
The best men do the best thinking, and
should be the best workers in the party
Why then oppose men who have labored
for the party, when they entertain an am
bition TO fill an office, which must be
filed? Why pass by the man who has
freely contributed to the success of his
party, fer one who has done nothing by
contribution, nor has lifted his voice in adj
vocacy of the principles that ahould direct
the policy of the country? The facts that
in organization make up party, are really
the expressions of the people, and, there
fore, under democratic form, define the
policy of the government. It is therefore
only through party that representative
government can be kept truly representa-
tive, and hence the men who fight in the
van are deserving of party recognition"
1t may as well be explained here that
"Pausanias' objects to theappIicstion of the
term "spOils" as used in treating of the am.
bition Of certain citizens who aspire to fill
the vacant Postnastership and be alleges
that heincumbent assistant has not been an
active party worker or contributor. It was
exactly this kind Of issue which gave birth to
civil service reform. We have no intention
now to consider the question discursively !;
Its principles are too firmly established to
call for new defenses. "Paussnias is So
licitous that any reply shall be "plain,
simple and free from generalities, ="
and he may be gratifed by exceeding SIM
plification, for no subject lie more capable
OF simplicity in treatment. The mistake
our correspondent makes throughout Is in
confusing Government service with party
reward. Service for the Government is rem.
dered all the people; party reward is the gift
of but portion of the people, All who hold
with "Pausanias must, before they can
intelligently approach this subject, disas-
ISOLATE party and government they must
distinguish between party as means to an
end, and government ss an end that is rot
a party dependency.
II Paussni2s, as we know him to be,
is attached 60 his party simply and solely
because he believes its doctrines to be
right, and its organization 20 be representa-.
tive Of the best elements, his reward is
found in the ascendancy of its principles,
and not in place" for which he has never
asked. Bet if he were attached to bis
party because only of the possible
"spoils F" he might gather on its entry
into power, he would be unworthy his
party If it bestowed its fsvors upon
him because of his support it would out.
l.. ,-rk. ed l.. M
gence. If, as We know he does, he desires
the best for bis country, he wishes its civil
service to be efficient, and discharged by
competency and never to be made subordi.
nate to party reward. If his party is
what il claims to be, it win apply the prin-
c;ules TO civil service that obtain in pri-
vate business, and these demand efficiency,
stimulate the ambition to advance, and
hold out as legitimate reward the assur-
ance of permanency in place and the hope
of preferment-and this because Of self
interest, for business Dever offers sacrifice
to sentiment.
If reward for party service is to be the
rule, then they who contribute the most, or
who do the meanest and most disagreeable
political work, should receive the richest
reward. This would divide the losves and
fishes among those most richly endowed
With worldly goods. and the political saints
and white-winged angels il the immacu-
late "Frss or e the bloody Tenth " ward,
the scavengers and garbage truck men of
political parties, fer it must be admitted