The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-06-28
THE SPOILS SYSTEM.

TIL IL SPOtLS Sf fSGEM.
The shameless and abominable manner in
which the present Democratic majority of
City Council has hastened to remove the
subordinate officials serving under the Water
Department is one of the worst cases that
could be cited as illustrative of the evils of
the Spoils System. So long as the Republi-
| cans held majority in Council, so long as
the Water Commission Job remained in
allegiance, just so long did the Democratic
party insist that the Water Commission was
non partisan measure and that it was no
feature of the scheme that Republican
officials should be cast out to make room for
Democrats, against the express wishes of the
people declared at the polls. But just as
soon as narrow majority of one was secured
in the council chamber, the mask was thrown
d,and the triumphant majority hastened to
crafty the clamoring, hungry ward-workers
of their party, regardless of the personal
character OF fitness of the appointees, regard
less even of the delay claimed by decency,
regardless of their own good names; regard
less in short, of all but the sense Of oppor-
tunity and the necessity of satisfying the
howliug mob of office seekers who led them
| to victory.
| If there is one system more than another
| incompatible with the dignity Of great
| nation claiming ability to govern itself, it is
| the infamous and iniquitous spoils system.
| When Robeson and Hubbell and Malone
were at the height of their power, the Dem
ocratic organs were never weary of taunting
| them with their thirst for spoils. The trio
we compared to the horse-l -leech's daughter
| with the everlasting cry of "Give-give-
give!' But no sooner does Democratic
| majority acquire the reins of power than the
| yential sheets throw moralities and sermons to
| the winds, and gravely declare that party
followers must be fed; that to the victor
belong the spoils; and that if Democracy
had all the good intentions in the world
towards Civil Service Reform, party exigency
will not suffer it to carry them into effect.
Still there have been cases where the
reins of government have been transferred
without calling forth such disgracefully
| indecent haste to enjoy the fruits Of victory
as was manifested by the Democrats of City
| Council the moment that meagre plurality
enabled them to dispense with the mockery
of awaiting the verdict on the Water Com
mission question. Short shrift and high
gallows was the measure of mercy they
extended to the men appointed by their
Republican predecessors. So urgent was the
necessity of the hungry yelling throng
who besieged the doors of the victorious
Councilmen that there was no time to make
selections, and the bones were thrown to the
lucky ones who stayed the longest and clam
oled the loudest. In this way, without the
smallest regard for the welfare of the com
mupity, the entire personnel of the Water
Department has been changed, Mr.. Coyle
alone remainlng-a master without servants,
a sovereign without "a sceptre, mere" moth
ing with name," till the fata! stroke falls
upon his head also.
OF this same miserable spoils system H. B
McIntire is to-day the incarnation and thu
highest exponent. He does not stoop to an!
disguise in the natter, but says plainly
''Thus and so it shall be, whether the peo
pie of Wilmington like it or not, by Virtu
of the majority hold in my hand under tn
=, workings of an assessment of law, opera
ated under my control. and designed for th
avowed purpose of keeping me and m
party perpetually at the head Of affairs"
Who will deny that II. B. McIntire rule
the destinies of this city, and that too by tn
: worst and most sordid application of til
fiagitous spoils system9
Ofcourse each party will charge the othe
with inaugurating the system which bot
profess to condemn, yet both carry 80 rigo
ously into practice. But to the true America
citizen, what does the system mean? Whit
is its ultimate tendency?
1t means first loss to the public from tn
assignment to office ofineficient men. 1t meai
the loss of self-respect, uprightness and ccl
scient iousness in those who exercise u
prerogative ofawardng public offices.
1t means that good character, fitness Al
- ability in the applicant are subordinated
consideration of party service. 1t means til
Offices become the prey of the unscrupulo
nt partisan and are regarded by him as u
m; natural reward of his labors. 1t means Il
lis raising of an army of mercenares, by bri
Il cry, by trickery,-if necessary, by both.
IN means the perpetual substituting out of
70 public purse of gang of political bandit
who become the tyrants of their social
'he employers, because the latter are in no pc
'he tion to insist on faithfdl performance Of dr
through fear of loss of their offices acquil
.,f through the labors of their rascally reta
of ers.
1t means that these retainers, placed
he, office, literally fight for their bread aga