Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1885-06-26
Political Changes.


ministry in England and the quiet sue
cession of the Conservatives under the
leadership of Salisbury to power, illus
trates the ease with which such changes
take place under the stable regulations of
the British monarchial constitution. The
shifting of power from one political party
to another under that government is not
unfrequent, it being rare occurrence for
the administration Of the government to
be retained by one party for Who'll, de-
cade at time. These changes are Away
effected without jar or friction and with
out disturbance to the varied material
and commercial interests of that great
empire.
1t seems to be part of the English polit-
icaI belief that these frequent transfers OF
power from one 10 another political party
are beneficial in preserving the equilib-
rum of government and maintaining the
stability of political institu ions. One can
but admire the grace and dignity with
which the defeated party surrenders the
power to the opposition and the quiet &C
ouiescence on the part OF sovereign and
people on the change. Mr.. Gladstone at-
ter successfully meeting all adverse criti-
cism as to his foreign policy and being
sustained by Parliament in that regard,
presents his budget or financial state
ment for approval, and, being defeated
by bare majority, gracefully steps down
and OUT and invites the opposition TO
take charge And when the opposition,
fearful Of assuming the government with
The support of bare majority, informs
the retiring premier of its fears, he gives
it assurance that it will meet no factious
opposition from his party. 1t might be
said that the grand old man is thus
grander than ever in defeat, were it not
that his action is simple recognition OF
English political ethics.
In this respect the English monarchy
presents very different aspect from that
of our American republic in its more re-
cent history at least. There. so soon as
the representatives, of the people fail to
approve Of the policy of the government
in respect to any important economic oil
poll ical measure, the cabinet surrendeis
its trust and the opposition is called to
power. Here, though the goyernmen has
unmistakable assurance that is policy i:
condemned by a decided majority of the
people, it still holds with an uDrelaxing
grip to the power 1t has at aimed and viii
resort to every expedient to pro'ong its
holding. As Illustrations of this unhap-
py truth, we have on'y to refer to the en-.
franchisement of the negro race, which
his been denomina'ed 10y prominent Re
pub lean "a monster born of party neces
'sity and political insincerity,' and to the
electoral frauds of 1876. which I has beer
more than suspected were attempted to be
repeated in 1884
This seems rather paradoxica'. that q
monarchical government, which in theory
at least is supposed not to have very
careful regard .or the wishes Of the pub ic
should manifest prompter recognition o
an adverse popular Judgment and display
a greater sensibiity to an opposing public
sentiment han q repuh ic. which in tlsaS.
essence is supposed to be
mert ''of the people. for the people and b!
the people - yet such is without doub
the fact Ia England the true theory anC
proper office of political parties is realized
There the people are divided upon econ
omic and legitimat. political questions
The opposition party operates as a sal
utary check upon the party in power, and
whenever it can demonstrate to an intelli
gent public judgment that the government
is in error, the opposition succeeds IL
power without force or fraud, unseemly
contention or interference with the mater
ial interests of the country.
The thoughtful observer will look sbou
for the cause of the failure of our republi
can government to thus realize the tru,
advantages which result from opposing
political parties and to avoid the danger
which are attendant upon them, and vii
find it We believe in that dangerous polit
zeal doctrine which is peculiar to our gov
ernment, that "to the victors belong th'
spoils." So long as the clerical and othe
subordinate official services of the govern
ment are regarded as spoils from which t.
reward Jealous partisan services, so lon!
will the true office of political parties il
this country be perverted and, instead o
safeguard to popular liberty, they vii
prove to be menacing danger. Whel
the party in power becomes thorough
entrenched behind the spoils system
can afford to disregard public opinion
So long as the distribution and prolonge'
enjoyment of these spoils continue to b
the chief inducement to party to attai
ard maintain power, the public sentimen
regarding economic and legitimate polii
ica measures will! never be properly re
spected. So long as this is the price an
reward of political success, we may neve
expect in this country that frequent an
easy transfer of the power and response
bility of government from one politics
party to another which has been recent
so happily illustrated in the mother coun
try and which IS generally conceded to b
the best guarantee of stability in politics
institutions. On the other hand we ma
expect the party in power to held on b
fair means or foul regard ess of popula
disapproval of its policies and in defianc
of the Legitimate efforts of the oppositio
party.
The great evils and dangers of the spoil
system being thus recognized, it is ex