The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-09-10
THE SPOILS AND APPOINT
F.. MENTS, *@1

*'That party is not worthy of exis>
tence if it depends on the spoils OF
Office for vitality and strength
Without those spoils, and with the
whole power of the Government and
it's ten leg ions of office holders ex.
erted against it, the Democratic par,
ty elected its candidate for President
in 1876 and again III 1884.'-Charles
ton Neaos and Courier.
That the Democratic party does
"noti depend on the spoils of Office
for vitality and strength may b.
true but has not been proved. If il
had been announced in the Demo
cratic platform at Chicago in 1884
that the. Ill. 900 Republican office
holders would all be retained in office
except q few known corrupt officials
or manifest incompeteDts, in case o
| ICleveland's election, who believe.
that Blaine would not have beer
elected by a. large majority? W.
believe that New York would hav,
gone overwhelmingly for Blaine, ant
that the South would not have been
"solid," and by great deal. 49,,
The spoils are not principles bu
they are looked for when one party
turns another party out. In Soutf
Carolina how many Republicans are
in office under the State Government
or in any place controlled by the
State Democrats? The last mar
that was in office when Hampton
was elected we suppose went out
Theoretically it is very magnani-
nous to keep in your political enc
mics and to be above the enticements
Of "spolls.'' But we doubt if any
party can win that will give out in
advance that the opposition will be
retained although it may triumph.
We are glad to know that Presi>
dent Cleveland has no fine, spun the
ory about Civil Service. He is fol
maintaining the law that applies to
some $4,000 officers. AS to the
remaining $4,000 he does not hesitate
to supersede, decapitate or suspend.
Thus far some 5000 or more Repub-
licans have been asked to leave. II
the ''spoils' system is not right how
is it that none but Democrats are put
in control of the Departments or are
sent abroad as Ministers or Consuls?
The President believes enough in
tie s'spoils'' system to turn out 'of-
fensive partisans'' and put in men of
his own party. Men may speculate
and theorize about the baleful influ>
ence of the spoils but no party in
this country is strong enough to dis
pense with them. The lifetime ten.
ure Of office is not adapted to the
genius and theory of our republican
form of Government. It suits mon.
archy and an hereditary nobility.
The doctrine of the fathers was fire.
quent electians. But if all officials
are to be retained why have the elec
tions? Turning out President and
electing another man will not bring
about any great results or changes
as long as all other officials are re-
tained.
The President is giving satisfac'
ton to most of the Democratic party
He is showing himself to be watch
full, laborious, painstaking, and anx-
ious to elevate the civil service, and
with some exceptions, his selections
have been good. He will carry or
the good work of reform and will re
duce the expenditures as far as il
consistent with efficiency. Judg,
Thurman says ne ls making changes
in the service as rapidly as possible
with safety.-Star.