The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-01-14

Why not make the President and Cabi-
net life offices? We think one of the strong
est and best reasons against such measure
is that others having the same right to and
desire for the public service in these posi-
tions shall not be by any law excluded
therefrom. We know there are other rsa.
sons against such proposal, but this is one,
and q sufficient one under schema Of pol
ity like ours grounded upon an absolute
equality of civil and political franchises.
Nor is IL any excuse for, or defense of, the
doctrine of official life tenure, that
the protected places are sub
ordinate, and, therefore, should be perpet-
ustsd. This is merely saying that the am
bition of the few may be, or may have the
chance to be, grati6ed. The aspirations of
the many are too Insignificant to be favored,
and may be crushed without psrley. The
objects of ambition among men are various,
yet the right to q chance Of gratifying 1t
should be the same. One man may wish to
be President; another to be a Treasury
Clerk or Consul, and yet another 70 be
Constable. The stations differ widely. But
their attainment ought to be possible alike
for all.
And 1t may happen, too, that the man
duly commissioned and qualified as Consts-
BILE may really enjoy his place more than
the President. The Constable and the Presi-
dent are removable, but it is proposed to
make the Treasury Clerk not SO.
ANY aspirent for that position must fail;
he has not even chance OF success. Why2
Because one who already holds it is retained
by Law therein. We say that in free coun-
try and . professedly popular government
this answer is very lame and impotent con-
clusion.
tits said that to make all official positions
removable is to breed and continue the
breeding of a class of what are termed spoils-
men. The system of rotation in Office many
have such tendency. But this evil itself
is. We think, greatly exaggerated,
1t is much enlarged upon by
30 called advanced retormers, with.
out any very definite statement of its extent
or character. We do not believe that the
spoilsmen spoken of ever constituted any
controlling element in the great mass OF the
whole nation. The greed for Office, intense
where it prevails, does not effect large
classes of our peoples. in fact, wholly I'M
known among many classes. Moreover,
these unscrupulous placemen must belong
to one or the other of the political parties
in the country. II they find themselves,
after q contest, in the party of the minority,
this Is quite q punishment wholesome
cheek upon such unprincipled sdventurers.
But If they find themselves upon the win
ming side, this is one of the misfortunes of
victory. A successful party filled with
and controlled by plscemen is on the direct
road to defeat. Only q small portion of
such place-seeking csmpfolIowers can be
satisied-its majority rapidly crumbles to
pieces by desertion.
tending as it does toward change OF cd.
ministration, and on the whole we do not
think such changes have occurred too fre-
quently for the welfare of the country.
Besides, even il this evil existed in such
proportion as is claimed for it, is ii not
better to lessen it by other mesns-cuIb,
correct, or even endure it-.hsn to
deny and destroy one OF the
cardinal elements OF civil liberty
Let every citizen have the opportunity
Of gratifying his lawful ambition for any
public position he may desire.
This is equal and exact Justice, and justice
alter all is the strongest support OF any Gov
eminent Furthermore the power OF re-
moval is not removal. Persons actually
necessary to the public service are, have
been, and will be retained, under all changes.
But then such retention ought to be the ex-
ception, not the rule. The question of re-
tention or dismissal We must trust TO the
appointing power. which may itself be re.
moved for an improper exercise thereof. It
has been seldom abused. But the occasional
abuse of 1t is far better than to disfranchise
the whole people by general law for the
life tenure of any office.
The chances of life should be equal for all
men. There should be no discrimination by
Government In such matters. Any discrim.
nation in favor Of any class Is necessarily
effective sgainst all others, and is so far q
denial and sbrogstion OF the equality oil
American citizenship.
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COMPETENT DRUG CLERKS:
The State Board Of Pharmacy have pre-.
pared bill for the consideration of the Leg.
islsture which looks to an improvement In