The Cecil Whig., 1885-11-14
ITO the Victors Belong the spoils."- =

This doctrine in relation to the offices
in the Executive Department of our gov
ernment is such a disgusting one that
think it would be desirable to have an
amendment to the Constitution making
the tenure of all the subordinate offices
in the several departments to continue
during good behaviour. AS it is at pres
ent, as soon as the successful party comes
into power the President is expected to
dismiss from office all Offensive parti-
sans, and in this way becomes their chief
executioner. ''Ie takes away my life
who takes away the means by which l
live." According to this sentiment, the
President is Chief Director of the Gull
lotine when men are dismissed from Office
merely for differing in their ideas as to
the proper policy the Government should
pursue. This is too much like the pro-
ceedings Of the Inqnisition, which put
men to the torture and burned them
alive for difference of opinion on reli-
gious subjects. When our ancestors
framed our present Constitution they
never intended that good officers should
be turned out of their places merely to
make room for other men of the opposite
party. They thought they were improv-
ing on the British form of government,
which do not think they have done in
all respects. In England, l understand,
the rule is to retire worthy officers in the
civil service on pension after serving a
certain number of years. If the term of
office in our country were during good
behaviour in all Offices except those of
the highest class, the contention of par
ties would then be Gas l have no doubt
the framels of the Constitution intendedl
for the policy thought to be most con
ducive to the public interest and advan-
tage. This would have a tendency to
purify our elections, and render unneces-
sary the bribery and corruption which
now disgrace them. The sovereign peo-
pie ought to be as maguanimous as other
sovereigns, and ought to take care of and
reward their faithful servants quite as.
literally and generously. l have no
doubt that the universal scramble for
Office which takes place whenever there
is change of Administration is sub
ject of ridicule (and deservedly so) in
England and other European countries
PATRIOT.
["Patriot' is evidently dissatisfied
ofliceholder, with whom, of course, we
cannot altogether agree. If he is true
Republican, and appointed under Re-
publican President, he would not relish
retaining his position when a Federal
Administration assumed the reins of
State. He is right in supposing that so
long as public officer performs his du-
ties with integrity and faithfulness he is,
under the status of Cevil Service Re
form, entitled to continuance in the
Office to which he was appointed. But
few who held office under the Republican
Administration of 1880 have personal
bravery enough to ask for retainment
under the Cleveland rule. so many seem
to think that the offices which are sala-
ried by the Government were instituted
for the sole purpose of spoilsmen and
Office seekers that 1t is probably the best
policy to make frequent changes in them;
but We do not dispute the justice of
patriots" opinion when he suggests
that less undignified scrambling for place
would occur if the honest, faithful pub
lie servant was allowed to retain BIS
position so long as his services merited
general approval. The proper answer to
this important question, however, de-
pends entirely upon the action of Civil
Service Reform. If President Cleveland
wishes to use the edict of "oflensiye