The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1885-07-10

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phrase was coined TO express the neces-
sary course Of any political party in
power. But, like many other phrases
and words which are innocent aud in.
offensive in their logical import, dis
reputable use has been made of them,
and they have been forced to bear an
illogical import. We believe that the
people Of free country should look to
the party in power for faithful admin
istration of the government. We be-
lieve the party in power should be held
strictly accountable for the entire and
complete policy upon which the gov
ernment il Carried on. In the very
nature of things it is the only organized
entity that could receive the plaudits
Of an approving people, or the strong
words of condemnation OF a disapprov-
ing people. We believe that power
commensurate with responsibility should
be given to the party in power.
Hence, while the phrase ''to the victor
belong the spoils" may CRATE harshly
upon the ears of those OF mug wump-
ish turn Of mind, we ara free to declare
our belief in the doctrine that the party
in power should have control of every
federal office, the administration of
which affects the general or special
policy of the party in power. This is
both reasonable and logical. We do
not mean to say by this, that, upon the
advent of party to power, it should
proceed at once to make Wholesale re-
movAls for no other purpose than to
get its own party friends in places Of
emolument and profit, but We do say
that the party should have the power
to remove without restraint, except that
which would exist in the open RESPONSE
bility which it owes to an intelligent,
discriminating public. We cannot un-
derstand why party in power should
DO reproAchei with seeking the spoils
Of Office, when the members of that par
ty have won a right to them and ask
for them, and at the same time lot the
defeated party who seeks to retain the
Offices after being ovated go free ci
such charges.
In other words, we cannot under
stand Why a Democrat who seeks the
ofice Of Collector of Customs at Bos-
ton should be reproached with the
charge of being mercenary, while the
Republican vino seeks to retain that
office is allowed to pass free from such
charges. L. Is al bosh aud hypocrisy.
And when Marcy coined the phrase,
"to the victor belong the spoils," he
simply meant to cOnYey the idea we
have advanced above. No party ever
exemplifed the truth of this more for.
cibiy than the Republican party duriEG
the period Of twenty-four years which
it held power. And that party would
do the same thing again if restored tC
power. Supposs at the end OF CIeve.
lands term the Republican party sboult
be restored to power in the election oi
Blaine, Logan, Sherman, or any other
leader of that party, is any one foolist
as to think that such new president
would not proceed at once 20 turn bis
party enemies out and put 10 his party
friends. This is just what that part y
did and what it would promptly dc
again, il frestOred TO power. They would
do this too upon the very ground oi
responsibility We have nsmed above
Democrats all over the country very
naturally and pertinently ask why
$4,000 or 100000 Republican offieiall
should be kept in po vee when they
were led to beliege last fall that tbey
were voting them out Of power. Thil
country can never be we'll ruled othel
than through the fundamentally o
political parties, and no party organiza
tiOn can be maintained unless we estab
lish the doctrine that the offices shoulC
be given to the party in power, that i
may establish and carry out policy o
its own in the administration of the
government.