Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-11-12
Portland Argus. (Dem.
The Boston COllectOrship.

Nov Massachusetts democrats know how
| good it 10. Mr.. Saltonstall, appointed Col
lector of Customs at Boston, had few endors-
| ers compared with Mr.. Butler, who had the
almost unanimous support of business men
and active democrats. That the President
is invested with the power, and therefore has
the legal right to name whomsoever he pleas
es for important political positions, nobody
questions. And if at the beginning he had
intimated to his political friends that be did
not wish, and should not consider their recon-
mendations of candidates for Offices, the files
of the departments would not have been
crowded with applications and supporting en-.
dorsements, ~ is now the case. But instead
of this. such recommendation were invited
by the heads of departments. Put your
views and requests in writing, they said.
These will be placed on file and will receive
due consideration before appointments are
made. 1t is the impression which such sug-
gestions bv hrads of departments and by the
President. were calculated to make, that has
occasioned most Of the appointment ssrpris-
| ca that have followed. and which have, ap-
parently, placed the President in the attitude
of rebuking his political friends and support
ers for doing what they had supposed he
wished them to do, namely to designate to
him, and for his information their choice of
persons for official positions.
If the President had said in the beginning
that he wanted no applications for office, no
ecOmmendaiions-that he would have to
assume the ultimate responsibility for the ap-
pointment. he should make, and that in Sc
lecting officers he wished only the advice OF
those whom he asked therefor. then there
would have been no misunderstandDgs-n
surprises. for there would have been no well
grounded expectations But having received
applications and recommendations, both dem
ocratic practice and democratic principles
required that, other things being equal, the
person whom the people with substantial
unanimity asked for, should receive the APP
pontmen.
1t may be said that to follow this rule
would be 10 voice the wishes of the active
democratic force of the country, embracing
largely the younger men; and this would BE-
true. But what of it? Has not every free
country been governed by parties, and must
they not ALWAYS be SO governed. for aught we
see or know? Undoubtedly. Then, what more
proper. than to consider the wishes OF the active
party force? What more expedient? nay, what
more necessary? If democratic principles
are TO govern ard bless this country in the
future, as during most of its past history, it
must De by and through the practical expo
nent of those principles-the democratic par
tv; and any administrative practice that tends
to repress the party preferences, to rebuke
regard for party mel and to cool desire for
party success. is a blow at the predominance
of those principles and their consequent ben
efcent operation in promoting the best well
fare of the country.
To be sure, the question Of the offices is
not, and should not be, of first importance
with any administration; but still, it is really
of far more consequence than some seem to
suppose If political success is political
duty with democrats now. as every considera-
ton seems to proclaim. no fair and honorable
advantage in aid of such success should be
lightly thrown away-especially, as we have
before said. in States where democrats are
in minority, but are hoping to become the
majority