Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-11
EIConpressnen.


There appears to be a disposition to treat
lightly the claims of ex-Congressmen for
office. There were a great many men,
bars of the FOrty-eishth Congress who
failed to secure a reelection, and a very
large percentage of them was Democrats.
All Of these ex-DemOcratic Congress-
men don't want an Office, but the number
OF them that does is quite large. They
very naturally think, Of course, that their
claims ought to be considered first, and
that after they have taken what they want
it viii be time enough to give attention to
the crowd Of applicants that now fills the
hotels and boarding houses Of Washing
ton.
Thus far, however, no indications have
cropped out that ex-COngressmenW VIII De
shown any preference. In fact, 1t is not
at all improbable that they will not stand
as coed chance for Offices as those who
have not the r.eht 10 prefix honorable to
their names.
TIE fact that a man has been a member
II Congress- counts for nothing n Wash
ington or at his home. He is elbowed
aside as unceremOniOusly as if his voice
had never been heard in the national
halls OF legislation. congressman and
ex-Congressmen are so common that they
have ceased to inspire awe or excite adj
miratiOn, even in the minds Of those who
have few opportunities to gaze on those
who have been distinguished above their
fellow men. There are a few Congress
men. OF course. who attract attention
wherever they 20, but they have won the
place they occupy in popular estimation
either by their talents or their industry.
They would be distinguished if they were
not members Ct Congress and, perhaps, il
they had never held a public position Of
any kind.
Men Of ordinary talent, if they have not
already earned comfortable fortune,
/ make a mistake by accepting an cleo
/ ton to Congress. The chances that
/ they will be reelected are against them.
! At the end of their term they are without
money and without an occupation, and
/ are forced to join the vast crowd of office
/ seekers. They may get an Office or they
I NAV not. If they get an office it will
| afford them only a bare living, and they
are not certain Of retaining it for any
considerable time. The prospect is
/ ALWAYS staring them in the face that they
\ will be left at the beginning Of old age
/ without any means of support.
/ II they return to their homes mmedi-
/ ately after their Congressional career is
/ ended, they have to begin life anew, as it
were. Ii they are lawyers they have 10
/ wait FOR practice which may never come;
| or il they are business men new start
/ must be made. Habits and tastes have
/ been formed that make them banker after
/ official life, ard very few OF them find it
easy to settle down to quiet and eteady
work.
There Is not so much satisfaction IN
/ being a Congressman as the most OF those
Who seek the position think. \ Congress
man of ordinary capacity, with NJ in
come bat his salary, soon learns That
F. Washington is anything but paradise.
! lie finds il difficult to meet his expenses,
/ even when living very economically. He
/ sees himself uunOticed by people much
his inferior. because they have money and
can SfTori 10 make a display. lie sees
very commonplace people made a great
deal OF because they can afford
TO reciprocatc social cOurtesles. The dis
! tinction Of having been Congressman
doesn't stick to a man long unless he
: made a name when in Congress, and even
! those " hO once occupied a great place In
/ the popular estimation are soon forgotten.
The newspapers alone keep track of them
for the purpose Of giving them an obituary
/ notice.
1t is not to be wondered at, therefore,
that it is said II y ashingtOn that eN-
! Congressman do EOt deserve TO have their
claims FOR offices recognized. They were
rt 7udiatcd at home, and why should the
/ administration be saddled with them?