The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-15
Cong.essman as Patrons.

Congressman as Patrons.
We regret to see that since the iaau
rfst.on Of President CLEyELASD the s.
laim that members Of Cousre-s are the t
PATRONS Of all the Offices within their re- :
Pectiye states, has been put forward in =
ome quarters; but we are gratifed TO j
note evidences that President CLEvE-I1
-AXD IS not disposed to aIioa the claim 7
30 It's fullest extent We understand {
.hat It has never been allowed in tbe'ig ]
save as rule Of convenience: bat 1t has {
been recognized 80 long and 50 often by
former administrations, that. in practice,
IL has become almost as potent as if II
were a part Of the written law of the
country.
Asa rule of convenience, IL is perfect
ly proper that the President should con-
suit with leading member Of the party
OF which he Is the recognized head, con-
corning appointments to Office, aud it Is
most natural that members Of Congress
should have more influence than a like /
number Of private citizens but this is /
far from saying that they have rights /.
which cannot be disregardcd witAou.
afording just cause Of complaint.
The theory on which the rccommen-
datious Of Congressman have influence
with the appointing power, Is that they
can be trusted to speak for the people
who have elected them, and that in max
4 ing recommendations they viii be gov
erued alone by "a desire to serve the pub
/ lie; and it is not inconsistent with
/ desire to serve the public that a party
man should consider that lac can best
serve the public by recommending for
Office one of his own political faith. But
ia this matter, as in many others. theory
/ j. one thing and practice another, and,
10 we find not q few instances in which
the Congressman who recommends a
person for Office instead Of being &C
tuatcd by a desire to serve the public or
his party. is, in fact, controlled by pure
ly selfish motives 1t too frequently
happens that he strives to exert the in
huence which his position gives him to
re ward, not such persons a have helped
10 elcca him, but such as have aided in
making him the party nominee. lie
cares not so much to build up his party
as to build up himself, while h'
Furnishes those who have not been abb,
TO discern the vast superiority of hi
accomplishments as q statesman owe
those Of his opponents. To the appoint
g. ing power he appears as the accredited
=, representative of his party, knowing al
4 the while that he is representing only
% faction Of his party, and chat so far a
% appointments are concerned, lib
10 persons who opposed his aspirations {
be the nominee, albeit they may hav
worked never so faithfully to secure hi
Re-. election, are as little liable to J.
No. considered, when they ask 10 lie recon
D., mended, as if they belong to the opPo~
10 ton party,
r Itshould be known and understood ths
- thereare 40 adyowsons appendant to I'll
office of Congressman. We care not fl
the customs of the past. This is the da
Of reform. Public office should be pul
Of lie trus -tand whatever tends to rob it {
TO this characteristic should be abolished
at We believe in political parties
r agencies for the establishment an
ne promotion of political principles, and :
m long as they are confined to this useft
m purpose they will be respected. B;
that they may deserve the confidence
the people, they should, when in powe
L. repress all tendencies to use public p
or -ition for the promotion of me
y personal and selfish ambition. Wha
q ever makes for patriotism should
in encouraged. Whatever makes for Sc
ge should be condemned BY commC
he consent the Democratic party is Il
ht party Of Reform 1t has been fghtil
IL the corruption, the extravaganza al
Il. the evil practices Of the Republic3
party for many years. At last it b
won success. end there is to day
II demand for higher and nobler use
st the offices than that which characterize
IS the defeated party. 1t is the WELDON
IN duty of the new administration to
ne form all the abuses in the governmer
ess and, while doing so, it must keep
M watchful eye, lest the temptation viii,
OF ensnared its predecessor may prove t
III powerful for successful resistant
Us, Among the abuses which demand i
mediate attention, is the one which
ed have been discussing, and we have fai
that Mr. CLEVELAND has the strengt
the courage and the independence
throttle it. 1t isan abuse which think
-. and patriotic persons have alrea
- condemned, and should be Topped off
-. an excrescence on the methods f g,
!; eminent taught by the Constitute
II. Such a course would produce some 4
= satisfaction. There are Democrats "
do not differ materially in their views
4. to what should be done with the ofiic
.ro from some very unsavory Republicl
whom we could mention; but we W
warrant that they are either holdi
office or seeking Office, and embrace /
small portion of the people VIII,
views and wishes are to be consider
led and vino are at last the only impart
has judges of the conduct of public Office
a If in the effort to give the people hone
in capable and faithful officials, Accord
III to the methods indicated by the Cons
on tuition, a few may be disappointed a
On become dissatisfied, they need not r,
AN on the sympathy of the great body
70 the people who were never more Will
ies than now to applaud an honest endea,
ny to serve the country for the countr
sake
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Hardly Fair.
SAD There are a few anti-Lowry papers
PHI the State Just everlastingly bowling a
,,a,.-;-rr d;r+ baoo,,-o