The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-05-24
SUNDAY. MAY "a. 1885
Rotation in Office.

Rotation In Vmce.
Considerable fault is beng foupd ia GER
tain quarters because of the so-called
removals by the Board of Works. This is
perhaps but natural on the part of the Off
Gals removed and their friends, but at the
same time, what do these gentlemen ex-
pect? Public offices were created for the
public good. The transaction of the public
business is the paramount object and SO
the public business is faithfully and ofici-
ally transacted makes no difference to the
public whether the duties of the Office are
discharged by Tom, Dick, or Harry, all
things else being equal between the three
individuals. There are two cardinal prin-
ciples in politics and these must ever be
active. One is that s'to the victor belong
the spoils," and the other is, 'srotation in
Office" An attempt has been made of late
to cover these principles up, but they are
like the late Mr.. Banquo's ghost and will
not down at no ones bidding for the SIM
pie reason that the new tenure scheme is
simply based upon the idea that certainiof-
fees were created for the benefit of certain
individuals and that the strife of parties is
simply to keep those particular persons in
Office. This is an .absurdity on its face,
for if it were the public will that these men
should be continued in Office they would
enforce their idea by continually rejecting
the officials who placed these men in of
fee. This was the idea of William L.
Marcy, who was really the author of the
axiom 'sto the victor belong the spoils," and
not President jackson, to whom it is gen.
orally credited. Mr.. Marcy held that
f'when the people brought about change
of rulers it was their obvious intention, all
other things being equal, that the offices
should be filed with men who belonged to
the ruling party" 1t is sound doctrine,
and the party which bids for the popular
vote by continuing its opponents in Office
will soon have large field to choose from,
for the whole people will be opposed to it.
To be sure the case of the Board of Works
is merely local. but it is governed by the
same principle. A man who accepts a
political Office takes his fortunes in his
hands as soldier going to battle does his
life. While his friends are on top he is all
right; when his friends go to the bottom of
the wheel he must go with them. Nor
should he object, for if the principle he
now upholds had been enforced he would
never have been in Office. He was perfect
ly willing to take another mans place in
the first instance. Changes in political
places are not wholly brought about by a
change of parties. The substitution of one
man for another at the head of depart
ment brings about many changes. yet no
one objects because the removed and the
installed are all of one political faith. But
it is as much violation of the tenure Of
Office principle as if one set of officers
were Republicans and the other Democrats.
However politicians may seek to disguise
the fact. politics is simply game of grab
and those who clutch what they grab at are
the lucky ones. 1t is like any other lottery
and the men who get the blanks will not
mend matters by growing at the men who
secure the prizes. AS matter of fact the
man who can make living at anything
else Is fool ever to accept any political
Office. This is truth that no one will dis
pute, yet no sooner does man see his
friend invested with little political pat
ronage than he is seized with an insane
desire to acquire his share of the sspap."
He will even sacrifice good position, of
which he is secure during good conduct, to
get an Office of which he can only be sure
for two or four years at most, and yet
when he is turned out, as he knew he
must be when his sponsor rotated out of
Office, he will squeal as wildly as the pro-
verbal ''stuck pig" It is homely adage,
but it fits the case exactly. We recon-
mend these views to the consideration of
the men who have been displaced from
the Board of Works Department.. They
probably worked for their old friends in
power, and having been defeated let them
accept the consequences like men and not
squabble like children over the possession
of the moon.