The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-13

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action and opinion.
The term rotation in Office does not occur
in any of our constitutions; but all of them.
both State and National, are clearly framed
upon this principle.
In Difference to this great principle the
equal right of ali men to posts of public
honor and emolument, the terms of Presi.
dents. Governors. Senators, Congressman,
Justices and even constables are limited by
law. These are all removable. Good be-
havior. merely, however unquestioned, does
not Iengthen their official life a moment be-
yond the time when the people whom they
serve may desire to end it. Because such
is the operation of our bene6cient sys-
tenn of equality of civil rights
that others may justly entertain laudable
ambition to serve the country in these va
rious capacities.
Why not make the President and Ca5i-
net life ofiices2 We think one of the strong
est and best reasons against such measure
ia that others having the same right to and
desire for the public service in these posi-
tions shall not be by any law excluded
therefrom. We know there are other res.
sons against such proposal. but this is one,
and a sufficient one, under scheme OF pol
ity like ours, grounded upon an absolute
equality of civil and political franchises.
Nor is it any excuse for, or defense of, the
doctrine of official life tenure, that
the protected places are sub
ordinate, and, therefore, should be perpet-
uated. This is merely saying that the am
/ bition of the few may be, or may have the
chance to be- grati6sd. The aspirations of
the many are too insignificant to be favored,
and may be crushed without parlsy The
objects of ambition among men are various,
yet the right to chance of gratifying it
should be the same. One man may wish to
be President; another to be a Treasury
Clerk or Consul, aud yet another to be
Constable. The stations differ widely. Bat
for all.
And it may happen, too, that the man
duly commissioned and qualified as Consta-
bic may really enjoy his place more than
the President. The Constable and the Presi-
dent are removable, but it is proposed to
make the Treasury Clerk not so.
Any sspirant for that position must fail;
BE has not even a chance OF success. Why?
Because one who already holds it Is retained
by Law therein. We say that in a free coun-
try and professedly popular government
this answer is q very lame and impotsnt con-
clusion.
tits said that to make all Official positions
removable is TO breed and continue the
breeding of cls!s Of what are termed spoils-
men. The system of rotation in Office many
have such a tendency. Bat this evil itself
is, we think, greatly exaggerated
1t is much ENLARGED upon By
so called advanced retormers, with
ont any very definite statement of its extent
or character. We do not believe that the
spOilsmen spoken OF ever constituted any
controlling element in the great mass of the
whole nation. The greed for Office, intense
where it prevails, does not effect large
classes of our peoples. in fact, wholly IN.
| known among many classes. Moreover,
these interruptions placemen must belong
10 one or the other of the political parties
IN the country. II they fnd themselves,
after contest, in the party of the minority,
this is quite punishment wholesome
check upon such unprincipled sdventursrs.
But if they find themselves upon the win
ming side, this is one Of the misfortunes of
victory. successful party filed with
and controlled By plscemsn is on the direct
such place seeking campiollowsrs can be
satisfed-its majority rapidly crumbles to
pieces by desertion.
So that evea this evil effects some good,
tending as il does toward change of ad.
Dinistration, and on the whole we do not
think such changes have occurred too fire.
quently for the welfare of the country.
Besides, even If this evil existed in such
proportion as is claimed for it, is it not
better to lessen 1t By other means-cu1b,
correct, or even endure it-than to
deny and destroy one of the
cardinal elements OF civil liberty?
Let every citizen have the opportunity