Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-27
OFFICIAL PATRONAGE.
Ottawa Republican.
The Republican occupies no doubtful

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The Republican occupies no doubtful
position on the subject of political pat
ronage. 1t is the fountain of corruptlng
poison, the impending weakness and
danger of a republican form of govern
ment. Steadily, as time has passed and
the number and value of public offices
have increased, disposition has been
manifested on the part of senators and
congressman to usurp the powers OF the
people and make themselves masters OF
those who, by every rule of law and obll-
cation of honor, they are bound to
serve.
To influence patronage by faithful
support OF public judgment and the
popular will, in advising with the ap-
pointing power, has long since ceased to
be governing rule Of action. In this
particular more than in any other
are the words of Senator
Plumb made good, that pub
lie trust" has become ''private
snap" And it is painfully true that
this terse, if inelegant, rebuke applies
with too much force to Republican as
well as Democratic practice.
Senators and representatives sit down
and divide the Offices TO be filled, with
reference to rank and numbers, with as
much assurance of ownership and right
as cattlemen at the ''rounding-up' sea-
son ''cut-out'' and turn over to each
other the animals of different brands
and values. They talk about postmas-
tiers and other officials as ''yours" or
''mine," as if they were chattels in pri-
vate ownership. The division of this
patronage is an occasion of serious con-
tiict and compromise, or war, always.
The public good, popular will and party
honor are all lost in these contests, as
they too often are in final appointments.
Is he honest? is he capable: is he the
public choice? are questions sunk out of
sight under the paramount one
''can he control the pri-
maries and manipulate conventions
for me-" To argue that this is "a simple
statement of truth would be an impeach-
ment of common intelligence-everybo body
knows it is true.
The executive officers who are charged
with the duty and responsibility Of APP
pointmentS feel the force of this corrupt
and revolutionary practice. They feel
and know that the wife of the people
should be the governing law and the
good of the public service the prime pur-
pose in all appointments. But how are
they to be advised of popular wish or
fitness of candidate? Surely a post
master general cannot know things in
hardly one of ten thousand cases where
he is compelled to act. Obviously the
immediate representatives or the people
should be the source Of his information,
or, rather, its channel of conveyance.
But every such officer comes soon to
know that representatives do not repre-
sent. They are like trial jury under
the old law which found for itself first
and for the people afterwards.
The remedy for this must be found in
more care and determination on the part
of the people. They must learn that the
elective officer is their servant, chosen to
execute their will and follow the die
tates of their judgment as much as the
farm hand, the mechanic CT the clerk
and the accountant. To loosen or let 60
these reins of power and guidance
means destruction in business and cor
ruption in public affairs.
The next best thing is backbone"
such as Postmaster General Wanamaker
gives hopeful evidence of possessing. If
press dispatch tells the truth, an illus
tration of it has just been given in
case near Sedalia, Mo. 1t seems that
public judgment was made subservient
to personal political ends in securing the
appointment of postmaster at that
place. The people were incensed, and
the collar did not fit the neck; the peo
pie went direct to the appointing power
with its protest against such mastery,
with a result as stated in the following:
A telegram was received from Wash
ington this evening announcing that the
postoffice department had Withdrawn
the appointment of A. Bromley as post
master and that j. J. Penquite would be
appointed. Bromley was given the
position about three months ago, but
the patrons of the Office raised terrible
howl and petitioned the postmater gen
eral to appoint some one else. All the
parties in the controversy are Republi-
cans.
Here is just rebuke of the practice
which strikes at the very root and life of
Republican government. 1t is a bright
sun-spot in a dark place, and if the
people will accept it for what it is worth
to them it will not be long before our
postmasters become public servants in
stead of political tools, and representa-
tives begin to representatives, constltu
ents instead of themselves.