The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-15
THE BEST MEN IN OFFICE.

A special HERALD Examiner dispatch, yes
terday, represented that Senator EvARTs,
OF New York state, had stood aloof from
the scramble now being made in Washing
ton for Office, allowing his associate in the
senate, Mr.. HIsCOCK, to look after the in
terests of New York in the matter of see
ing that the Empire state did not fail to
secure her quota of the offices at the dis
posal of the president and his cabinet.
When the Union League club learned of the
course of Senator EvARTs, they reminded
him at once that they had contributed
literally of their time and means to secure
his election, and that he owed it to them
and to the city of New York to interest
himself in seeing that none but the best
men were placed in charge of the custom
house, the postoffice and other prominent
public positions in that city and Brooklyn.
This aroused Senator EvARTs, and
he is now astonishing everybody
with his earnestness in the selec-
ton of candidates for the south
ern portion of the state. 1t is seldom that
a United States senator has to be reminded
of his duty in the particular matter Of Sc
curing offices from the government for his
state. AS a rule they are energetic enough
in affairs of that kind, and we refer to it
here as an anomaly. The Union League
club, too, are perfectly right in the steps
taken, and especially wherein they urge
that ''none but the best men be placed in
charge of the custom house and postofice"
Provided, always, of course, they mean by
the "best men, the men best qualified for
the transaction of the business placed under
their control; the most honest and trust
worthy men in every respect, and not
merely the best partisans, who will use the
offices to which they are appointed as ma
chimes to assist in keeping their party in
power. Good government is the govern
ment of good and wise men," says a great
authority; and only let such be appointed
or elected to Office and there is small prob
ability of the prosperity of the country being
materially impaired whichever of the great
parties may have control. With good men
in office even very poor systems of gov
ernment are rendered tolerable, not even
emitting despotic forms of government;
while the freest and best are but despot-
ism, and despotisms of the very worst
character when under the control of bad
men. Hence, to have good men-the ''best
menn-in Office is of paramount import
ance. When any political party will not
observe this fact on which the prosperity
of the body polite depends, it is not de-
serving the confidence of the people.
Let it not be thought, however, that we
would favor despotic forms of government
even under the administration Of the
very best men. The experience of
the human race has demonstrated
that liberty is best preserved by
free institutions; and the attachment of
the people to them is the measure of the
security of their freedom. Wherever bene-
fits have arisen in despotic governments
due as they must be to the virtues Of the
despot-they are always temporary. With
GUIzoT we say; "If despotism displays a
merit it is an exceptional one; if a virtue,
it is created of circumstances; and once
this better hour has passed away, all the
vices Of its nature break forth with re
doubled violence, and weigh down society
in every direction" Let democracy live
forever, but in order that it may live in |
fact, as well as in theory; in reality, as
well as in form, let aristarchy go hand in
hand with it. That word aristarchy is |
marked as obsolete in our later diction- |
aries, but since it meaUs "a body of
good men in power, or govern |
ment by excellent men," it ought |
never 10 become obsolete; its natural |
place in Americas vocabulary is by the side |
of democracy, and if we would preserve
the virtue, strength and clearness of the
latter. as a form of government, they must
forever stand together.