The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-19
SOUTHERN SENATOR'S
ON THE DISAPPoINTMENrs THAT
COME FROM APPOINTMENTS.
A Very Strong and Earnest Support OF
Civil Service as Relief From the I'M
portunities of omce-Seekers and
Their After Opposition.

81. Louis Globe Democrat writes that paper
that Democratic Senators stand on the
curbstone and see the procession OF Office
seekers go by. -Four years ago they were
struggling with the patronage. Now they
have plenty Of time to be philosophical.
Some Of their observations are interesting.
Senator Pugh, Of Alabama, was one who
gained the confidence OF President Clevo-
land 10 an extent that frequently caused
him to be the chosen means OF communi-
eating executive views upon political qucs-
tons TO the Democratic Senators. lie had
his own way TO an unusual degree in re-
gard TO appointments in his State. Speak.
Ing day or two since OF his experience,
he said:
"There " no doubt that patronage, as
that term II understood 20 mean the con.
troll and distribution OF Federal offices. /.
q source OF decentralization and weakness
10 any political party. Jefferson rightly
described Il In his letter to Chids, in
which lac said that he could manage the
appointments, but not the disappoint
ments; that lac could take care Of tho
thousand appointments. but the ten
thousand disappoinimcnis resulting there
nun UNfNNliillltN llills W llAt NlI, INV
experience Is that you put one man into
Office. frequently sicncing him in politics,
and you make forty active, aggressive en-
emies. There are invariably, and | pre-
sumo inevitably numerous applicants for
every Office Of any value. Only ono can
be appointed, that's certain; but each aud
every one OF the disappointed pcruldcs
himself that his claims AMI his merits
were paramount and 80 no p srsuadis his
friends, too. lie considered himself an
injured, perhaps an in-ulted. man, and
resenis the appointment OF his rival nj the
polls. And. my dear sir, this desire 10
hold Office II increasing. The number OF
applicants for appointments is growing.
aud the more there are the larger the
number OF the disappointed and the more
enemies the appointing power makes"
Senator Jones. OF Arkansas, Is from a
State which has no Republican Congres-
sionM REPRESENTATION, and he has boon
called upon many tunes since the change
OF Administrator 10 introduce Republic
cans at fhc White House and the depart.
ments or TO suggest the proper way 10
reach the public crib. lie has had abund.
ant opportunity 10 study the subject from
all s.anipoinis. anil he said:
patronage Il an element Of weakness IN
the long run. There Is not q bit II doub,
OF that In INV mind. We have Just had
four ycan experience with IL, aud pro.
sumo there are very few Democrats who
do not agree with me. The competition,
The active rivalry for appointment to
Office, develop iactional bitterness which
can NO, b. allayed when the appointment
N male Tho ugly feeling engcndcrcd
among men uf the same party u carried
into the ensuing political contests. aud
,aeakcns the party IN power"
Senator kenna, OF West Virginia, il a
young man in ycar, hut with AN old 20.
liiical head. Before he came TO the Senate
he was Chairman OF committees aud man.
ager OF campaigns in his State lilo pro.
fcrrcd 10 qualify his views on the patron.
nge in this way:
whether patronage bc a source Of
strength OF weakness depends upon con.
diuonA Lot me explain. Where th,
distribution ol the offices II based upon
intelligence, character aud patriotism, and
the good Oi the whole people il consulted
aswas the practice Of President Cleveland.
believe patronage is an undouh,cd element
OF political weakness bat when IL is based
upon partisan Interests alone. aud prDsti.
tuied 10 partisan machinery, where the
whole power Of the Government patronage
h organized 10 suit the cxigcncics aud sub.
serve the ends OF party, ! believe u Il
temporarily AN advantage. But IL IL core.
spondingly dangerous 10 our public insti.
tulonS Understand me. belle the OH
cia power Of the Government can bc mad,
beneficial % n political party; that II eau
be- M upsaniEed aud directed ~ 10 conifo
The rrtulls Of elections NJ close and perhap
pivotal places. aud thus be- used 20 retain
political power Tor time. This Ia pnc,ica
bic where, ~ u the case with M, the result
OF national election depends perhaps
upon a single state, and possibly upon
single county in that slate. But IA
know that such a prostitution II powc
produces evils from which al OF the poo
pie tufIcr. President Cleveland made 4
an inevitable rule TO select. No far AZ th,
Information enabled him 20 DO M. the be-
mcn Tor Office. without rrrard 10 part,
services, and We oil know that lac sullcrc,
losses NJ a result"
Senator Blodectt, Of New jersey. sai,
bis observation bad led him 10 the con
cluAion that possession OF the Federal al
hes certainly did not AID Marty. M
was no, prepared 10 cay that paifonar
was an essential element Of weakness
though be said he could not recall an In
stance where power 10 bcsiow Office ha
brought any element Of strength 10 hi
Ihfls nh rAiic lhlt Tor many Npau
cast H. electoral vote against the party I
power, and bad done 20 when Il was Al
parent that there was no chance for IA
l. Democracy 10 win. Tho possession Of th
Federal offices aud power 20 distribnl
them by the Republican party had uey,
drawn any yoten from the Democracy /
New jersey. Nor the Senator addc,
DID The possession OF the Federal Offices .
the Democrats at the last election brin
any element OF strength, that he coul
discover, 10 the Democracy In New Jenc,
Senator Harris, who had many a shai
encounter over questions Of patronage
Tennessee during the last Administrator
spoke cmphaiically.
"Its source of weakness" said h
positive weakness You offend five me
where you graft one. And In many cas
the one gratned u 70 well satisfied that
fcfralns IRON further active work In 20
tlo; bot the offended persons do nc
Some 81 ibefu are certain ~ carry ths
ri rfudr 10 he polls"
senator Faulkner. Of wes. Virginia, III