The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-05-05
POLITICAL sPoiLs sYsTeM.

PoLiTicAL sPoiLs SYSTEM.
The People Themselves Have Created
tho State of Adairs.
The spoils system as an agent 81
corruption in our government was
discussed by Mr.. William M. Salter
before the Ethical society, Philadel-
phia.
He said: There is no charge which
weighs more heavily upon the
thoughtful citizen than that our gov
ernment, intended for the benefit Of
all, is used by q few to serve their
own purposes When we survey the
history Of governments in the
past, they seem often to have been
devised and perpetuated to satisfy
the ambition and serve the interests
OF some individual or family or class.
Iheoretic anarchism has a great deal
to say for itself, when the past is had
in mind. But American patriots can
say, No matter about the east; we
stand on fresh soil, and with new
ideas to-day; and we will have gov
eminent now, if never there was one
before, that is not for the people to
serve, but that shall serve the people. )
s'Ihere is accordingly nothing to
be dreaded more than the introduce
ton OF arbitrary rule into the con-
duct OF our government. For persons
who attain TO political power to use
their position to further their private
or class interests, this is to insidi-
Ously undermine free institutions; It
is to give a tool to the anarchist.
who says that evil attaches to the
very nature Of government. We OBJ
ject to the old English kings who
distributed offices to their favorites
or as reward for services rendered
to themselves; we applaud the bar
Ons, who, in 1915, made King John
promise that he would not appoint
any justices, constables. sheriffs. or
balliffs, but such as knew the law Of
the realm, and meant truly to observe
it, but what difference does it make
If, instead Of king we have presi-
dents and senators or cOuncilmen
who exercise the old arbitrary pre-
rOgative? The fact is, we deceive
ourselves in this country. We think
we have got rid Of old political
abuses, but we tolerate some Of the
worst that have ever existed. Not
that It was always so. The fathers
Of the republic were, no doubt. men
like ourselves, but they had some
ideals and scruples to which we OF
the present day seem to be strangers. :
Quoting Washington's declaration,
elm every nomination | have en-
deavored to make fitness of charac-
ter my primary object" to sho the
principles of the early Republic in
this matter, Mr.. Salter proceeded to
review historically the career of the
spoils system from the time of J.
Quincy Adams. who made two re-
moyals, to the present administers
ton. under which 10000 changes
! were made in the postal department
alone With Andrew jackson begins
the era Of corruption. In two wears
this accomplished spokesman made
ten times as many changes as all his
| predecessors had in forty years
| openly avowing that offices an6
emoluments were the spoils of victory
Defeated in one canvass, at length,
dressed in little authority, Jack
son began to exercise a truly lordl,
| power. The spirit that became rife
is indicated in this letter Of one Of
flee seeker 20 another: II hold tt
your doctrine fully that o-rasca
who made use of his office or it.
| profits for the purpose of keeping
Mr.. Adams in and General jackson
out of power is entitled to the ieas
lenity or mercy, save that Of hang
ing. SO we both think alik,
on that head. Whether or no
/ shall get anything in tn,
] general scramble for plundel
remains to be proven; but / rathe
] guess shall. = Ibis worthy got tn,
collectorship of the port Of New
| York. When, in the course. of time
it became necessary to appoint
committee to look into his accounts
and it was found that he had de
! frauded the government Of 81, 225, OOO
his place was supplied by the YER
man to whom he wrote the lette
quoted! The ball thus set rollin
gathered dirt as it went on. Durin
Van Buren's administration the cos
of collecting the revenues was .fiv
and a fourth per cent of the total
whereas under Adams it had bee
but ore and one-half per cent.
Lincoln said: IF ever this FIRE
people, if this government itself
ever utterly demoralized, it wi
come from this wriggle and struggl
for Office Already politics is losin
it's larger, nobler meaning; it n
longer signifies the art of promotin
the public welfare by this or ths
line Of public policy; as popularl
used, it means the art of winnin
votes, Of carrying elections.
There is but one way to speak
all this said Mr.. Salter 1T is
shame in our politics. It is not
party question that I speak Of; it
not an intricate matter of law, abo,
which none but specialists can spea
it is a moral question, into tt
right and wrong of which wayfa
ing man may see. And for all thi
: we, the. people. are at fault II
: politicians do but take advantage
: condition that we have above