Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-08

snip attached to 1t, at 50 day, Is . unecure.
SOME HOUSE OFFICES.
During the last Congress Speaker Crisp's son
| held the position Of clerk at the Speakers desk
at g, 2O0a year. Samuel J. Randall made himself
| remarkable by refusing to countenance the
employment of any OF his relatives in the serv-
| Ice OF the government. He positively declined
appointments which were offered to him for
his brother and son. In the lists already given
| 1t will be observed that no mention is made Of
nephews and cousins. There SO many OF
them that If their names were to be mentioned
| this newspaper page would be spread over
with them. though put in tabular form for the
sake of condensation.
Presidents of the United States have rarely in
duIged In nepotism any attempt on their part
| to adopt the practice giving rise to a disturb
ance. When John Adams appointed two Of his
relatives to Office howl of disapprobation at
once arose. letter Of his is still extant. in
which he replies to a cousin. Benjamin Adams:
"iou know it is impossible for me to appoint nv
own relatives without drawing forth torrent{of
obioquy.' Washington would never give ian
ONCE to any member of his family. His ideas
on this subject were termed by John Adams an
expression of 'hypersuperlative virtue"
Another of the early Presidents said that it was
the first duty of the chief executive to secure
the confidence Of the people. and their trust in
him was impaired when he showed official favor
to relation. Andrew johnson employed his
own son as his private secretary, and Hayes did
likewise for n while.
1t will be remembered what disturbance
was created by Grants appointing certain rela-
tives of his to offices. The tremendous attack
made upon him in the Senate by Charles
Sumner was largely devoted to criticism of
these acts of nepotism. The speaker went back
to the history of the word, which is of italian
origin. At Rome. when the papal power
was at Its height, it served to deslg-
nate the influence and authority controlled by
the nephews and family generally Of the pope.
The male members of popes immediate
family In the younger generation are always
called his "nephews" by courtesy. The abhorred
practice referred to began in 1471 with
Slxtus Nv, who had nephews and other re-
lations in such numbers to battle belief Him
self the son OF Il fisherman, he began at once to
heap riches and Offices upon members OF his
family. The Borgia and Medici families be-
came celebrated for nepotism when their rep
resentatives filed the pontifical chair Urban
VIII refused to make man a cardinal on
the ground that he had been IAN enemy of his
nephews.' During his historic reign his rela-
tives flew 70 Rome like the bees on the arms Of
his family. the Barberini. In those days the
essential qualities of popes relation were said
to be zig orance and cunning
SUMMERS ATTACK on GRANT.
Mr.. Sumner declared that President Grant
had appointed members of his ia nily in the
government service to a number which was
reckoned in the newspapers by lists comprising
all the way from thirteen to forty-two individ-
uals. What he said was wholly exaggerated.
but 1t Is true that the general did
give several offices that were fairly profitable,
though not very conspicuous, to persons con-
nected with him by blood or marriage-par-
tlcularlv to his wife's relations. the Dents
Fred Grant was put on She-idan's staff and
went abroad with him. Cleveland made his
cousin. Ben Folsom. consul at Manchester. Eng.
land. He still holds the place. Harrison hav-
ing retained him perhaps matter Of courtesy
There Is certainly a strong prejudice in this
country against adopting that principle ofkingly
rule which fastens whole family upon a na ton
its most remotely related members cinging
like so many leeches to the body polite for
generation after generation. No more fragrant
instance of that sort of abuse can be found
than exists in Great Britain, where roval pau
pers breed like rabbits. every year demanding
from the people more money to support in lux
urlous ldleness their ever-increasing numbers
Nepotism In odd shape prevails to some
extent In the army and navy of the United
States. There are certain families-such as
Meade. Rodgers. Bache and Dahlgren-which
appear in these services generation after gen.
Grafton. This is not surprising when it is con-
sidered that men who have obtained
distinction in the military or naval service
OF the government often desire that their sons
shall adopt the same profession. Their re-
quests for the appointment of their boys to An
napolis or West Point are not likely to be re-
fused. Fred Grant went to West Point and so
did son of Gen. SchOfield. Gen. Thomas
had nephew at Annapolis. If courage and
faithfulness are hereditary virtues, surely
this is the least Objectionable form which ne
potism can take.