The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-06-12

ments tosoafce. Is not this generation
wise enough and strong enough to.
grapple with these questions9
Whatever may be said in favor of
civil service as applicable to clerkships
and other subordinate positions, it is
very clear that life appointments under
civil service rules are not desirable for
postmasters who are thrown directly
in contact with the people and whose
acceptabdity to the people they serve
is of the first Importance. Nor is'favor
in the eyesof a Congressman, ambitious
perhaps of further honors or mindful
of past favors, a proper basis for ap-
pointment. If the people ar wise
enough to elect Presidents and Con-
gressmen, Governors and judges, why
can they not be trusted to select Sena-
tors and postmasters9
When the Constitution Of 1882 was
framed there was a large element cau-
tious of committing much power to
the people. It was an unknown and
untried experiment. Senators were
to be chosen by the legislatures. It
was feared to trust their election to
the masses, but time has demonstrated
that the latter would have been the
better plan. Judges were to be ap-
pointed for life by the President. Yet
hardly a State Constitution-retains
now such a feature. The few hundred
postmasters were to be appointed by
the President or the Postmaster, Gen
eral. Now that they number nearly
three fourths Of a hundred thousand,
and are increasing in number at the
rate of three to five thousand per an
mum. their appointment is practically
changed and is made by members Of
| Congress and Senators or unofficial
political leaders. A century of expert
ence in self government ard the spread
of education among the masses have
been of little value if they have not
brought proof of, and increased conf
dence in, the capacity of the people to
select their own officers. The develop
ment of republican government must
take that direction. The continued
besto wal of solarge anumber Of Offices,
increasing steadily in number and
value, by patronage, can only result
in increasing and widespread corrup-
ton. Trust the people. While they
remain honest and intelligent they are
the proper and only safe repositories
of the power of selecting, their own
servants. Whenever the day shall
come that they shall cease to discern
their own interest or shall become cor
rupt, a stronger form of government,
not resting on the peoples will, may
be found. but not a purer one
The writer is one of those who stead
lastly believe in the capacity of the
people for self government and that
progress in the direction of a purer,
better government, a government
which shall be for the people, is to be
found only in the extension of a gov
eminent which is by and of the people
In the curtallment of patronage, which
is a survival of government by officials
and the selection Of postmasters and
all other officers as far as possible by
the people, is to be fc und the only solu
ton of many of the difficulties and
evils which now surround US. This
will not be the conclusion OF the whole
matter" but it will be a very long steI
in the right direction. Other Difficult
ties will arise with our development
in wealth and population. Wisdom
will be found to solve them as they
shall press on us.
There are great truths that pitch their shining
tents
Outside our Ills, and though but dimly seel
In the gray dawn, they will be manifest
When the light W1dens into perfect day.
The Alien 81 ROvden Gomnanv Raj