The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-15
whenever lie treats subject he does so

League met last week IN washington
city, and Mr.. Schurz made an address
10 il which IS worthy OF attention. Speak
ing OF tho peril that democratic institu-
lions undergo. no we'll said 1t does not
mean the danger OF sudden collapse
but OF gradual decay Of those elements
essential TO their vitality" If. said ne
there he danger that the American re-
public will ultimately be turned into
monarchy" IT wifi not come from Ameri-
can men and women in love with mon
archical courts from weak-mlnoeo anu
impotent ambitions" but will much more
probably arise "eithcr from failure OF
democratic government to afford The
necessary protection to individual ishts'
so that society would turn for that pro-
lection TO a strong man, or from ono
cratic government becoming an instru-
mont OF private cupidity. and falling
into the hands of chief of an orgam-
cation looking for plumber" This lat
ter result, he says, has already been VII
messed, in limited degree. There has
actually" he went on TO say, 'teen such
n monopoly. on a small scale. In existence
among us. nave seen 1t In o4'-
Grafton, and so have many Of my hear
crs. We have Witnessed in the greatest
cities Of the United States, one man
welding the power of the municipal gov
ornment like a monarch-in some re-
spects, ike an absolute monarch, too.
lie grew rich in u marvellously short
time. and when popular uprising
against his rule broke out which threat
ened TO become too formidable TO resist,
he abdicated and withdrew TO his cs-
tates. This was g vulgar sort Of mon
archy. but a monarchy, for all that. lie
was not titled a king, but a boss but
he was boss clad with regal power,
and he yielded only 10 a popular up
heaying, amounting to a revolution"
Mr.. Schurz admitted that the growth
of political bossism into something like
actual monarchy might be an extreme
case but, said he. "all political bossism
has tendency in that direction and
II is "the spoils system which renders ting
developments Of bossism possible. With
that system. left alive in our politics,
in spite OF occasional reyerses, but it
will propagate itself from State to State,
and bring forth results, which, If pre-
dicted now, would severely tax popular
ttg ha
gresham, to whom civil-service reform
must look for aid and support, should be
interested on their own account, in abol-
fishing the patronage system, ana ne
nection. that viii find an echo in every
breast He said:
1T is in the legislative bodies that the
most dangerous attempts are made 10 CIR
cument or subycrt them. At the same
time, whatever the executive power may
do In the way OF extending the reform.
the aid of legislation is required, TO give
II endurance ana security. Now, 1 must
confess that OF ali those VINO are charged
with public duties, the legislator, espe-
cialy the member OF Congress, seems
10 me by Tar the most Interested IN the
total abolition OF the patronage system.
The spOils system leaves hin little time
for his duties, as his hours are spent IN
with his foilow-represen
lives for places FOR his supporters. some
of whom he must inevitably disappoint.
But whom can he drop? lie is pestered
by the reproaches Of the disappointed.
and by the Impotence of the stju OK
pectants. and begins to doubt whether
the patronage business has not made
him more enemies than friends. And
yet, of the political debts which the
spois system induced him TO contract,
only the most pressing have been paid
in the few months OF the new admins
tration.
When Congress meets he cannot attend
to the duties of n congressman. because
MS tormentors viii moi Jet him go. But
now complications arise. one of the
oiiice-holders. appointed upon his recon-
so grossly misconducts himsen
as TO make his removal imperative.
There is no doubt as TO the fact. But
the delinquent public servant calls upOn
his congressional patron for protection
Has he not a right 10 90 so? Has he
not been appointed simply by way of re-
ward for services rendered to the member
Of Congress? So the congressman seeks
10 have the removal recalled. lie i'm
plores the administration to do a Thing
which he knows it cannot DO without
being false to its public duty.
But still other complications come to
plague him. The administration follows
some policy which he feels himself IN
bound to oppose. or vicious
are discovered in some govern
mental department. His first impulse Is
TO obey the command OF duty. But
has he not appeared before the President
and before the Department OF Chiefs as
a petitioner for favors? lie keeniy feels
that here his moral Independence as a
Legislator is at stake. But can he afford
10 maintain it. at the risk of losing all |
The dearly-bought results of the manage |
ment OF the patronage in his district and ]
even tof turning his owu handiwork /
against himself? No: unless there be IN |
him some Of the STUFF Of which martyrs !
are made, the moral independence Of |
he legislator will die as a sacrifice at |
he shrine of that patronage. And 10 /
many legislators making that sacrifice |
u will hardly occur that il bears all |
he features OF a bargain essentially cor /
'upt.
No man OF experience in our political /
life can question the facts. They have
been stated and established many times
without needing denial Can there be /
my doubt as TO their significance? 1t
means that the use OF patronage by mem
lers OF Congress Is essentially corrupt |
md cOrrupting.
1 risk nothing in saying that there
ire very few members OF Congress VINO |
nave not often. at heart, secretly cursed
his abOminable practice. and wished that
I had never existed. Aye very few VINO,
ldmit every word / have used. as 1T
n their inmost hearts, would not to-day
rally true.
II have heard others say: yes, the