Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-26

that postmastership to jones? And
here they are both in bodily presence,
each anxious to close the first mort
gage each holds on the same piece of
property.
Our new member of Congress has
always considered himself a man of
integrity and honor. He now in
stinctively feels that he is in situa-
tion in which gentleman ought not
to be. But our friend has hardly time
for self-reproach. How can he get rid
of the conflict of claims between Smith
and Jones? Both are influential con
stituents, whom it would be dangerous
to offend. Smith is perhaps the better
man for that postoflice, but Jones holds
tho clearer promise.
Our friend concludes that tho clearer
promise must be kept; that he will
explain his embarrassment to Smith,
ask Smith to give way to Jones, and
tell Smith that he shall have .'some-
thing equally as good,' as the current
phrase is. All, poor man, he has yet
to learn what terrible scourge be has
prepared for his back by that promise
of something equally as good. " for
Smith will faithfully stay by his side
till he gets it.
And good many other expectant
constituents will stay likewise, Where
| ever our unfortunate statesman is they
are. They are there when he goes to
bed late at night, they are there before
he gets up in the morning. There are
the Jones calling for their postoflice,
| the Smiths demanding something
equally as good,'' and many others
claiming" many other things. and
all these things without delay. Our
friend, his political creditors at his
heels rushes first to the general post
office department to satisfy his Joneses.
There he finds the rooms and corridors
| thronged with other statesmen and
their friends, crowds of Joneses and
Smiths. The same anxious faces, the
same eager eyes, the same nervously
twitching lips, the same pictures of
misery.
After hours of restless waiting, he
succeeds in being listened to about the
postoflice in Blankyille, the papers
covering that place are sent for, and
our friend is blandly informed that
/ there ia no vacancy in that postufiice.
"What?" exclaims our Congressman
mo yacancy9 Why, of course, you
will make one. Remove the incum-
Dohts Ilubt udNt tudt DluCts uhNt
promised it to Mr.. Jones, this mere
comes, calm and cruel: 1.-The present
postmaster has been in about two
years. His record as an officer is excel
lent There have never been any charges
against him. There is absolutely nc
cause for removing him. "
This is TO our friend thunderclap
from clear sky. lis he to confess him
self powerless to get Jones the post
office he has promised? 1t would ruin
his prestige in his district, and Jones
would become his enemy. What is to
be dones Appeals to the Postmaster
General and even to the President,
avail nothing. But was not something
said about there being no charges
against the present Blankvile post
master? Might not that detect be
remcdied? Why not get up some
charges against that postmaster, be he
ever so good an officer and blameless
a man? This is the way out. Now tc
work.
With cowardly haste. he seeks refuge
in the thought that politics is politics
that this is the custom of the country,
and that, 80 long as that custom per.
mits. and even obliges, members oi
Congress to USE the offices of the gov.
ernment as rewards for their hench.
men, why, such things will be done,
whatever their character and effect.
And thus the shameful game of trumped
up charges is played. And our friend
has more Joneses to provide with more
postoffices, which causes more confer.
ences at the department. in some cases
the trumping up Of more charges, the
disappointment of more mon who hao
PROMISES the making of more pledges
to furnish something equally al
good," and more sacrifices of honor
and self-respect.
But now comes the task of gettins
for his friends places which are not,
like the postoffices, regarded as 'be
longing" to the member of Congress-
but for which he must compete witt
other members, and oven with the more
formidable Senators-places in the de
partments, or consulships, OF foreign
missions, or revenue offices, or IndiaI
agencies, and what not. He visits thu
departments one after another, ant
humhly seeks in each the favor oi tha
awful potentate, the appointment clerk
who can keep him informed of existing
vacancies. and who also may sec to j
that his papers are opportunely brough
to the attention of the secretary when
ever good chance for catching al
office occurs. And, oh, those hours O
I 4 IL -.