The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-31
POLITICAL PULL.
John j. Ingalls, Condemns 1t in
War and Denounces APP
pOintments.

Atchison, May 31.-John J. Ingalls,, in
a letter to the Globe says: Up to April
"a, 1898, it was one of the favorite argu-
ments for democracy that genius is not
hereditary; that statesmen do not
transmit their qualities to posterity.
1t has passed into a proverb that great
men seldom have great sons. The ap-
parent exceptions neither prove nor
disprove the rule. The highest types
are not persistent. Men, families, ma
tons eliminate and then decay.
So our boast has been that we have
abolished the artificial distinction of
birth and rank and made merit rather
than pedigree the criterion Of prefer
ment.
than a good symptom. Renowned
paternity is not discreditable but in
republic it only establishes favorable
presumption.
In selections for places of honor, trust,
profit and responsibility, the search
hitherto has been not for consanguinity,
but for capacity. We have revolution
lied the civil service by providing that
no ambitious citizen shall open a dead
letter or paste stamps a, beer key
without having first obtained a certif1-
cate of character and qualifications
that would equip the principal of a
rural seminary. We have neither asked
if the candidate was born with a silver
spoon in his mouth, nor if he wore an
evening coat after o'clock, ate with
his fork, dined in courses, or had rich
and celebrated forbearS.
We must have been wrong, for in the
last month we have seen the health,
well being, comfort and fighting ca
pacity of 100 900 men; their food, cloth
ing shoes, tents, medicine, arms, am
munition, equipage and pay, involving
the expenditure of hun6eds Of millions
of dollars and the protection of the
government against corrupt and incom-
petent contractors, intrusted to youth
full and inexperienced civilians for no
apparent reason except the shameless
importantly Of influential kinsfolk and
greedy politicians with a pull.
Grants son and his grandson, Lo-
cams son, Blaine'S son, Harr1son's son,
Alger'S son, Gray's son, McM1lIans son,
Murphy's son, MitchelIs son, BriceS
two sons, HulPs son, Lees son, Strong
SON. Sewel's son, AstOr'S son, All1Son'S
nephew, and scores of less conspicuous
heroes illustrate the development of po-
litical atavism or intermittent heredlty,
which is one of the most extraordinary
features of the past thirty years.
It is said that when the picturesque
semblage, not surpassed since Fa1-
stairs conscripts marched through Cow
entry came up for confirmation the
other day in the senate, Pettigrew, who
apparently. got no pork, Ventured TO
ask if the military committee were sat
isfied that the captains and majors and
colonies were qualified for their I'M
portant duties and responsibilities. Inc
bluff old veteran, HaWley, TESTIFY put
the question by, and said he knew that
everyone was recommended by some
senator or member of congress. Where
upon Hale, with polished sheer, inter-
polated that they would gain expert
ence in the field, a remark whose ap-
parent cynicism is diminished by the
fact that Hale's son had already been
provided for in the diplomatic service,
as secretary of legation at Rome.
These examples will stimulate the
patriotic farmers of the west, who are
urged to enlist as privates for sixteen
dollars a month, to migrate to the sea-
board as rapidly as possible, become
the sons of great men and members or
Mammon clubs as the pathway to dis
tinction They will inspire the veter-
ans of the service whose lives have
been spent in loyal discharge of duty
amid the hardships and privations of
the frontier, with renewed devotion to
the flag, as they see the just rewards of
fidelity bestowed upon the incompetent
and undeserving.
L Timothy. V. viii: But if any pro-
vide not for his own, and especially for
those of his own house, he hath denied
the faith and is worse than inf1del-"
Infide1ity has not been prevalent since
April "a, 1898. JOHN ]. INGALLS,.