The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-07

TucpOuhiUl1ty auu 10 IACtlColiy Tree from
statutory restrictions The party leader
combines legislative n executive func-
ions and often trenches upon judicial
functions. Yet he acknowledges no obi
cations to the public: his obligations are
simply to secure Office for his followers.
Then, again. to pay q legislator for his vote
or an executive officer for the exercise of his
discretion 10 a felony. and for an officer
TO receive q bride is a felony; but the party
leader In under no legal prohibition against
receiving any consideration or acting
upon any personal interest In ths exercisa
OF his power. which controls both the votes
Of the Legislators and the discretion OF tho
Executive. The only danger he has "a
apprehend is that the voters OF his party
may ~repudiate his candidates. and against
hat he is m~easurably protected by the fact
hat such action will be at the cost Of putting
the government into the hands Of those Tho
would administer IL upon principles and
according to policies which the voters con-
slider unsound and injurious
What will come to many readers. though
not by any means to all. as a reassuring
surprise is Mr.. Roots averment. based
upon long observation. that the spoils
system is not essential to effective party
organization. He has become convinced
that. on the contrary. it tends TO prevent
effective party organization: 10 tends 70
keep out OF the organization the very men
whose service would be most efficient and
to make more difficult the work of the
men who do take part in the organization
with the honest purpose OF making II ar
complish its legitimate results and those
only. Therefore il il that Mr.. Root ds-
nounoes the spoils system a. pernicious
and discreditable to American Citizen
ship. He would have IL done away with
ne would have political parties brought
back to the sole performance OF their
proper function as organizations for the
promotion Of principles and policies: he
would set them free from the control of
mere office trading combinations. He has
no patience with the folly which asserts
that the existence OF such an evil as the
spoils system furnishes a reason why
educated. self-respecting Americans should
take no part in the work Of the political
party for whose nominees they vote. II
ought to be obvious to any one that. on
the contrary. the existence OF the evil
holds up a duty to the conscience and
patriotism Of every competent American.
the manifest and urgent duty 20 enter into
the work Of party activity and help to make
the party organization what it ought 70 be.
III.
Are there any grounds for encourage
ment? Is there n foundation for thu
hope that the spoils system can be exter-
minated throughout the Union and party
politics everywhere purified This ques-
ton is answered In the fourth and conolud-
ing lecture. Mr.. Root holds that the de-
sired change Ii entirely practicable. Ii
has actually been brought about in Eng
land, thanks largely to the preoept and
example Of Burke, Of whom the author
OF these lectures In evidently a devoted
student. To doubt that It can be made also
in the United States Is. Il Mr.. Root says.
to doubt he capacity OF the American
people for self government. The change
cannot. indeed. DO produced suddenly. or
without systematic and continuous effort.
or by mere exhortation or protest. 1t must
come slowly, In the ordinary course Of po-
lltical development.
Attention is directed to tho in~disputabls
fact that the obnoxious system already
has been reduced signally In its soope and
power. tho modern civil service method
Of selection for appointment has withdrawn
from b bargain counter . great mass of
governmental Offices and smploymsnts.
individually Of minor Importance. but in
the mass OF very great Importance Nor
has the range OF this reform been confned
TO our continental territory. where public
opinion finds strong expression and quick
enforcement. The civil governments OF
our insular possessions have been estsb-
lished and maintained without any regard
whatever TO b payment Of political debts
No attention either In paid to party afhlia-
ton or obligation In appointments In the
military and naval services Within the
past year. too, the consular service has
been brought under new regulations. by
which all the higher places are filled by
promotion OF the basis of efficiency. a.
verified by the official record. and the lower
positions arc Allied by original appoint
ments. following thorough examinations.
LASTLY. sven the fourth class post Offices
have been brought under Q now rule. which
makes the continuous holding OF an office
depend upon the merit OF the officer rather
than upon political favor. Thus the stock
In trade OF the poils system IL being rapidly
reduced 50 far as the Federal Government
is concerned. The same thing Is true Of
some States.
On the whole. the conclusion to which
the observation n experience Of q busy
and useful life has brought the author Of
these lectures In that In the whole field of
popular government one Of the plainest
duties Of citizenship is h~opefulness and
that pessimism 10 criminal weakness.
A STATE IN PAWN.
Nevada sayd IN Have Boon IN Thar e ood,ron