Year: 1877

ton ana given Use 10 considerable as
cussion, since it became an element Of pol
itcs. We believe Mr.. .Jenckes, at the time
member of Congress from Rhode Island
was the first to put the idea into shape in
the form ola law providing for compet-
tive exam nation for candidates seeking
subordinate government positions. Mr..
Jenckes' idea, however, does not seem to
have been put to that practical effect de-
signed by its author, yet all we're agreed
could be asked.


The nomination of Mr.. Hayes and the
position he took in his letter Of accept
ance, revived the idea, and since that gen.
tleman has shown that his declaration
was not mere eectioneer;ng dodge,
good before election but forgotten after
wards, the country is becoming impressed
with the idea that its offices were not
created solely TO fix places for hungry pol
iticians, nor to be parceled out as rewards
for political favorites. They begin to
hold that competency in Office is desid.
eratum. Nor is this idea confined solely
to national matters it is to be carried into
all classes OF service, State, National and


local. 1t is no longer held as qualifica-
ton for position that candidate shall be
held eminently fitted for what he desires,
if he be "a pretty good fellow" or good
local politician, with influence enough to
control few trading votes by which
he can log roll and carry a convention.-
strong and "a nomination was equivalent
to an election" when some fat Office in
which the "stealngs" were good, dcta-
ted all the nominations for county officers.
We do not have to 60 outside OF our own
county for the proof of this little fact for
the day is not so far distant when the
Sher:f7s office named in effect the whole
county ticket. But that day is past, we
trust never to return again. Now each
man who seeks political preferment must
stand or fall upon his own merits. And
politicians are keenly''sensitive to this fact.
They know that SO far from the rest OF the
ticket being able TO carry weak or in
competent man through the canvass, such
nomination will be apt to swamp the
whole ticket. Where parties are evenly
divided, the question Of competency and
fitness will tell with far greater effect
than heretofore. "Sarvice is no inherit
ance" says an old English proverb and
the remark applies equally we'll to public
service. Every man has an undoubted
right to aspire to any position under the
government, but where his claims are to be
sanctioned by the popular voice, the peo-
pie will pronounce judgment upon his
qualifications. These are stubborn facts
to deal with, facts which political con-
ventions cannot afford to ignore. When
nominations are made simply to cell out
the ticket" they are not strengthening it
thereby, but just the reverse. We pre-
sent this question Of competency as one
which should be the paramount one in the
choice of all local officers. Popular usage
OF many years past has dictated the nomi-
nation Of party tickets. Party usage de-
of the voters of the party. Hence, in
past times man became n boltsr if ne did
not swallow the whole ticket. But at the
present men are more independent and
where local interests alone are at stake,
support the nominees Of their party when
they are the best qualified not other
wise.


In local election, like the one which
will take place one week from Wednes-
pay, the personnel and qualifications of
every candidate are known to the masses
OF the voters. There is ample opportuni-
ty to Judge Of whom the best material for
every position is composed. Party lines
should be dropped and none but the best
selected. If there we're any political
principle involved the case would present
II different bearing, yet even then we
should hesitate before we permitted the
spirit Of partisanship to blind our eyes to
any garing demerit of the candidate Of
our party. Much of the bad legislation
| of California is due 10 tho fact that com
potency was not regarded as the test of
fitness !; that party spirit run high or par
ty majorities were so large that all the
sacrifices were made to secure the endorse
ment of a regular nomination that Sen
ator and Assemblymen were chosen, not
for the ability they possessed but influence
as local politicians. Such is not the case
at the present time, nor will il be if the
principles of Civil Service Reform gov
ern our local elections. We have hereto
fore urged the claims OF the Republican
candidates now before the people for their
endorsement. We do not do this in n
party spirit, although the JOURNAL is a
staunch Republican paper. We think,
and with just cause, that they are far bet
ter qualified for the positions they seek
than are their Democratic opponents
In this the people may not agree with us.
We all have our differences of opinion
and act upon them. All we ask is that
the people weigh well the claims of each
one, and then vote us ihe public interest
dictates.


-


THE LIBEL CAsE.-The case Of the
People against the Chronicle proprietors
on trial at iPlacerville is drawing to an
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