Year: 1876

The continuous schcming ofpublic officers
throughout their official term, to get re,
elected or re.appointed.


Next to getting good office once, is to
get it again. Indeed, all the reasons that
move men to desire office once prevail to
make them want it ngain. 1t is also unfor.
tunately true that the most marked fidelity
to the discharge Of official trusts is not even
the feeblest assurance Of reelection. 1t is
assumed that one candidate is just as COM
petent as an other, since any citizen il fit to
he ruler, fhc should only chance to be
chosen. Some Of our very best men and
officers, rs soon as experience has made
them wise, and conflict prudent, were turned
from the public life they honored to make
room for some partisan noviCes whose
shrcwdness won for them the coveted pre-
fcrmcnt of II day. Every man knows, then,
that, CHANGING to get good and lucrative
office once, he must continue to hold il by
other means than simple fidelity to its trusts.
An honest administration may I've no argu'
ment against engthCning its official contn.
uancc, nor is it any very strong reason in its
favor. This is not true OF course, OF any
other business or profession. Conspicuous
ability and, especially, unainching integrity,
are honored by rapid promotion both in
money and position,


The very best Of men and noblest officers
cannot bear the thought of retiring to the
isolation Of private life, after the brief
opportunity of but single official term.
Great personal ability, with corresponding
official honesty, they are well aware, cannot
be efficiently used as q plea for any re-elcc
tim. The temptation is irresistible to re.
sort to some more successful device. This
thought OF prevailing electioneering devices
is almost the very first to take possession of
even good officers wisdom, as soon as the
tormalitics Of his induction into office have
been passed. 1t the one powerful condition
upon which official incumbents might ex-
pGct to be rechosen, was precedent official
merit there are but few who would not So
licit continued prcferment in that simple,
sound way. Most public men prefer honesty,
and are honest, but 10 this, by experience
and observation, they have learned not to
look for prevailing reasons why their official
term should be repeated


One Of the most successful Of the very nu-
merous devices that employ the attention of
public officers to make sure the continuance
Of their official terms, is to impress upon the
patronage they control the possible peril Of
any change in the administration upon
whose appointing power their position and
livelihood depend. Subordinate appointees,
it is emphasized by the central authority,
have nothing to gain, while all is imperriled,
by rotation in office, 1t is easy to see how
desperately all appointees will work to con.
tinue him in Office whom the partiality Of
popular suffrage once empowers with civil
rule.


All this incessant and labOrious schcming
to keep in office is, however, in tho last de.
gree vicious. Men are not elected to office
simply that they may be selected again, but
that they may faithfully discharge its duties,
and reap its full reward ofhonor and means.


In republican state, I assume that no
citizen has natural, nor can he have con-
rtrred right to any Office, The whole peo-
pie are at liberty to empower one Of their
number to serve them in an official capacity,
ior such time and remuneration as they may
be pleased from time to time to designate.
If it were possible Tor every voter to get
some high aud lucrative Office, should, per
haps, 60 in for each one to enjoy his turn,
but, inasmuch as only few at most can be
officially favored, ! most decidedly believe
in intrusting the whole matter to positive
and experienced merit alone. There can be
no reason, other than the inexplicable
caprice OF the masses, and the selfish nv
arice of the otiice-seeker, why thoroughly
competent and honest public officer should
be removed. Is the present incumbent able
and honest enough for the place he tillSl is
the only question worth asking. This is
the sole inquiry tho body of American voters
have any interest in pressing.


If this simple equity could bo made to
prevail, 10 get reelected TO Office indefinite
ly would be nothing more than the impress
i've illustration OF conspicuous merit and in.
corruptibe fidelity AS it is, and must con.
tinue to be, until the new and healthiul po'
ltical fashion | suggest comes to be accept
ed, men who are placed in good offices will
study to keep there with an arlor fourfold
more intense than that which they bestow
upon the legitimate objects to promote
which they were chosen. How untortu.
nately effective is not our practical provision
tor rgenCral official neglect, and low and spc-
cious cunning! Could human art devise
more alluring premiums for official corrGp.
ton


The implied necessity Of rcUarding prom.