As to the spoils system being necessary to the end of keeping alive among our people an active interest in public affairs—­where is the American who does not blush to utter such an infamous calumny?  Is there no patriotism in America without plunder in sight?  Was there no public spirit before spoils systems and clean sweeps cursed us, none between the battle of Lexington and Jackson’s inauguration as President?  Such an argument deserves as an answer only a kick from every honest American boot.

I admit, however, that there are among us some persons whose interest in public affairs does need the stimulus of office to remain alive.  I am far from denying that the ambition to serve one’s country as a public officer is in itself a perfectly legitimate and honorable ambition.  It certainly is.  But when a man’s interest in public affairs depends upon his drawing an official salary, or having such a salary in prospect, the ambition does not appear so honorable.  There is too pungent a mercenary flavor about it.  No doubt, even among the mercenaries may be found individuals that are capable, faithful, and useful; but taking them as a class, the men whose active public spirit is conditional upon the possession or prospect of official spoil are those whose interest in public affairs the commonweal can most conveniently spare.  Indeed, our political life would be in a much healthier condition if they did not take any part in politics at all.  There would be plenty of patriotic Americans to devote themselves to the public good without such a condition.  In fact, there would be more of that class in regular political activity than there are now, for they would not be jostled out by the pushing hordes of spoils-hunters, whose real interest in public affairs is that of serving themselves.  The spoils system is therefore not only not a stimulus of true public spirit, but in spreading the mercenary tendency among the people it has served to baffle and discourage true public spirit by the offensive infusion in political life of the mercenary element.

The view that the spoils system with its frequent rotations in office is needed to promote among the people a useful understanding of the nature and workings of the Government, finds, amazing as it may seem, still serious adherents among well-meaning citizens.  It is based upon the assumption that the public service which is instituted to do certain business for the people, should at the same time serve as a school in which ignorant persons are to learn something about the functions of the Government.  These two objects will hardly go together.  If the public service is to do its business with efficiency and economy, it must of course be manned with persons fit for the work.  If on the other hand it is to be used as a school to instruct ignorant people in the functions of the Government—­that is, in the duties of a postmaster, or a revenue collector, or an Indian agent, or a Department clerk—­then we should