Carl Schurz On Qualifications High Office

By way of object-lesson, let the citizens of New York ask themselves this question : A8 our political parties are now organized, would George Washington have any chance of preferment in either of them? Not the slightest. The republican machine as well as Tammany Hall would set him down as an intolerable "dude," a pharisee. A man of such sq.ueamishness in selecting persons for public places, and of such opinions as expressed in the Farewell Address about " the baneful effects of the spirit of party, and about " the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it," would be scorned as a mugwump, and an utterly unfit person for the confldence of a regular party organization - ay, as an enemy of democratie government. In the republican caucus of the New York legislature George Washington would, in the contest for the senatorship, have been laughed at as a competitor of Thomas C. Platt; as he would, while the Legislature was controlled by the democratie machine, have been an absolutely hopeless candidate as against David B. Hill or Edward Murphy. And in the city of New York it would require a successful revolt against both regular organizations to make George Washington mayor. This applies not to New York alone, but to Pennsylvania likewise, and to uiany other States in a greater or less degree. In fact, party organization in its recent development tends in the same direction alrnost all over the country. It is true, men of the first srder of character and ability still get into high places now and then. But this is in most cases owing to one of four eircumstances : either some man in authority is large-minded and courageous enougli to appoint them to important positions, notwithstanding the displeasure of the party machine : oi there is a public sentiment strong enough to force their nomination and election over the head of the regular organizations ; or the party organizations nominate them under circumstances making their defeat eminently probable, and they are elected in spite of this, owing to fortúnate changes in the situation ; regular organizations put them forward, undervaluing their character by mistake. But generally it will hardly be denied that party organization ,as it has gradually developed itself under the influence of the patronage systein, tends more to suppress than to promote the employment in the public service of the best talent and character of the country. And this accounts to a great extent for the deterioration of oiir political life which is so much complained of. - Harpers Weekfy. The exclusive right of serial publication in America of the last of Robert Louis Stevenson's masterpieces in romantic fiction, ;'St. Ives: The Adventures of a French Prisoner in England," was purchased sliortly alter Stevenson's death, of his executor, by McClure's Magazine ; and the flrst installment will appear in the March number of that periodical. &