THE SECRETARY, 1878-1887 403 



analogous set who have succeeded them. On the other 

 hand, political corruption was rife to a degree which would 

 now be impossible and almost incredible. Individuals 

 were honest; but using government funds for the benefit 

 of the party in power was hardly reprobated. When the 

 immense appropriations necessary to carry on the war 

 were made, and business of the executive departments 

 multiplied many fold, stricter methods became necessary. 

 Each succeeding secretary drew the lines tighter. Con- 

 gress strengthened its hold on the strings of the public 

 purse. Annual surpluses were no longer carried over; if 

 not expended the Treasury reclaimed them by law. Con- 

 sequently when the political revolution of 1884 took place 

 and the party in a minority for nearly a quarter of a 

 century carried the elections, the methods of the execu- 

 tive business were good; the system of checks and 

 balances was so perfected that both government and 

 officer were protected, except in the rare case of indi- 

 vidual turpitude. 



When the inauguration of 1885 took place and the 

 prospect of many political dismissals in the departments 

 grew bright, Washington, beside the influx of men of 

 standing belonging to the victorious side, was invaded by 

 thousands of eager office seekers. 



The pressure for place was terrific. Newly appointed 

 officers of the higher grades were almost overwhelmed 

 by the demand. Many of them came to Washington 

 for the first time since 1861, with the idea that the Execu- 

 tive Departments were dens of corruption. The new civil 

 service law was sufficiently established to make wholesale 

 dismissals from the clerical staff purely on political 

 grounds an awkward and probably unpopular action. 

 When the new functionaries began their search for the 



