474 
W. H. HOSKINS. 
the near future, when the value of these achievements may be 
properly measured, will render to them the just meed of ap¬ 
preciation they so richly deserve. Who of us in the glorious 
breaking day of modern medicine and surgery, but yearns 
to live many years to view its future completeness and taste 
of the well-spring of renewed youth. What a revolution in 
veterinary science we have witnessed in the last ten years. 
What a wealth of achievement has been turned to our 
country’s worth and prosperity by our own profession. What 
they have done for America in stamping out that bnvine 
scourge “Contagious Pleuro-Pneumonia,” has not been done 
for any other country in the world on whose soil it has found 
lodgment. What are the possibilities of the future we can 
only conjecture, but surely we can hope that through their 
continued zeal and labor, every embargo against our food 
products may be lifted, and the whole world become the 
welcome recipient of our animal productions. But one 
grave danger threatens this achievement, and 1 cannot lose 
this opportunity of calling your attention to it. It is of our 
own creation, it is of our own perpetuation, and the cure 
of this evil lies within our own powers. I refer to the 
curse of the infamous “ Spoils System,” that drives well-fitted 
and equipped men from the positions of vital importance to 
our country, and of equal import to the integrity of the pro¬ 
fession, simply because they are republicans or democrats as 
the case may be. What an insult to our boasted intelligence 
that we should tolerate such a system, much less uphold and 
encourage it. What sound business man would tolerate such 
an unreasonable system in his counting-house, store or 
factory. What shall we say in extenuation of the evil day 
that is sure to come when the blighted fruit of our own plant¬ 
ing shall be offered us as the outgrowth of our seeding. Is 
it not time for us as an association, as a dignified profession, 
to raise our protest against such a system that would be bar¬ 
barous in any country other than our own. Should we not 
demand that our Government bestow these positions under 
the merit system, rather than rewards for partisan services 
or as a prey to ward-workers and place-hunters. Think of 
