The Civil Service and the Patronage. By Carl Russell Fish,
Ph.D. (Longmans and Co. 10s. 6d.)—This volume deals with a subject which primarily concerns the citizens of the United States, but has also no inconsiderable interest for ourselves. Professor Fish pursues the history of the "Spoils System:" "The Spoils System Triumphant" is the heading of the seventh chapter, and the period is 1845-1866, including the Presidencies of Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan, and Lincoln. Here is what we are told about the last of these : "He took pains to consult every one who had any right to be heard, but controlled
everything with a loose yet powerful rein He made no attempt to obtain the men best fitted to perform the functions of the various offices, except in case of the very highest ; for minor places he did not even insist that a man be fit." Since that time much has been done towards abating it. And both parties, generally speaking, have helped, though it has been a Republican rather than a Democratic policy.
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