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To The Victor..

Posted by Henry on June 17, 2004

In Reply to: To The Victors... posted by Tojo on June 17, 2004

: Which phrase is correct?
: "To the victor goes the spoils"
: or
: "To the victor go the spoils?"
: Thanks!

To the victor go the spoils.
It's clear if you re-arrange the sentence;
The spoils go to the victor.

During a Congressional debate in 1831 a New York senator, William L. Marcy, used the phrase "to the victor belong the spoils." This saying accurately described the spoils system of appointing government workers. Each time a new administration came into power thousands of public servants were discharged and members of the victorious political party took over their jobs.

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