New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-09-18
Governor Alexander q. shepherd

As we intimatcd last week, Hon. Alexan-
der r. Shepherd, vice president Of the Board
of Public Works, has been appointed Cover
nor of the District of Columbia. This an
nouncement will be extremely gratifying to
the friends Of improvement in the District,
while at the same time it is merited tri-
butte to the untiring energy, fearless course,
the calmness and equanimity amid dispar-
agement, which have sustained Mr.. Shepherd
and taught his friends and enemies to look
upon him as n tower OF strength. The col
ored people Of the District are interested
in the appointment, because through the
influence Of the Governor they may suffer
much harm at the hands Of improper APP
pointees, or receive unlimited good through
the selection of able colored men TO preside
over their interests.
Mr. Shepherds excellent Judgment, his
independence of spirit, his regard for the
rights of all men in the District, and his in
trcpidity in disregarding private interests
when adverse to public good, lead us to hope
that under his administration he will select
from among the colored people the men to
represent them who are above petty spite
and small jealousies. We hope, and we have
a reasonable right to.expect, that the united
voice Of the colored people, crying out against
the abuse of power, startling incompetency,
and partzan dealing. of the present colored
school board during the past summer, will
lead to the entire remodeling of that body,
retaining some men who have shown regard
for the real welfare Of the children, and send
ing the rest to that Coventry of ignorance
where they belong. If worth, efficiency, and
independence are qualities to be admired in
public officer, Mr.. Shepherd possesses them
in remarkable degree. An untiring worker,
when even supposed to be enjoying leisure,
the dread of the unjust or slack contractor, a
hater of shams, and the patron of industry
when allied to ability, we do not hesitate to
say he will make an executive officer such as
the District Of Columbia may well be proud.
The Ex-Governor carries with him into his
voluntary retirement the good wishes Of all
classes of the community. If he has had
any faults, they have cleaned to virtues
side" in that he tried to please too many
| people. As far as the interests Of the colored
people were concerned, he, at first listened
to the counsels of the best, but latterly was
beset by class of inscriptions demagogues
who succeeded in deceiving him. Mr.. Henry
D. Cooke, however, leaves the executive
chair without stain upon his garments, and
no suspicion as to his private worth or his
official probity.
Under the new regime we have cause tc
look for an accordance of sentiment between
the Board of Public Works and the District
government, which will push forward to a
completion the immense, but we think neces.
sary, improvements so absolutely essential
to the capital of the nation. In this work
both the National and District governments
are vitality interested-the former, because
till within few years it has had no capital
worthy of the name the latter for the rea-
son that through the generosity Of Congress
it receives for the year those benefits which
most of the legislators enjoy only for time.
The poorer people, too, are interested, since
the property they possess has been in many
cases trebled in value, an increase, which
even heavy taxation has not rendered value
less
In behalf of the colored people we welcome
the new Governor to the broader field for the
exercise of those qualities which he has tested
so well as vice president of the Board.