Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-23
A Letter from Gen. J. A. Early.

10 the editors Of the LJmcMmy NeaOs:
If | did not believe with Lord Bacon that
there is 10 human nature generally more OF
the fool than Of the wise, | would not think
Of noticing the several squlbs that newspaper
correspondents have thought proper to get of
in reference 10 my endorsement OF the South
ern policy Of Mr. Hayes and the prospect OF
my being tendered an Office under his admins.
traion. But as know that there are always
plenty Of people silly enough to believe the
most absurd stories, or, if they dc not believe
them, malicious enough To eDdcaVor to make
others believe them, | take occasion to say
that | have bad experience enough 10 the ways
OF the world not TO mistake words for policy or
"glitteriog generalities" Tor sound doctrine.
When Mr.. Hayes policy towards the South.
ern States and people shall be developed, and
shal! assume the shape Of substantial acts, !
shall approve or disappr0ve it, al it may con.
form to or vary from In2 own views OF what IS
right. lie the meantime. il bis purposes arc
really honest aud just, | shall! NOT, GmbarraSa
him 10 their execution By au unsought Or haS!y
endorsement IN advance.
If his experience as Governor Ut Ohio, aud
since his induction into the ctfcc Of President,
shall have convinced him. of what IL but TOO
manifest to all rejecting people. thSl tho great
bane Of the country is the growing des ire for
Office, and the clgor rush fJr it under both Fed
era and State Governments, and he ahal con-
cludo 10 adopt, as 8 part OF his policy, the old
rule, that 'the Office should seek the man, and
not the man the office" it is very possible that,
in looking around for those who have not anc
sre not eeking office, his attention might by
accident be called to myself; but he will find
that class 90 egceedinly small that he will very
readily come to the conclusion that no strength
is TO be gained for his administration by bestow-
ing his patronage on them II ever it should
bcfall me to be thought, by MIR. Hayes or any
one else. fitting person to ill any of the Offices
the administration of which in tho past has
caused the very name OF Federal ol;ce-hoidcr"
TO strnk in the nGstrils Of all rght-thinking peo-
pie, trust shall be able to mocL the offer,
when made, in such manner ss shall beGt l.
man who has some self respect left. Before that
offer is made, it would be the meresL folly iJr
mo TO declare my purpose or rejecting it and l
feel very sure that neither my personal nor
political integrity will ever be put to the test in
that way.
TO those who have thought proper 10 Gmuso
themselves at the very idra ot my having boon
rendered q Federal Office | have 10 say that
that may be good fun TO them, but it is no fan
10 ice, or the public either, to observe the very
persistent pursuit Of Office displayed By some Of
them and very many others, besides, on all &C.
casions when there is any place great or small
to be filed. Certainly modesty is not one Of the
weaknesses Of our public Or aspiring men,
and if their ambition is not always Sratl!ed 1t
is not from the failure 10 keep their claims be-
fore the people. Yours NC,
j. a. EARLY.
Lynchburr March Dist 1877