The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-09-20
ANII-HAYES LIBRARY BUREAU.
CIVIL SERVICE REFO ORM As PRAc-
2ICED IN VIRGINIA.
From the Columbns Dlspatoh

Miss Van Lew was Of an old and veal
thy Virginia family. She lived in Rich
mond during the war. She was one of
the few Southern women who had the
courage to sympathize with the North.
For FIVE years she visited hospital and
prison, rendering assistance to the sick,
wounded and dying of the Federal army.
She devoted fortune to this charitable
work, and when the war ended was poor.
Grant, recognizing and appreciating her
motherly tenderness, unstinted generosi-
ty and loyalty to the flag, appointed her
Postmistress of Richmond. The rebel
element did not regard this appointment
with satisfaction. They did not like this
woman. They avoided her as they would
shun leper, Months would pass during
which no one would cross her threshold,
and extend to her neighborly greeting.
She was not of that hated class known in
the South as carpet-baggers, for she was
to the manor born, as were her fathers,
but she was worse even. She was a
Southerner who had been true to the
Union, and who still believed in the doc
trines of the Republican party. In short
she was scallawager. Just so soon as
Hayes manifested a willingness TO graft.
fy his enemies by sacrificing his friends,
the Confederate element of Richmond
began their crusade against Miss Van
Lew, The White. House was besiegcd.
They charged down upon the President
in batallions. They could not say she
was incompetent, or that she had failed
in the honest and faithful discharge of
her duties, for that was matter of record
in the Department. They therefore urg-
ed her lack of social position, and her
unpopularity with the weather. patrons
| OF the Office, as grounds for her removal.
The President did not like to yield--it
was so palpably ungrateful and unjust to
do so; but he had committed himself to
the work of pacifying the South, and
neither justice, gratitude nor honor must
be permitted to stand in the way. The
loyal and generous woman was therefore
thrust out. and a rebel put in.
Contrast his action In this case with
that in the case of the Louisville postof-
fee. In the latter woman was the aP
plicant. She had been bitter and out
spoken in her sympathy forthelost cause.
After the election, supposing that Tilden
would be President she had addressed
her petition to him. 1t had been signed
almost exclusively by Democrats, but
when Hayes was inaugurated she erased
Tilden's name from the document and
substituted his. There were many ap-
plicants for the place, good Republicans,
good Union men, men Of high standing
and unexceptionable business quali6ca>
ton, the rebel in this case won the
prize. .n ..,
This is a phase ofthe Presidents South
ernpolicy worthy Reconsideration. Those
who labor for the success of the cause
must stand aside; those who work against
it must be rewarded The patronage Of
the Administration must be used to pla<
cate rebels and build up the Democratic
party of the South. How long would it
take to redeem, regenerate and sanctify
the world if the Christian Church were to
adopt the policy Of comforting its Offices
and honors upon Satan and his disci-
ples