The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-21
Ritl,n,ond llspatth,
WEDNESDAY. MARCH q, 1876
The Pursuit Of Office.


20, mon the number Of ofiice-hunters ana
the yea! and ingenuity with which they
press their applications upon the president
and the various departments. The stream
OF applicants includes large NUMBER y,
southern Democrats, who are IN ohoS'
..conciliatory state OF mind. and VINO are
regarded with jealousy blythe Rcpuot'c''hu,'
There seems to be no nterdlction OF sue"
publications. and the% are received Rino'y
and eour,eously, but appointments are ho'
rsnid,y distributed. The great h"'n'''
on on file.n there to await further ac'ion'
a,s tho anplicants come away after learning
,h,, tbere is a good deal OF civility about the
,dministration--more than there mas oeei
for n long tine--and that the President Is
,,,cssan, and remarkably interested in the
weather
The experience of the great majority OF
onnl;capts is a realization OF what we SAID
ut frsf, and what Mr.. KEYS letter authori-
tatively announced: that appointments
would show tina. the Administration Is Re-
nublican. Prominent and influential south
crn gentlemen will be appointed to posi-
lions of trust where Il satisfactory southern
Republican canno. be found. We suspect
tina, the Administration desires to go lit
tie further: ii will be ready to facilitate the
restoration OF confidence and the lnculca-
ton OF kindly feeling here and there by
the appointment OF representative men en-
loving the respect and confidence OF the
people amongst whom they live.
THIS is getting to be understood. Thus
far the appointments such as described in
the above paragraph are not quite so nume-
rouS as was expected. But still we look
for them.
The main point. however, is this: that
there will not be such liberal disposition OF
Office 10 the southern Conservatives rs TO
make that cause OF surrender TO the Ad-
ministration in the South. Whether any
number OF offices would be sufficient for
this i is unnecessary to discuss. There is
no probability that such shower OF official
patronage will fall upon those who have
suffered so long, and, we may say, with so
much .or1itude: and again we may say
we arc glad 81 ii. The Administration
may make higher appeal than through this
medium, somewhat Sordid; and that is by
wise and Just administration, showing 4
respect for local authority and the equal and
constitutional rights Of the States. IN that
way il can reach every BODY, and restore
peace and confidence where so lately OK
listed trouble, apprehension, and oppression.
That appeal is one to reach good people
and patriots and statesmen. 1t is the best
and most virtuous impulses that may be
gratitied by policy like this. But office Is
not of this sort. Office will ina great degree
only crafty a few hungry individuals, and
probably excite discomfort and aversion to-
wards the Administration in the hearts OF
many.
We may, as we have said before, assume
that the shower OF offices descending upon
the South will not likely upset the party
relations, and we begin to suspect that those
who INDUCED the strongest apprehensions
on this point were rather hopeful that there
would be such shower. We repeat that
the Administration, il it desires to accom-
plish the disruption of parties in the South,
cannot accomplish it in this way. Never
theless, We are free to confess that the entire
restoration of the southern States to sell
government AMI to a condition OF equal
jty with other States-this, with such
assurance as experience alone can give
that they are to be permitted to con-
tinue in the enjoyment of these rights and
the blessings they engender, will make pro-
found impression upon the South, and do
more to inspire kind feeling and respect for
the Administration than all things else that
it may do. The liberation of the South is
the grand object with the South. This was
the motive Of the struggle in the South.
Should that be attained we shall be in the
best condition to consider the general well
fare and what is NEXT best and most pro-
per to be done. We shall have acquired by
constancy and fortitude the noblest of rights,
and will be in no wise prompted to attempt
to achieve any further object by the resort
to any expedient less honorable and proud
than was that by which, through years Of
trial and distress, we achieved our grand
Geliverance.