New-York tribune., 1878-04-17
GLHE HLK 4 CHANCE.

well armed and well manned.
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GIYK Hin CHANCE.
We speak for fair play. Here is great po-
ltical party which has tried for a great many
years to do something worthy its name, its his
tory, and its traditions, and has in every In
stance failed. 1t is now in the agony of its
latest and perhaps final trial-a supreme en-
deavor to keep the door of the House of Rep
resentatiyes in an able, upright and cOnscien-
tious manner. 1t must be admitted that the
effort has so far failed, and that the public
mind has pretty much settled down to the con-
viction chat the party is not equal to good,
square bookkeeping. But we insist on
its having full and fair trial The new
Doorkeepcr, Major-General Field, of Georgia,
is entitled at least to that. He brings to the
position, in addition to his experience in the
field rs n Confederate soldier, an acquaintance
with the ripper methods of bookkeeping as
practsed at the mouths of the Nile, and under
the observation of at least twenty centuries
which look down from the Pyramids. we
believe he should have time TO develop what
ever new theories of bookkeeping he may have
adopted while abroad, and that he should not
be Judged hastily. We accordingly deprecate
the recent criticisms of his reappointment OF
Mr.. James G.. Knight as his chief assistant.
MIR. Knight is appointed rs a crippled soldier.
1t is objected to him that he sprained his ankle
in 1851. Let MS be reasonable i'll this matter
No doubt Mr.. Knight was just as willing to
mt his knee out of joint as to sprain his an
klc, and, 80 far as dates are concerned, would
as lief have put it off till the middle Of the
war as had it happen in 1861. But it hap
pcncd that he sprained his ankle in 1861; let
us be content with that.
1t is quite possible that we may be expecting
too much. Here are places on the Doorkeep-
cr's roll set apart for crippled sodier but it
must be remembered that the crippled soldiers
are first of all to be Democrats. That there
were Democrats in the Union army is beyond
question. But that there are very few cT1p-
plcd Democratic soldiers eligible for these
placc, is also very plain. What has become OF
them nobody knows. Doubtless Mr.. Cox
and other Democratic leaders will say
that all the Democratic soldiers were
put in front in battle, in accordance
with Republican policy, and slain on the
field. On the other hand it will be claimed
that soldiers who went into the army as DEM
ocrat, came out Republicans, which accounts
for the present lack of crippled Democratic
soldiers. II isn't necessary to accept either
of these theories, though we must recognize
the fact Of the scarcity, come that scarcity
from what it may. Let Us then accept the sit
uation frankly, and instead of criticisiug Cen
cral Field for the appointment Of Knight
be thankful that Knight did at least
>praiu hi, ankle in 1851. We must not
n. In Is4a
in making his appointments to consider
the politics of candidates as of the first im-
portance We insist that the country which
lust now is watching General Fields doorkecp-
ing give him fair chance with such material
as he has. And we submit that the party was
uucommonly lucky in having so eligible a Grip
plcd soldier on hand as man who sprained
his ankle in 1861.
And We are so anxious for the new Door
keepers success that We take leave to point
out TO him class Of disabled persons who,
in the present emergency, may very well serve
on the soldiers roll. They are the men-tO
be found all over the country, and for the
most part Democrats, no doubt-who, in the
spirit of scll-sacrice, chopped off II toe or
two, or n finger, or had all their teeth
pulled, at the time the drafts were pending.
I'm the absence Of Democrats who were dis
ablcd in the field, these would serve excel
lcntly well as crippled soldiers. Then there Is
that other large class of Democrats who were
more or less connected with the army at in
tcryals during the war-thc patriots who were
engaged in "lapin' the bounty Hundreds of
these were injured by jumping from rail-
road trains or wounded by the guards in
trying to get away. Here Is source
not yet tapped, and no doubt great numbers
of eligible doorl,ccpers may be found among
them. Only. we insist, give the new Door
keeper chance BE thankful for a sprained
ankle to begin on. and hope for better things