The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-04-25
The President and the Republican PARTY.

The following dispatch was sent out from
Washington on Monday by Mr.. Keim
special correspondent Of several leading pa.
pers. The expressions from the President
fully sustain the construction we gave to the
civil service order last fall, when severa
Richmond papers and Staunton journa
were endeavoring to create a prejudice
against the senior editor of the VIRGINIAN
because he chose to discuss questions Of
State interest through his paper. In fact 8
man who has not the independence to saw
what ne honestly thinks in relation to every
public issue, is not fit to hold position I'M
der the government or anywhere else, ex-
cept that of lick-spittle and toady. We pub
fish the article below not only for the bene.
fit of our readers, but the enlightenment Of
tie gentlemen who thought to deter us from
It duty to Our State by the threat of official
displeasure al W ashington
A serious point OF perplexity in the minds oJ
the members of the Republican Congressional
Committee has been the subject of raising the
funds necessary to meet the expenses attendant
upon running the coming politica; campaign, in
view OF the commonly accepted position OF the
President on the relations of the oficeholders to
politics. General Campbell, the Pennsylvania
member of the Congressional committee anxi-
| GUS to ascertain definitely and directly, for his
own information and that OF the Committee
what the Presidents opinions actually were and
what might be expected in the event of the com
mlttee undertaking to adopt the course pursued
under the regime" called upon the President
He introduced his conversation by general ref
erence to the approach of the campaign and of
Congress in order to renew the republican as
cendancy in the House, specially as an offset to
the democratic control in the Senate, and as an
important check upon any high-handed pro-
ceedings which might be undertaken by the
democrats in closely contested Presidential
election in 1880. The President listened with
tons OF approval and inquiry. He remarked
that he felt keenly sensible OF the Importance Of
their results they would meet the hopes and ex-
pectations OF himself and all other republicans.
Finding TINS an excellent opportunity, General
terested in the success OF the republican party
might ask from whence are we to draw the
sInews OF war ? Your orders to the officers iof
the government preclude revenues from that
source. We consider that those who fill the Of
fees and realize some pecuniary returns FROM the
ascendancy OF the party should at least beAf-.a
portion OF the burdens pecuniarily, is not per-
sonally, OF the contest, The President said
ence hitherto has been one of methods The
executive order alluded to was designed to let
faithful officers understand that their first allegi
ance was to the government and its interests,
and not to parties and persons. believe this is
now being generally understood, but SO far as
subscribing reasonable share out OF their in
comes to meet the expenses OF the Campaign.
there can be no reasonable objection to that but
it cannot be demanded under threat of removal
as hitherto, An officer can give not, as he
phases, without affecting his tenure of Office for or
against him. expect to contribute my proper
ton to the campaign expenses, and there will be
no objection to others in office doing likewise in
fact, should be pleased il they were to do SOL
The President then alluded to his own campaign
experience when he was chairman OF county and
state committees, and how funds were raised for
purposes or state campaigns, remarking that he
could appreciate as we'll as any one the necessity
OF FUNDS Tor the imperative needs OF q political
campaign.
The President added: "And as to the participa-
ton OF officials in the campaign, there can be
and will ne no objection to this, unless they are
being used to further the interests of certain in
dividuals who by party machinery and their
hold on its manipulations override the wishes
OF the people and subject republicans to the
alternative OF voting for obnoxious candidates or
submitting to party defeats. The order apply
ing to officers OF the government in this sense
will be vigorously enforced but after the candi-
dates are fairly in the field, without the aid of
conventions packed with office holders acting
at the beck OF a dominant clique of politicians
there will be no objection to officers doing their
share-so long as it does not interfere with
their othcial duties-in the field work of the
campaign, the sam9 as any other citizen.
Gen. Campbell stated tonight that he now felt
quite easy in mind, both as to funds and service
that the President appreciated the situation
thoroughly, and. without coming in conflict with
his position as to the relations between officials
and politics, would give the campaign his NOR
al and individual support. Gen. Campbell thinks
That the President has been much misunder-
Stooo, and now sees no reason whatever to be
dissatisfied. with his course. He thinks the Re-
publleans OF all ways of thinking should now
ABANDON their attacks upon the President and
turn them upon the democrats, where they will
do most good,