National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-08-01
WAR DEPARTMENT APPOINTMENTS.

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WAR DEPARTMENT APPOINTMENTS.
The Democratic opposition to Secretary
MCCRARY's confirmation, as judge Of the
United States Court in Iowa, appears TO be
subsiding. The Democratic organ here has
ceased firing its abuse Mt him, and really a
better feeling appears to be springing up
between him and leading Democratic Sena-
tors who had been counted rs hostile. The
entente cordiole seems to have been re-estab-
lished, and if rumor is veacious, several
recent appointments have been made in
that department which have placated DEM
ocratic hostility and brought about an era
of good feeling This is eminently strate-
getic, and may result flvorably TO the future
interests of the Secretary. 1t will crafty
the REPUBLICAN to be called upon to an
nounce the confirmation of Judge MCCRARY.
The position is ~ very desirable one, as it is
for life, or until it runs against the statute
of limitation on account of age. The other
contingency being impeachment, which is
not among the possibilities in this case.
Therefore the position Is well worth receiv-
ing through legitimate agencies, and we
shall be reluctant to believe that Secretary
MCCRARY would resort to any other. If,
as is alleged now, Democrats are being ap-
pointed to office in that department at the
instance of Democratic Senators, and opposi-
tion to the Secretary should disappear in
the Senate and he should be confirmed,
many an uncharitable mind will put that
and that together and find evidence of
colusion quite rs strongly circumstantial as
has cost men their lives on the gallows.
In our opinion Secretary MCCRARY does
not seek to be judge under such agencies, and
hence he should avoid the appearance of
evil lest evil shall come of it, He cannot
be TOO prudent at this time in the political
character of his appointments and the in1u-
ences under which they are made, for if it
should be made to appear that appoint
ments made pending his confirmation
have had any bearing upon that result, it
will inevitably cast shadow upon the in
cumbent, from which he cannot escape in q
life time. The following statement has
been handed us for publication, and as it
relates to appointments and disappoint-
ments, and comes well authenticated, we
give it place:
Another case has come to light where the
Union soldier has been put aside for Rebel.
This is in the War Department. On the 14th of
May Senator JOHN A, LOGAN asked for and was
assured Of an appointment for an Illinois SOL
4 -, !.
commence on the LIST of July, and went so far
as to procure temporary position for the party
under Colonel CASEY, to continue until that
time. Tho LIST of July came along at length
aud the said Illinois soldier called upon the
Secretary of War, who at first seemed to have
forgotten all about the matter Upon having
the circumstances recalled to mind he ex.
pressed desire that the applicant should wait
little until Congress had adjourned. This
tho applicant reported to Senator LOGAN, who
called on Secretary MCCRARY about it the next
day, and was then told to send up his friends
4" it was all right" Two days later, aud on the
day that Senator LOGAN left for his home
quite i'll, the party sent his card in 20 the Sec.
retary, and IL was returned with tho following
endorsement on the back; 81 am very sorry
that cannot find any place for you at pres
entn
This soldier applicant is now engaged in
nursing his disappointment in ideness
without any hope or prospect of relief from
the War Department, while its clerkshipl
to certain extent are held by men who
endeavored to shoot the Government tc
death, and who were only prevented from
doing so by our "BOys in Blue" of which
this soldier was one, and who is left tC
starye while they are iattening upon th,
substance, he helped to save. Comment is
unnecessary.