The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-05-21
Washington Letter.
The Autocrat Of Tirginia-D Dispensing the
Fruit cf Ills Bargain.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. n. c., May IA, 1881

|
] WASHINGTON, ". C., May H. 1881.
When President Garfield entered SO aerenely
I on his four years course. but two months ago
no one foresaw the complicated situations OF
today. Every one will remember how even
political antagonists were disposed to con
gratula,c each other on the beginning Of Il
political, industrial and financial millennium
! Robertson had not then been mentioned and
the portentous Malone was JUS, appearing
cquivocally above the horizon. There is no
equiyocation in the attitude Of Malone now,
nor indeed IN the attitude OF any OF the dis.
tinguished personages who are playing in the
petty politics Of the day. Senator Mahone's
carriage may be seen at almost any hour in
front of the south side Of the general post
office department, where he spends much OF
his time, close,cd with Judge Tyner farming
out the little pos,oilices In Virginia. which, re-
gardless of the wishes Of the patrons OF these
postoffices both republicans and democrats,
have been given to him. /! Is his policy to
place Rcadjustcr in every postofce in Nir.
ginia where the postmaster does not have to
DO approved by the senate. This will make
him dispenser Of hundreds Of Offices and ena
BILE HIM to play the despOt in hundreds of To-
cali'les that the country at large has never
heard Of 1t is needless to say that this is not
right tina. 1t Is not according to correct civil
service principles that 1t is not republican or
democratic In principle but what we are &C
customed to call IN Europe or Asia despotsm
and tyranny. know of more than one in
stance where the postmaster, notwithstanding
his years OF experience, his perfect record with
the department here, and in spite of protests
signed by large majority of the citizens
both republicans and democrats, has been
ruthlessly removed to make place for incom-
pctcnt and characterless men, whose only re-
commentator is that they hold Mahone's pc.
cullar views with regard to the Virginia state
debt. The paternal functions of the federal
government should not be felt in this way in
small, weak and isolated communities, whose
protests cannot be sufficiently loud to raise
that public Indignation which can command
redress. Neither MIR. James nor the president
would dare to appoint q postmaster against
the protests of nlnc.tenths OF the good citizens
st. LOUIS or New York 1t Is cowardly to
force upon the weak what they would dare
not attempt with the strong 1t i, unstates.
manlike and unpatriotic to ALLEVIATE small pro-
vincial communities, and to force them to feel
the central government only as mischlevous
intermeddler with their local affairs, and as
the champion Of those whom men of both
parties hold in the least esteem. The people
of small village have confidential and intl-
mate relations with the postmaster, they ad.
wise with him, and trust him in all business
matters beyond the limit of their acqualn-
lance, and to thrust upon them a stranger or
nclghbor in whose experience and integrity
they have not confidence, is such mlschlev.
Gus and serious interference with their bust.
ness interests as would not be attempted or
tolerated IN larger and more powerful com
munltieS