The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-11-03


Of the body of which they were part,
would haye suggested to the Democratic
Senators a recognition OF the verdict of the
people as expressed at the ballot-box last
November Wise party policy would have
indicated a course of simple justice to polit-
ical opponents in the premises; and this
adopted the advantage in the future would
have been demons trated in the esteem and
respect of the people for conduct which
ranged above the mere behest OF partlzan-
ism and reached to the plane of statesman
ship. Instead of this the prize coveted and
seized was almost instantly wres.ed from
their hands. leaving nothing but the odor
of an mdefensble partizan act. and the
aversion of the country.
Ordinarily such a lesson would have made
its lasting impress upon the defeated party.
Greed for power, however, under the slim
illus of insane party ambition, is never
curbed by the proprieties OF the OCCASION.
1t seeks Its object by whatever means that
can be ayailed of. 1t rushes headlong into
Tile SCfdulUlCs nOb thS
which may grow out of this or that act or
studying the popular humor when the calm
comes Profitting nothing by the reaction
from the defeat in the scheme to capture
the presidency of the Senate. another case
was seized upon to exemplify to what
extremes partisan feeling and party neces-
sites may carry even grave and reverend
Senators. The Preside exercising con-
sttutional prerogative. deemed it proper to
make change in postal official at the city
of Lynchburg. The gentleman to succeed
the Incumbent at the Lynchburg post Office
was named to the Senate for its concur
renee. The fact that he was not identified
with the simon-pure Democrats nor the 81
mon-pure Republicans was regarded as
sufficient grounds for the whole Democratic
party, as represented in the Senate, to dis
pute the right of the President to make the
change The first inquiry was for the rea-
son that governed the executive in his &C
ton The cause was communicated to the
Senate. Ordinarily this would have ST.
fenced opposition, especially as the incum-
bent was not an applicant for re-appoint-
ment and desired no contest to be made
over the confirmation of his successor. But
the Democratic members thought they saw
in it an assault upon the entertainments
they held and without an inquiry into the
fitness Of the new appontee for the position
in question, they determined upon united
opposition, and to defeat the nomination
by a resort to methods unbecoming the dig
nifty of that great body.
The question involved, boiled down, is
whether the President has the right to APP
point postmaster at Lynchburg. The gen.
tleman selected, is repnted to be in every
way qualified for the office. His social
standing is of the highest; his interests are
identified with that community, where he
was born and raised and in all respects no
personal objections could be urged to him.
The reasons for the opposition are singu-
lar, coming from Democrats, and especially
Southern Democrats. They object to the
removal of the incumbent because he was
brave Union soldier, and was seriously
wounded in several of the sanguinary en-
gagements in which it was his fortune to
participate during the war and for the
further reason he is what is known as
straight-out Republican. They do not con-
slider the assigned cause of removal; nor
the fact that the incumbent disclaims all
desire for disappointment, and objects to
contest over it. They allege that it is an
assault upon the solid Democratic South.
Notwithstanding the new appointee is not
identified with the Republican organiza-
ton. They see in it an influence which
may possibly give momentum to the forces
which are now moving against the Democrat
ic stronghold in Virginia, and threaten its
destruction. Were Mr.. Statham Demo-
crat of the Bourbon stripe, there would be
no objection. because it would tend to con-
soidate their power Were he straight
out Republican, with his sympathies more
with the Bourbon than the Liberal Demo-
cratic element, there would be no objection
because those who oppose him know from
past experience that they would have little
to fear from the Republican party, pure
and simple. 1t is because it is regarded as
an indication of a policy not favorable to
the solid South, and the illiberal and OBJ
structive methods of the Democratic party
of the South, that this united and violent
opposition is made. And these Democratic
Senators thus announce it as their purpose
to use their power in the Senate to prevent
the nomination for Office of any one from
the South who is not acceptable to them po-
litically. They substantially deny the right
of the President to have policy affecting
the political relations of the South which
does not correspond with their motives and
designs. and virtually declare that they
mean to defeat the will of the people aseX-
pressed at the ba!lot-box in November last
in the choice of Republican administra-
ton. tr5ss.
The necessities of parties must be very
exacting and the tenure of the existence OF
the Democratic party very uncertain, when
the filling of small post office has to be
magniied into such proportions as in this
instance. We may accept these obstructive
tactics, on the part of the Democratic Sen
ators, as srire indication of the disruption |
md defeat of their organization all through |
he South at no distant day. When. in |
heir estimation. the confirmation of the
appointment of second-class postmaster
S of such importance as to assume national
proportions, we may safely conclude that
hey lock with grave apprehension to the
uture Of their party organization.
We point to these two Illustrations of
Democratic craftsmanship to call attention
o the claims this party has to the conf
ence of the people. Had it policy, af-
Getting the material interests OF the coun-