The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-02-16
Contest over the Authorship.

nave uolle Chls, 10 await until the feeling oc,
casioned by it should modify, and the pop-
ular mind be in frame to consider the
facts impartially. There is so much mixed
up with it about Boss rule and in denuncja-
ton OF Gen. Malone, injected by the
Bourbon press for the purpose of drawing
a. entlon away from the merits of the case,
that it is well enough to clear away the rub
bish and expose the true inwardness of the
issue involved.
The success of the coalition forces in the
recent election meant revolution. It was
crusade against the methods and practices
OF the Bourbon party, and the purpose was
openly declared, if advanced to power,
radical change would be effected in the
ways and policies through which the affairs
OF State had been managed. The little
family rings and social influences which had
been invoked to secure and retain offices
and by which the various departments of
State were conducted, was one of the
things particularly designated for reform.
The object in this change was to more di-
U
State represented in the administration of
these departments, and to separate the in
cumbents.i in their local identification, so as to
inspire the belief that they were depart
meuts of the State. managed in the inter-
erests OF the people, and not for the
benefit and favor of a preferred few
Usage had accustomed the people to
the practice of leaving everything to the
discretion or partiality OF the chosen
officer, thus not only comforting upon him
an office of honor and profit, but the dis
tribntion of patronage which enabled him to
gather around him personal friends. some
times OF his immediate family, and gener-
ally more with reference to social relations
than fol peculiar fitness for the duties to be
performed The policy of the successful
party was TO change This usage, and to SO
distribute the favors as to make the people
of the various districts feel that they were
represented in the departments, and had an
interest, not only in the person chosen to
serve for them, bat in the faithful adm
CratlOn of the particular service to be per-
formed. The authority of the party had de-
| termned upon this plan of operations
with view TO demonstrating that its pur-
selected 1avorItes. The rule was agreed
| upon and adopted in advance of the nomi-
nations for the various offices in the base
meht" departments. and tn e acceptance of
nomination implied acceptance of the
conditions the power had prescribed which
was potent to determine the officer. IL was
assumed by the caucus that if it could Sc
lect proper person TO act as Auditor, it
would be equally capable of choosing
competent persons to aid in making his
administration successful To the repre-
sentatves OF each of the districts was re-
ferred the choice of a suitable person to
act for that district in the departm ent,
and to that degree would the representa-
tives be held responsible for the selection of
a competent and proper person. 1t was
natural to presume that care and circum-
spection would be observed in such selection
because the delegates themselves and their
constituents would become, 10 sense. re-
spOnsible for his conduct. If upon trial he
should prove either incompetent or dishon-
est, the discretion was with the Auditor to
remove him, and the right left with him to
locate the responsibility for any shorU-com-
ings upon the district, instead of having it
located upon himself. The plan was not
only TO recognize the various portions of
the State il the admin iscration of the gov
eminent, but it operated to relieve the
principal OF any failure. by reason of this
plan. IN an efficient discharge of the duties
attached to the position to which be had
been assigned. Protected, as we suppose
the Auditor would be, in the security each
clerk gives, for the faithful accounting fol
all public moneys cosling into his posses.
sion he was also relieved of responsibility,
If any one of snch appointments proved
nnht, IN any way, for the place given
MIN, Tor ne bad the rule of the party to ac-
quit him of the selection and consequently
OF any misioings that might occur by rea-
son OF inidelity to public trust. This was
the policy that the Coalition caucus had
adopted. The party was just entering upon
the administration of the affair of the State
in all OF its departments. The leaders of
1t knew that every act and every movement
would be watched by argus eyes, and be
criticised by hundred hostile papers, ready
at all times to detect and expose miscon-
duet and to hold up to public reprobation
all lntidelity to public duty. They had Just
had verdict of condemnation upon the
methods and policies of the Bourbon party.
and new departure and more liberal prac
tices were constructively demanded by
that verdict The caucus, acting for the
party, and responsible to it for its action.
devised the plan we have outlined, and
made ii known that all who accepted office
through its favor must subscribe to it. 1t was
obligatory upon no one to accept any posi-
ton rendered. but accepting /, it was obligatory
upon him to conform to the requirements that
had been presented by the authority that
controlled the offices If the conditions
were not such as any aspirant could ap-
prove. then he was at liberty to withdraw
from the contest. There was no disposi-
| tlou 10 ioTce OII1ce anu responsibility upon
any one.but seeking and accepting the con-
dtions attached had to be observed.
Here was party just delegated by the
people to take charge of the business of the
State. Like all political organ izations, it
was ambitious TO inspire the confidence of
the constituent body. and demonstrate its
fidelity to public interests, in order to per-
petuate its rule. IL had, through its recog-
nized authority, determined upon policy,
and that was to give TO all portions OF the
State an equal representation in the public
patronage, as far as it could be we'll done
! Il had determined TO break up the little
family and soc ial rings that had heretofore
| been fastened upon the Commonwealth
and prove TO ahe people that the arguments
of the campaign were not deception. nor
! the promises falsehoods. 1t was believed
the methods proposed were best calculated
to effect this object, and that it was an es-
| sential part OF the policy that those in au-
thority should sympathize with and faith
fully carry out the programme fixed upon.
The authority OF the party had so deter
mined. and it was left with those not ap-
|