The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-08-27

Undoubtedly the Ecming Star represents
the wishes ofthe great majority of the citizens
Of the District and the sober sense Of all,
in protesting against the local government
being made in any degree a political "ma-
"chine" Congress never intended that
il should be such, as the star shows by
reference to the fact that the law consttut-
ing it was passed by Democratic Con
gross, on express pledges from President
Hayes through MIR, Garfield that partisan
ship should have no weight in making up
the Board Of Commissioners. Even better
than this promise was the provision for an
Engineer Commissioner, selected from the
Army, where party does not intrude and
any possible political patronage" has
been further diminished by the assignment
Of two Junior engineer officers to important
functions previously discharged 10y more
highly salaried civilians. The result has
been an administration OF District affairs
which commended itself to the confidence of
both Congress and the people, and notable
absence of scandals OF even of very serious
complaints around the Columbia buildings
for several years. Congress has been more
liberal than almost could have been hoped
from the tone of discussion IL adopts, and
the people of the District have been able to
secure good treatment and recognition of
their rights in several important particu-
lars. IL is now really proposed by any
one to reverse all this, to +" Stalwartize "
this little and politically uuimportant gov
ernment, and introduce all the uumeanipg
fury and turmoil of partisanship into this
quiet " heart of the Republic, we hope the
good sense and irmness which President
Arthur has heretofore shown will stand
unyieldingly in the way. In this we are
encouraged by the report that his friend
| Commissioner Lydecker, has unhesitatingly
ranged himself on the right side in the
| controversy.
The District of Columbia, as a subject fol
| government, is trust committed to the Fed
eral power by the State of Maryland directly
and indirectly by the whole people. Polite
has as little rightful place in its administra
ton rs in that of the Smithsonian Institu
ton. 1t was on this ground, as well as fo
the practical benefits growing out of it, tina
the people recently gave up without demu
the lingering relics of self-government i
their hands--the fashion of the day havin
decreed that city elections must be run h
universal suffrage and on the incongruou
, lines of national politics. If now we are to |
subjected to all the evils of partisan domin
; tion, and the fluctuation of power from sic
f to side or from faction TO faction On the san
! side, let us at least have back some of u
benefits-the right of expressing our opinion
, i'll convention and at the polls, the stimuli
5 of free political life, the education of o,
young men in their duties as citizens al
openings for their honorable ambition. v
Q do not say that this is desired in itself,
comparison with the quiet and untrammel
progress of the District since 1878, but it is
demand that can be properly and forcib
made to offset an invasion of our calm wi
the broils of factions in which we have
d interest. Better the old retrograde May
e and Councils than the anomaly of a board
tiercely partisan Commissioners attemptil
. to govern a free community of over 1900
" souls which has no voice in their selection
:, | action.