Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-06-01
WHAT TT rs THAT HAS KILLED
THE REPUBLICAN RARITY.

WHAT IT rs THAT HAS KILLED
THE REP UBLICAN PARTY.
We have seen nothing lately that better
gives an insight into the secret Of the
national decay of the Republican party
than recent correspondence between Sec
retary Chandler of the Navy and Hon.
John f. Dezendorf, late Republican rep
resentatiye in congress from the Second
district in Virginia. The fact that Mr..
Dezendorf wrote letter to the Secretary
charging Gen. Malone with numerous
and fragrant violations of the Civil Service
laws In his use and also abuse OF the gov
eminent employees and patronage in the
Norfolk Navy Yard has been published.
The offences with which he charged the
Senator and for which he gives name.
place end date with much minuteness are
punishable by law adopted by congress
and approved by the President. The pen
atty for the violation Of the statute is COM
mensurate with its gravity. being nothing
less than fine of 5000 or imprisonment
for term not exceeding three years, or
both. The charges were plain and the
law is plain. Mr.. Dezendorf's ability to
sustain his charges by evidence is some
thing yet to be tested. Secretery Chand-
ler's reply to Mr.. Dezendorf is character
issic. Afrer promising with airy polite
ness to give due attention to the matter,
he INDUCES in the following satire upon
,vI,o Ia offontinn fn the
alleged violation of ths law:
..The tone OF your letter, which you have made
public indicates that you take very strong inter
est in the reformation OF the Navy Yard at Norfolk.
Your long familiarity with the yard, as constant
candidate for Congress since 1878. seeking specia
support from the voters there employed, will I'M
doubtedly enable you to make many more valuable
suggestions for the suppression of abuses therein.
which will be gladly received and considered. That
you should, although now for the hrst time, invits
the attention Of the department and the public to
such abuses, after you have ceased to expect any
personal benefit from the management of the yard.
is most eommendable performance of public duty
by private citizen"
Which, taking out the Evarts-like pro
fuseness OF yerbiage, means in plain Eng
fish this;-That judge sitting on the
bench on having his attention called by
an ex-officer of his court to some fragrant
violation of law by some of his present
subordinates, shall reply, and consider
that reply an answer, that when the ex
officer was IN office he committed like Of
fences. What sort of answer is that to
the charged What satisfaction do the
people of the republic get from such a
reply?
And it is as to this same people of the
Republic that the administration Of Pres
ident Arthur seems to have been struck
blind. The people, in its eyes, have no in
terest in the government or execution OF
its laws. What does it matter to the
American people how Mr.. DeZendorf may
have used his powers in the navy yard, ex
cept that they can infer from Secretary
Chambers satire that under a Republi-
can administration any man can violate the
laws with impunity so the results of the
violation make for the welfare of the Re-
publican party. Or makes votes for one
particular faction oft; for to be Repub-
lican in this day is by no means an indis-
putable sign that the wearer Of the name
is in favor with the Administration.
It is this separation from the great body
OF the people that has caused the down
fall of the Republican party as national
organization. 1t has long since ceased
from giving any evidence Of being gov
eminent of all the people.
1t is tottering tree not rooted in Amer
lean soil but which has been getting its
nourishment from top dressing of mil
lionaires.and gigantic corporations and
bosses. And when the people shall toppl'
it over neyt year they will be surprised t.
find that it's roots have consisted only q
large and small Office holders.