Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-22
FTGHr OF THE REPUBLICAN FAC
TONS IN FIRST AND SECOND Dis

| FTGHr OF THE REPUBLICAN FAC
TONS IN FIRST AND SECOND DIS.
TRICTS.
All is not lovely in the Republican
camp in West Virginia.
Not by any means!
The gentle calm of a summer even
ing, when the sun settles in golden
| splendOr behind the hills, when the
foliage stands still, and the birds war
bic their mellow symphonies before
seeking q perch, and harmony and
conI,ntment are written upon all crea-
tion-this is gentler and calmer and
mellower than We could picture the
SC ne in the Republican camp at the
present time.
This is not the situation. Not byany
means.
The bottom of the difficulty is that
} there is not enough of harmony TO go
round. 1t is urged that if the Char
mOny" represented in the salaries and
! erquisties of two revenue officers
were concentrated and dispensed from
a single source it would be more salts
| lying than when spread out so thin.
1t will be observed that this is in the
interest of "harmOny"-not civil SER
vice reform.
The organ of the Republicans cries
out that "The proposition touches the
party and the people"
Exactly!
| ~ w"mId trara'"- mo patronage and
another.
And yet, it is alleged that Certain
members OF the State Committee and a
few others of prominence are favoring
this remarkable movement"
"The steps have been taken with
great secrecy"-probably because of the
other fact that lit touches the party
and the people"
Now, SO far as it touches the party"
that is one thing; but so tar as it
touches the people, that is a gray horse
of another color.
We do no accuse the members Of
the Republican State Committee and
few Others Of prominence" of engineer
ing this movement in the interests of
the people.
Not by any means
Nor do We for moment suppose that
the opposing faction who are resisting
the movement, to be actuated by an
love or care for the interests of the dear
people.
Not by any means.
On the contrary the opposing faction
resist solely on the ground, as set forth
in the protest of the Republican organ,
that, Here We have in these offices two
good men who served their State and
country well during the war, and wh1
sre, for aught the public knows, giving
a satisfactory administration of their re-
spective Offices"
The interest Of the dear people, there
fore, is only considered in this move
ment so far as ii is likely to transfer the
Swag from one faction to another.
But the people have an interest in
this matter. 1t is the interest of re-
ducing a horde OF revenue officers.
1t is the interest in not only cutting
down salaries but cutting down revenue
taxes.
1t is the interest they feel in the de-
mand that the Government shall not
continue to collect S1OO,OOO,OOO more
than should or need be expended, in the
shape OF war taxes.
1t is the interest they feel in the de-
maud that this revenue enormity shall
go.
And, more than that, if President
ARTHUR does not improve his oppor-
tunity, aud carry out the policy to
which he committed himself in his last
message, of cutting out this revenue tax
and reducing these revenue officers, it
will nevertheless be done when a new
Congress gets an opportunity to tackle
Tue uldllSE.
We have no special interest in the
present factional squabble for the spells
OF the first and second district collec-
tons. That is party affair. 1t is no
affair Of the people so far as these off,
Gers are concerned.
But We are interested in the demand
of the people for tax reduction. Tax
redut ton is necessity, and tax re,iuc-
ton means u reduction of districts and
a reduction of officials. And the peo-
pie are net to be frightened out OF this
demand hy tn, outcry that this reduc-
ton will b. the destruction of venerable
officials who are waxing fat off an oner-
Gus surplus revenue system, and who
ask, in view of past party services, 10
be Unidentified by continued hounties
from an over-tsXed people.
The revenue enormity must go, and if
the officials who are fed by it are NJ
deficient in foresight they viii make
haste t. follow Commissioner RAUMS
example and at in cut OF the WEI,