Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-25
"Ttrnely Warming"

To the EdUOT 81 the DtSpotch
From what has recently appeared in
the Dispatch and the State it seems to
be pretty well ascertained that the Pre-
sident will be guided by the recon-
mendations of Virginia Democratic con-
gressmen as to the filling of Federal
Offices in the State. if the President
has adopted that policy, then it is clear
that gentlemen who may be recon-
mended for positions should come well
up to the qualifications laid down by
the President himself, The true Demo,
cratic people Of Virginia, as the Sfofe
has well said. are i'll no humor " to be
triAed with and so will closely watch
the action Of their congressman. Two
things must be done if there is any
disposition to respect the wishes OF
Democrats Of the State. and who
have never ceased to advocate
Democratic principles. and from
the start have fought Mahoneism
to the bitter death. The parties to he
recommended by our congressman must
be men whose capacity to fill the posi-
tons they may be named for cannot he
questioned, and whose fidelity and hon
esty are beyond suspicion. That much
is due to Mr.. Cleveland and the princi-
pies on which he was elected. If, how
ever. true civil service is to be partially
slaughtered, hoping thereby to run
the Democratic machine to more sdyan-
tage," then the Democratic people will
not expect to see gentlemen recon-
mended who under their management
run the party from power in their vicin-
ity to complete rOut. think voice
the feelings ofseyen eighths Ofthe intelli-
gent Democratic people Of the State when
Isay that they will expect that gentlemen
of theirparty who have ever been true to
its principles shall have precedence over
those who may have wandered from the
| fold. 1t is true that We are taught in
the Bible " that the last shall be first
and the first shall be last y: but | do
not think that even the good old Demo-
cratic party has yet been educated up
to so high a standard as that. If such
was the fact, very certain it is we would
hear nothing said about this mans or
that mans probable capacity ito ma
nipulate his office for the benefit Of the
party" On the contrary, the appoint
ment would be made for the benefit of
all the people; and in that case it
would be decided solely Oh a mans
real capacity to fiji the position
and his fidelity and honesty, as
exemplified by his whole life.
General Malone is far from being Pc
litically dead. and so he, too. will
watch closely any errors our leaders
may make. Consequently it is to be
hoped that such leaders will so act as
to satisfy the country that their wish
is to run the Government for the benefit
of the people, and not for the benefit
Of a party. 1t is positively certain
that had the Republican party acted on
that principle it would now be in power.
SO many Of their office-holders were
found fighting on the stump and else
where for their party that the real
thinking people Of the country con.
cluded it time to make change in the
Government, and they succeeded, in
spite Of the tremendous patronage OF
the Federal Government the Republi.
cans had to back them up. This fact
certainly ought to teach sensible mer
that it is not always true that running
the patronage Of the Government fol
1.-THE benefit Of a party" is bound to
bring success or even add strength t.
such party. X. y.