Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-05-07

manipulated by Maj. Hanneman, the
silent. ominous wink Of Rutherford
B. Hayes, had all been generally
needed, but downright massacre
brilliant display of U. S. batons and
rcvolvers-forever settled the question
of the Commissioners supremacy and
power. The climax was highly dra-
matte. IF such officials usurped tone
of the highest rights of the citizen, it
is natural to suppose that the old,
-musty precedents of the office have
left
THE TRIUMvIRATE CORRUPTED
in many respects. It must, indeed,
regard the actual rights of the citizen
of the District as few, if we accept
its judgement Of the rights of citizen
of the United States as basis. The
power Of precedent is great. Reform
ers even have trouble to turn aside
from every point OF" f"fhe beaten bath"
1t can scarcely be supposed, then,
that the periodical changes in this
triumvirate caused much deviation
from the time-honored precedents,
especially Tire wlfcH the new corners
were more or less stepped III the vices
OF Republicanism. For instance, It is
time honored precedent to accomo-
date the Congressman, whose sigma
lures or influence were and are use
full, with a goodly number of appoint
ments under the District government.
The truimvirate understands this pre-
ccdeut perfectly. Through the cons
cientious manner in which it has the
precedent, the subordinates of the Dis
trict government are composed chiefly
of citizens from various States, and
very few holding Office, from chief
clerks down to watcknen, are citizens
of the District of Columbia. The ad-
ysnt Of a new member OF the District
of Columbia: The advent of a new
member of the triumvirate is followed
BY many changes among the subordi-
mates, not to the satisfaction of the
District, but to the advantage Of pot
house politicians. Itis argued that
many of these new corners acquire
property here and eventually become
eitizeEs, bat the argument can scarce
ly be more forcible than the right OF
actual citizens to serve in like capaci-
ty, and acquire property under circum
stances az favorable. The Republican
Commissioner at present, Mr. West
has already been the subject of mum
erous newspaper articles that display
an uncommon weakness in mar
holding an important and dignifiet
office. Mr.. Edmonds. the other civ
ilian Commissioner, claims Demo
crat pedigree. # he has always beer
a Democrat, Mr.. Edmonds, in th'
height of Republican rascality, mus
have considered silence a virtue. But
it seems, he awaited the election o
Grover Cleveland, and then h
dispatched nice sugar coate;
telegram, informing the President
elect, among other bits Of remark*bl
news, that he (Edwards) was Dem
ocrat. 1t is well that Mr.. Edward
gave President Cleveland that infor
nation. Otherwise, it is probable tina
President Cleveland would have neve
known much of Mr.. EImonds beyon,
the notoriety an illegal banking part
nership gave him, if not his apparen
evasion of tax on $4,000 Of persona
property Of course, this personal ia,
is an outrageous extortion, but Gel
tainly Mr.. E,lmonds, greasy with go,
ernment pap, has as much right t
pay as those out of whom his subordi
mates force the money. This brilliar
method of escaping taxation impose
on others without representation,
exceiled only by the conspiracy bt
tween these Commissioners and thei
bondsmen, in which the latter wer
awarded large contracts in defiance c
law. Of course, both Mr.. Edmond
and Mr.. West bowed humbly to th
superior intelligence that indicate
the law just in time to prevent the e.
ecution of the contracts, but it is ev
dent that the offence would have bee
committed had not timely warnin
been given. It is remarkable indeed
that two men of Mr.. Edmpnds an
Mr.. Vests inte!li .sence were ignoral
of the criminality of deed again
which the conscience of any hone
schooi-boy would revolt.
CLEVELAND AND THE NEGROES
do not altogether agree. H. intima
, ed that he would not forget them, bl
: the confusion which the various neg
elements created during the rece
emancipation celebration m ,st ha'
3 lowered the District negro i'll his es
t nation, considerably. His keen e
e discerned more than the mere hon
t OF his presence at the negroes annu
r barbarity, hut he overlooked the she
A comings of the ostentatious commit
t in expectation that better glimp
), would reveal the race in more
: vorable light. It is safe to say tn
: he has reached the conclusion that t
e committee hankering for his disti
+ guished presence hankered for mo
: substantial recognition. The braze
+ faced hypocrisy of the negro cdit
}, who undertook to pass as the Pre-
= dents friend must have given Cles
i lard reason to believe that the race
0 not SO untutored, uasophisticated, Al
: guileless as Republican orators ha
J delighted to paint it. There are z
&c 900 negroes in Washington, and
$ of them are Republicans, but nc
IT would refuse to accept an Office a
(, Democrat. The Washington nes
+ Democrat is scarcity and what
d, more, is somewhat untfustworthy
e. not ethereal. Perhaps the nearest
Q. q Washington negro De nocrat is
d negro whom Representative G.
= Democrat of Baltimore, has introd