Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-04-03
THE FIRST VIRGINIA
APPOINTMENTS.

Virginians made their first appearance,
on the list Of President Cleveland's ap-
pointments sent to the Senate Monday.
Anthony NJ. Kelley of Richmond. Minis
ter to Italy, is the first. This is one of
those appointments that impartial men of
all parties will pronounce unexceptionable
in its fitness. Mr.. K eiley is one Of the
most conservative in his political tenets,
most scholarly in his literary accomplish
ments, and most exalted in his private
character of the men that the Democracy
of Virginia can produce. He is native
of Petersburg, a lawyer by profession, of
the same religious faith as the country to
which he is accredited, the master of
the language of the people among whom
he will live, and familiar with the laws of
nations, he seems to be just the man to fill
the Presidents idea of one to whom should
be committed an official position as pub
lie trust. while he is qualified in all respects
to discharge the duties of his position. In
public life he has occupied with credit to
himself the positions Of member of the
Mayor of the city of Richmond. He is
widely known outside of his own State as
for some years the President of the Irish
Catholic Benevolent Union of the
United States. It has now been about
thirty years since Virginia had the mission
to Italy. At that time it's representative
was ranked as charge d'ofaares and bis
place of residence was Turin, the capital
of Sardinia. There was little Of Italy free
then, but in later years Victor Emanuel
and Garibaldi made such changes that
representative at Rome now is the minis
ter to Italy residing at it's capital. The
American representative thirty years ago
was Jno. M. Daniel, editor of the Rich
mond Examiner. and it is quite coinc
dence that the present minister, Mr..
Kelley, was one of the brilliant staff OF
editorial contributors to the sams paper
The second appointment of President
Cleveland is that of Gen. Jos. Z. Johnston,
of Virginia, as Railroad Commissioner
While all will be gratiisd at the recogni-
tion Of this venerable ex-Confederate officer
and distrusts is fast passing out of the
national mind, still, if that was the idea
upon which he was appointed the mass OF
our people would have been more gsatifed
at the appointment of a younger man more
capable of showing that the South can
contribute robust and efficient servants to
the government for the discharge Of the
duties of its practical positions, such as
the Office Of Railroad Commissioner is
Gen. Johnston is seventy-nine years old, ,
an age at which few men are so gifted
with physical vigor as to warrant their
entrance On the discharge of the active
duties of rev and untried position, and
on in which he will have to deal with the
quickest, shrewdest and most eyasive
agents of corporations. Gen. Johnston's
can hardly be called party appointment,
he having had nothing to do with political
affairs before or since the civil war, save
to be taken up in a sort Of sudden impulse
by the Democrats of the 81 Congressional
district, some eight years ago and sent to
congress. He served one term, but de-
clined to serve another. We should have
been glad to have seen the present posi-
ton to which the venerable ex-Confeder-
ate has been appointed. filled by such a
man as Gen. Fitz. Lee, who would have
carried more youth and greater vigor into
the discharge of its duties Still, the Presi-
dent has filled it with a man whose impair
TALLY and integrity, two important ee-
ments in the Railroad Commissioner IS
character are unimpeachabIe.