The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-01-17
ThessCfvil SERVICE Idea Strikes
West Virginia.

appointment of S. P. Mccormick to
the office of Internal Revenue Col
lector for this State.
Mr.. Arthur has not, during his
term, furnished more conclusive ex-
ample of the dominant policy that
determines the distribution of the
offices, viz: that they are rewards for
personal, political service and party
fealty, without regard to the person
al fitness and capacity of the appoin-
tee. Such an example, if it came
from Mr.. Cleveland, or any other adj
ministration than one acting upon
long line of such precedents, would
startle the country and cause men
to seriousl y reflect as to whether any
virtue or regard for principal remains
in our governmental system.
Gen. Duval was one of the most &C
ceptable and efficient public officers
in the service-so acknowledged by
both Democrats and Republicans.
He has been tried by years of exper-
fence, and has the business of his de-
partment well in hand. There are
less than two months of Pres. Ar
thurs term remaining, and it is to
be presumed that an old experienced
and reliable officer could be entrusted
with the business of collecting the
revenue in West Virginia for that
length of time.
But not so! Pres. Arthur had a
debt to pay. He desired to reward a
man who did him personal service
in the last campaign and to punish
a man who did not. What better
use could he make of a responsible
public office than to use it to pay
these personal debts.
Gen. Duval was honest and open
in his opposition to the nomination
of Mr.. Arthur and Mr.. Mccormick
was as honest and open in his sup
port. That Gen. Duyal rendered
service against Mr.. Arthur every body
knows. That Mr.. Mccormick rem
dered service IN his favor, is estab-
lished by what has followed. The
Grafton Standard makes the follow
ing revelation:
Mr.. Samuel Mccormick, of Graf
ton, was appointed a special agent of
the revenue department, and from
the 18th day of April, 1884, to the
30th day Of the same month and year,
he travelled to and fro in the land, os-
tensibly, so it is said, as a Govern
ment employee, but really as an agent
to secure votes for Mr.. Arthur The
story illustrates the methods of the
President, and explains apparent
idiosyncrasies of the late West Vir-
ginia campaign. This story may not
be true, But the following items ta-
ken from the big book of the United
States are food for reflection: Sam
uel Mccormick, Grafton, w. Va, for
mileage from April II, 1884, to April
80, 1884, both dates inclusive, $500;
fees for the same time $S4.S6. The
books of the Revenue Department, if
more closely searched, might disclose
some other and further accounts for
special service.
But Mr.. Mccormick was not to be
satisfied with expenses. He must
have at least two months of office
and Mr.. Arthur was willing to be-
stow it. We will let the Wheeling
InteUgencer say the rest:
History will say Of President Ar
thur that even in the last days OF
his administration he endeavored to
pay his political debts. In West
Virginia he had no more active and
jealous friend than Samuel P. Nc
Cormick, of Grafton. Mr. McCor-
mick very much desired the Presi
dents nomination at Chicago
Though he waged a hopeless battle
he joined with other gentlemen who
desired the same end and strove to
get Blaine out of the way and put
Arthur in the lead. In the Martins
burg convention he came to the front
in the Arthur interest and went dowr
with the Arthur guard, overwhelmed
by the popular tide.
1t will be remembered that before
the campaign had opened there was
a movement on foot to make Mr.. Nc
Cormick Collector of the Interna
Revenue The protest was so deer
and loud that the project was ahan
doned, and when the two West Vir
ginia districts were consolidated thu
tumult was quieted by the reap
pointment of General Duval. Then
came the effort Of the COMMISSIONS
of Internal Revenue to force Genera
Duval into the Arthur phalanx, fol
lowed by General Duvaps assertion
of his independence and that by hi:
resignation. This resignation il
now accepted on the eve of Presi
dent Arthur's retirement, and seem
ingly for no other purpose than t.
give faithful henchman job.
There can be no pretense that thi
appointment is made to please Yves
Virginia Republicans or to benefi
the Republican party in West Viz
ginia. If vote of the party ha'
been taken the choice would not hav
q Ii q IL III