The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-06-04
SECRETARY Manning,

meet Quincy, H., with some of the Mis-
sissippi river counties. He had been Pres |
ident of the Hannibal and st. Joe road land
felt an interest in its success. The pro-
posed road would have somewhat inter-
fered with this, and that seemed 20 have
been his reason for arresting the action of
the Legislature. But he gave no reason for
the veto, simply sending it back mot APP
proved" It caused considerable feeling
in the State Senate, especially, and imme-
diately after the return of the bill de-
feated by the Governors action. a
spectfully asking the Governor for the
reason for his action. Stewart was not at
the Executive Mansion when the clerk Of
the Senate was sent with the resolution to
him. After diligent search, he was found
at shooting gallery, trying his hand on
the bull s eye and partaking freely Of lager
beer in the interim Of the shots. The
clerk presented him the resolution. and
as quick Us flash, he pulled out his pencil
and wrote across the back Of it : Be
cause ! have the right and the power. y
That was all the answer he gave.
We were reminded of this laconc an
swer, as indicating the ready and deter
mined character Of the Governor named,
in watching the course of Secretary Man
ming. He seems to have Il head and will
of his own. Clamor does not appal him
:, ~, cant ant al ccuao,,,; ell oOtor into
his methods of action. One day he will
make an appointment that starts howl
| from the Mugwumps, without disturbing
his serenity or ruffing the even tenor of
his thoughts. The next day he will apply
| the civil service rule ana promote Il Re-
publican to vacancy occasioned, and
make as little ado about it as he would
about sitting down to his dinner. He
brought Higgins forth from the heated at
mosphere of Baltimore S rings and plots,
as an expert spokesman to place OIL guard
to prevent surprises and impOSitionS in
the assignment of favors. He lished up
Switzler from the relics Of the mound
builders, as a type of the prehistoric age
and in Difference to the memory Of the
| observation-disclosures of the bounding West: and
| picked out Graves. a full tledged Repub-
lican, to preside over the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing, which has more pa
tronage than any Bureau under the gov
eminent exciting wonder and confusion
among all classes of ''reformers, by the
novelty and originality of his tastes and
preferences, yet impurtable and calm all the
time himself.
Nothing seems to disturb his equili-
brium, or cause futter in his daily rou-
tine. He acts because he has the power
to act and has the nerve to assume the re-
sponsibility of what he does, whether it
pleases Mugwumps. Democrats OF Repub-
licans. There is something refreshing
about this kind of character, whether you
approve the way of procedure and the re-
suits OF not Such men do not often de-
ceive and rarely profess what they do not
mean to practice. 1t is plain that Secre-
tary Manning is not much in love with the
theory of Civil Service Reform, lis
rather partial to the old Democratic doc
trine of ito the victors belong the spoils, y
but has sufficient respect for the commit
tails of his chief to give occasional evil
dence that the genuine article of re
form" is not entirely ignored. 1t may be
distasteful to him in the abstract, but he
manages to endure it in amixed condition
where it is neutralized by the application
Of adose of the ''spoils' reward.
There are worse men in the world
than Manning. He has ability, GOODNESS
and courage. with enough of diplomacy to
accomplish much that he wants. in the
line of political rewards, at the same
time that he does not kick ''c(yil service
reform ? to the dogs.
There is something attractive about
Manning, because of his audacity. He
does not mince terms or daily with condi-
tiens. He goes direct to his point, wheth-
-er it is in the appointment of a regular
spokesman or that Of apo.itical hermorphro
dite who is neither fish, flesh nor fowl. He
deals with things as he finds them and
does it promptly. His first official state
ment Of the debt question was a terrible
blow at the arithmetic of his party as
shown in the last canvass with the vice
president at its head. He put it down
in figures that either the Democratic ora
tors were addicted to unheard of misrepre-
sensations, or were Ignorant of what they
were talking about. 1t mattered not with
Manning. He was not his Lrother's keep
er, and did not stop to inquire whether it
would place Mr.. Hendricks in an awk
ward position or not. He presented his
subject heroically and intelligently, and tc
the edifcation of the country. reckoning
not whether it would prove helpful orhurt
full to his party
Manning will not be wooden Indian in
the political future of the country. He
will be heard of freque ntly, and felt as
we'll as heard. He has growing materi a.
in him and the stuff that sticks and tells.
He is man after poor Bob Stewart S
heart and its pity Bob is not living to
| make his acquaintance.
The Senate and Appointments
The Washington Critic Of the 2Sth is
correctly informed that at the last caucus
held in March last by the Republican sena-
tors the following two rules, in substance,
were adopted in accordance with the views
of Civil Service reform
Il. That ial case of the renloUal of ana
efficient Republican public officer on the al
legged ground Of 'ofeaes5Ue partisaash9p' and
the nomination ofG Democratic 'odrtizdaa in
has plGce-THAT SUCH NOMINATION
WILL NOT BE CONFIRMED.H
80 That az case dng Democratic 'parti-
zaa causes the removal of On efficient Re
publican and receives as has recard for
causing such renloUdl the Gon,i,adtioR as sue
cessor to the decapitated official THAT
SUCH NOMINATION WILL NOT BE
4 CONFIRMED
| The reasons assigned for the adoption
of these rules, says the Critic, are under
stood to be in effect that the Senate, I'M
der the constitutional provision of lad
vice and CONSENT, is an advisory body to
the Executive, and with him is held re-
| sponsible for the character of the Civil
Service, and that under the laws of Con-
greSs establishing Ciyil-Serylce reform in