The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-06-11
aOfsnsive Partizanlsm.

offensive Partizanlsm.
If offensive partizanism' is to be Ia
ken rs simply opposing the policy with
which the Democratic party hes been |.
identified for the past twenty years, then
Democrats themselves might be considered
offensive partizans from even Democrat
ic standpoint. There has not been an i'm
portant question before Congress for a
score of years, affecting administrative |
policy. that the Democratic party was not |
been first arrayed against. and then, after
its practical endorsements did not acquiesce |
in and approve it. 1t has gone back on
itself in relation to all the great measures
that hage become laws, and which have
operated to the advancement OF the coun-
try. If offensive partizanism" is to be
accepted to mean that a Federal officer
has not the privilege of forming and ex-
pressing his opinion upon controVerted
questions, then the man who would sur
render his citizen rights and duties to be
in accord with this Interpretation, is. no
fit to hold office. If to be called Dem
ocrat' and yet endorse every important
measure that Republicans originated and
supported, is not offensive partizanism, y
and to be called Republican, and sup
port every measure that Democrats are
compelled to acknowledge to be right. is
''offensive partizanism, then we have fur
nished us meaning of the term, which it
is not difficult to understand. To have an
opinion and the courage to express it, on
any important question, does not necessa-
rily interfere with the discharge of any Of
fetal duty. To pervert the accident of Of
| flee, or any advantages Office may Incl
dentally give, to partiZan purposes, could
reasonably be called offensive partiZan-
ism. but to assume that the simple fact
of holding office by appointment of Re
publican administration, is offensive par
tizanism. y then it is an abuse of terms.
To essay to promote reform" in official
conduct, by turning out an officer who
calls himself a Republican, ''yet eschews
partizanism in the administration of his
office, and put in his place the most pes
tiferous, offensive and meddlesome parti-
IAN, who calls himself Democrat, is a
trayesty upon not only sincerity, but
honesty.
1t is this contortion of terms and their
meaning that the Senate will be called up
on to consider. The appointing power is
lodged with the President and the Senate.
The Senate is made by the Constitution
an indispensablesand essential part of thai
power, and can no more, with proper regard
for it's dignity and prerogatiyes, abdicate
it than can the President himself.-
1t is it's duty to judge of any infrac-
ton Of the law, either in spirit or letter, in
the conduct Of an officer, as much as it is
the duty of heads of departments and the
President, and where there is 10 infrac-
tion of the law. in the light of fair and
impartial judgment, commission con-
stitutes contract, which should be no
more violated than any other contract.
We are very sure if President Cleveland
were acquainted with the manner and
means resorted to for the purpose of get
ting up petitions and attesting qualihca-
tions by long list of signers, most of
whom care nothing about the object of the
petitions, he would hesitate long and OBJ
serve vast deal of caution before he
would recognize them as worthy of serious
attention. They in no sense reflect public
sentiment or have reference to the efficien-
cy and acceptahility of the administration
of office. They are the result of self as
sumed partizan claims for partizan service S
and the more offensive the services the
more clamorous the claimants. Expectants
circulate the petitions and so persistent
and tenacious are their solicitations. that
to get rid of them, consent is given for
names to be signed, or are signed, with no
thought of complaint against the conduct
of the Office in question and no desire for
change.
Sometimes in this way the appointing
power is imposed upon, the public service
at least for a time impaired, and the busl-
ness of the people confused. The Presl-
dent himself has expressed his opinion
about .self-solicited petitions" The rule
he Indicated in his Curtis letter showed
that he had practical experience in that
line, and the knowledge he may have on
the subject, acquired as Governor and
Mayor, is just as applicable now as it was
then. A candid, sincere expression OF
opinion on administrative measures and
government policy, and the support of the
party which has demonstrated its ability
and disposition to enforce them, in the
interest of the people and national pros
perity and progress, cannot be honestly
construed as offensive partizanism, -
nor will public sentiment sustain per-
version of the term, that vacancies may
be created, that partizan adherents may be
accommodated as reward for partizan SER
vices rendered, regardless of both prlnci-
pie and policy.
, Whatever partizans may say, mere
spolls creed is not in accord with public
sentiment and conviction, nor will the
plea of offensive partizanism," find JUS
LITIGATION in the simple fact of party NOM
inalism, regardless of the higher consid-
erations of the public service and its con-
duet in the interests of the people to be
subserved.
|
The Vnadacator quotes from an editorial
J in the VIRGINIAN several weeks ago, re-
fering to the proposition to publish the
! names of all taxpayers who might pay
their taxes in coupons. The proposition
was suggested to coerce people from using
the coupons in tax-paying. We asserted
that the law provides that taxes may be
paid in coupons, and we stated that we
could see no crime in availing of the pro-
visions of the law, if one might so choose,
although we did not approve the policy.
This thing of trying to brighten people
from exercising a legal right, with a threat
of publishing the name in a newspaper,
and exciting public prejudice against him
is what we condemned. This is a free