The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-04-29
civil service Reform In West virginia.

Mr.. s. p. Mccormick, Collector OF In.
terhal Revenue for the district Of West
Virginia, has been posing as a first
premium Civil Service reiormer, q martyr
10 the cause Of conscience, and monu-
ment Of injured innocence. He and his
friends wanted 1t understood that it was
treason to the Republican party to want
him lifted out Of the office which he got
by the removal Of the finest soldier West
virginia contributed to the defense OF the
: Union. And he got the place because he
had cheerfully done what General Duval
had refused TO do-engaged in scheme to
thwart the will Of the Republicans OF West
Virginia.
In his newspaper Mr.. Mccormick has
been printing essays elaboratingthe beau.
ties Of Civil Service reform. In his Col
lectors office he has called to his aid a
peculiar kind of writing talent and set up
At Government expensea literary bureau
to grind out for newspapers, Republican
and Democratic, that want that kind Of
material, indications Of himself and as
saults on the IXTgLLIcENCEN. Still he was
a pure and unadultered Civil Service re-
former, and TO Gust him would DO to
wrong the Republican party and all the
brave men who marched to the front to
give IN their lives for their country. !.
The Republicans Of the State were to be
made 10 belieye-if they could be SO de-
ceiyed-that here wasa patriot who accept
ed office tor:the public good only; that he
was sort Of hub around which the Re.
publican party Of West Virginia must re-
yolye, or stop-neyert to 50 again; that this
hieh.rninded man cared nothing for tue
sooils Of Office; and that the humblest Re-
publican in the party was not beneath his
kindly care.
Perhaps some good Republicans have
permitted themselves to be- deceived by
this plausible Civil Service reformer.
Whom he denounced tho editor Of the ~
rRLLloRycER as a renegade Democrat who
sought to exterminate the Republican
party in West Virginia, there may have
been Republicans who thought McCor.
mick really an unselfsh patriot who had
dug out a Gorgon horror and held up his
bidsous form for the wholesome admoni-
ton OF the good people Of the state.
The libel suit Of Ex-Gauger Pierce
against Collector Mccormick lifts the cur.
tain again and throws the electric light
into The dark corners OF a selfish, morose
and intriguing character. the very 70.
inarkable official correspondence shows
that the martyr and Civilservice reformer
and lord protector OF the Republican
party is in fact suiytlipg hypocrite,
who works iii the dark and ISLANDERS peo'
pie who are personally obnoxious" to
him.
Mr.. Mccormick protested great regard
for the Union soldier; he did not hesitate
falsely to denounce as ofintemperate hab-
It's and general incapacity the son of a
Union soldier and support Of that Union
soldiers widow and fatherless children.
He raised his canting voice in behalf Of
Republicans in office; he intrigued and
made false representations to get Re-
publican subordinate out Of office. He
howled about personal reasons being
urged against otiice-holders; he demanded
the removal Of. a Republican because he
was personally obnoxious" 10 him.
Mr.. Pierce does not occupy the conspic-
uous position that Mr.. Mccormick has
forced himself into. But his little office
was doubtless as sweet to Mr.. Pierce as
Mr.. Mccormick greater office is to him.
Mr.. Pierce is not a great DisorSanizsr,
but he has q vote which he gives to the
Republican party. Mr.. Pierce may lack
tae oily tongue of Mr.. Mccormick, and
Mr.. Mccormick may have been unable,
as he says, to "hold any official relations
with him;" there are people in West
Virginia who look upon Mr.. Mccormick
in precisely the same way.
And this Is the man who is doing all
this posing as a Republican martyr!
BREAKFAST BUUGBr.