Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-12-31
A Republican Censure.

The attitude of the republican Senators
toward Mr. Matthew's confrmation-the
colored recorder of deeds at Washington,
be considered creditable or polite. Mr..
Matthews has been very good officer. In
selecting him President Cleveland went
counter to a vast amount of prejudice In
his own party in so bestowing lucrative
position. There is no cause for rejecting
him except sort of spite that Mr.. Cleve-
lands spirit of fairness may break up the
solid negro vote against the democracy.
But this looks like persecution of the col
ored man, providing he chooses to vote
something else than the straight repubi-
can ticket.-Boston Transcript, (rep.)
There is great truth in what is said by
our Republican contemporary. There can
be no excuse for refusing the confirmation
of Mr.. Matthews except mean partisan
endeavor to prevent the Dem ad-
minisration from showing its spirit OF
fairness and justice to the colored popula-
ton and thus breaking up, as it has al
really done, the solid negro vote against
the Democracy.
The chief opposition in the Democratic
party to the appointment of Mr.. Matthews
exists in the District of Columbia; and
this is not at all on account of race dis
elimination, but results from the general
principle maintained by the Democracy
of the District that District offices should
be given to District men There is also
someepposition from Southern Democrats,
resulting partly from local influences in
the District and partly from feeling that
some colored man from the South should
have been chosen for the position. But
the Republican Senators cannot with any
consistency claim to be Influenced by either
of these considerations. When the Demo
cratic administration came into power it
found celored man, neither a native nor
adopted citizen of the District nor of the
Southern States, occupying the Office in
question by the advice and consent of the
Republican Senate. Mr. Cleveland nomi-
mated for the Office a colored man of his
own State of New York, who has already
proven himself to be far more compe-
tent officer than bis predecessor, but the
Republican Senators summarily rejected
him without assigning any cause for their
action.
The large majority of the Democratic
Senators are in favor of Mr.. Matthew's
confirmation and were the matter left to
the decision of the Democratic side of the
chamber he would take his Office without
trouble. 1t is the Republican Senators
who have taken the responsibility of de-
feaing Matthews and they can assign no
Cause for their action except partisanship.
Atnl although done solely as stroke of
I3st San policy, i may be faizlz doubted.
as is dos the Influential Republican
journal we have quoted above, whether,
even from the partisan standpoint, the ac
ton of the Republican Senators will not
prove to be bad policy. The leading ne
groes of the South are rapidly discerning
the insincerity of the professed friendship
Of the Republican party for their race and
this last action of the Republican Senate
will not increase their confidence or affec
ton for the grand old party" The Pres
ident has exercised his full constitutional
prerogatives in Mr.. Matthew's behalf: first
by nominating him to the Senate at the
last session, then, after his rejection, ap-
pointing him to the office during the re-
cess of the Senate, and now again at the
present session renomina'ing him on the
strength of his good official record. In
this last action it has been questioned
whether the President has not exceeded
his executive prerogative, but it shows
the characteristic frmness of Mr.. Cleve-
land and his persistency in adhering to
his principles.