Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-06-24
A CARD.
To The editor of the Alexandria Gazette:


Calm reflection induces the conclusion
that personal ambition should yield to the
public welfare, and as my name has been
associated with an independent candidacy
for Congress, [ desire to withdraw
my pretensions 20 that position. take
this early opportunity of acquainting
nv friends, as l do not desire that their
services should be wasted or their
influence thrown away. To those
who were willing TO cast their polit-
ical fortunes with me, I return my ar
dent thanks, and trust the future will find
me ever ready to champion whatever touch
es the welfare of my district and the pros.
perity Of my Slate.
After twenty-four years OF incessant pollt-
ical warfare, the national democracy finds it
self in possession of the national Govern
ment. How was this accomplished BY the
Chicago Convention sighting the deserving
Thurman, Bayard and Hendricks, and Sc
lecting Mr.. Cleveland of New York? The
result Of the election was brought
about not so much on account of Mr.. Cleve-
lands strength or popularity in his State,
not on account of the large detection OF
mugwumps from the republican party, but
purely and simply by the devoted loyalty
of the democrats of New York to their par
ty, and the mastery management OF the lead
ers. Inauguration followed election and those
who have given their youth and prime to
the interest and success of their party, have
been ignored, and policy Of reward to the
adversaries of the democracy has followed.
Personal disappointments are nothing as
compared to IL fixed and determined effort
on the part of the chief executive to ignore
the leaders, and to place the party in po-
stion which is antagonstic to the views OF
large majority of the democratic voters.
The people decided for change in 1854,
Il sweeping change. Have they gotten it :?
am a stalWart aud believe that appoint.
ment should follow service; that office
should he the reward Of meritorious labor,
and that personal fealty should be remem-
bored. believe that civil service is the
cloak of weak men, the refuge of ungrateful
men and the shelter of designing politicians.
Mr.. Cleveland's professions of civil service
reform accords we'll with the appointments
in the Treasury Department where all the
important offices are filled with political
wire workers, consisting of Manning, Fair
child, VIM. E. Smith, Youmans and Higgins.
The republican State of Vermont, IS hon.
ored with the English mission and the re-
publican State of Illinois has more patronage
| under Cleveland than any other save New
York. Patriotism exists in war but in politics
| reward is the inspiration that encourages
men to LABOR.
1t would indeed be dull and spiritess
canvass where the opposing candidates
could offer nothing more substantial than
| pleasing words and vague generalitles.
Fortitude and courage are admirable
| when tempered with discretion, but oh
stinacy becomes stupidity whom it is firm
| ness no longer. Mr. Cleveland's admins
| tration is too personal TO be demo cratic, too
autocratic to be popular.
This country is too full OF reaflygTeat men
and the democratic party can boast of some
of the most astute and enlightened one
| man, be he even president, to arrogate TO
himself supreme wisdom, to spurn the ad-
vice of the leaders CT the party and to pur-
sue a course that will, if not checked or
altered, wreck the party and make national
success in 1883, The profound dream OF the
idealite The successful party should not
alone elevate its chief TO power and few
heads ofdepartments to place, but the work.
ing machinery of the government, the chief
clerks, the confidential advisers and the
bulk of the work should be entrusted TO
| the compctent, from the dominant party.
! Thus does the work Of the Government be-
| como identified with and a part of the ex-
listing administration, and the people can
hold to account the party in power for its
policy, its purposes, its results. The honest
| woman, the skilled mechanic, tho upright
aborer, the studiou- professional man, the
| thriving merchant and even the diitant
politician agree that the best policy is that
Of JefIersonian simplicity and Jacksonian
gratitude. CouETLAND ii. SMITH.
June 9th, 1856.