The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-04-04

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vsntion has been redeemed. In selecting
the officers from the citizens of the Ter
ritories, and only men whose qualifications
are ample for the work before them, 1t
is not to be expected that no mistakes will
be made. It would be almost impossible
to avoid them, where there are:so many to
be selected, but as rule u very high stan
dard of qualification has been secured.
In the more important appointments.
where comm SSiOns have not expired, the
policy will be to 60 slow. at least. until
vacancies. by reason of the expiration OF
the limit of commissions, have been filled.
When changes are made in advance of the
expiration of commission, there will be
good and sufficient reason for doing so.-
We're the precedent of the civil service re-
form administration of Mr.. Cleveland to
be followed, especially in the South, there
would he very few Democratic incum-
bents dt, the close of the first six
months. In Virginia the sweep was
clean, under Mr.. Cleveland. Where no
official cause existed. it was assumed that
officers who had made records against
which no charges could be preferred. were
not representative of the social and moral
sentiment of community, and for that
reason their dismissal was demanded and
conceded and the most intense Demo-
;,,,v, Ian in boir Tn
such cases and when properly presented.
there will be action. Each case will stand
upon its own merits and be judged by the
conditions attending it, 1t is the baldest
impudence for officers appointed under
such circumstances by the recent admins.
tratiou to attempt to shelter behind their
commissions The same rule that was
observed in their appointment, will be
recognized in the selection of their success
sOrs. They ought not to expect anything
else. ard if they do they will be disap-
pointed.
Theirs has been one nomination rejected
by the Senate which causes wide spread re
greet. 1t is that of Murat Halstead to be
minister to Germany. No one questioned
his eminent qualifications for the high
position. His culture. his wide scope of
information, and his unquestioned ability
are recognized by all. But he offended
several of the Republican Senators in re-
gard to a question before the Senate,
1 involving the seat of Senator Payne,
of Ohio, wherein he severely criticised
their action and motives. This. was
brought up in judgment against him and
caused them to vote ag inst his nom.
ination and secure his rejection. 1t is a
question whether the cause was sufficient
to Justify this action. The editor of q
daily newspaper must necessarily write
from momentary impressions. He can.
not give that deliberate thought to his
views, which Senator can, after study.
ing his speech for week and then de-
livering it in deliberatiye Scdy. Every
thing attending such deliveranee is ne
cessarily deliberate, both in the concep'
tion of the views, their arrangement and
utterance, and there is no rule which ap.
plies simultaneously in the case of the ed
ltor and Senator. An editor may and
does commit bluncers at times. He would
be more than human il he did not. but il
is not more frequently the case with him
than it is with others who have far less
excuse and far less provocation. 1t is not
a safe precedent to cast reproach, such
as Mr.. Halstead's rejection implies, upon
the Independence of the press in this
country where the press is the most effec-
tive and powerful agency in forming pubs
lie opinion. The restriction of it's free
dom by censorship from the most august
body in the world, is not the way to en-
courage it in its mission of serving and
promoting healthy public sentiment
And in this country, where the press forms
and leads public opiniaa. the effect of ars
bitrary reproof. such as was meant in the
| adverse report on Mr.. Halstead 8 nominal
tion. will be very apt to invite resentment
| from the PEOPLE who look TO the press as
the means of information in regard to
current public questions. The rejection
by the Senate of the nomination of Thos.
Richie for public printer back in theft
ties. did not lessen or neutralize the in-
1uence Of that great editor nor add to
the dignity and impartiality of the body
which sought revenge upon Independent
journalism in the vote of Implied cen-
sure. Mr.. Richie became a still more
potent factor in mou lding public thought
and maintaining the rights of the press,
and passed to the grave with deeper hold
upon public CONFIDENCE than he had main
tanned before the frown Of the Senate was
placed upon him.
The action of tbs Senate in the case of
Mr.. Halstead was reproof alike to the
Presidspt and Secretary of State. and was
an unfriendiy rejection upon the admins.
tration by members of the sams party.
which is not calculated to promote party
harpany or assist in preserving cordial
intimacy between the EXECUTIVE and
Legislative branches OF the government.
The adjournment of the Senate will be
followed by a general exodus from the city,
BOTH of legislators aud their families, as
we'll as ottiee-seekers, for without the
presence of the former the latter would
be at sea. The social circles will also lose
many of their attractions in the absence
of the ladies who will return to their
homes, and thus q dullness will be i'm
parted to society that will find compen-
sati0p ip no other source. There is no
place on the globe where more of female
grace and beauty are gathered thGn in the
capital Of the nation, during The sitting
Of Congress. The avenues are one CON-
tinuous scene Of bewitching charms and
facinating attraction, attired in costly and
becoming raiment and crowned by courtly
motion. The American woman is the
ideal of refined taste and virtuons con-
eeption. and no where else does she appear
to SO much perfection as in Washington.
In contrast with the imposing and i'm
pressive architecture of the State De-
partment. as we'll as the Treasury and the
Capitol. the Executive Mansion Is print.
tive and uninviting. In its day 1t may
have been considered a building suited to
the uses of the President of the United