Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-01-04
MEN ANDTHIEGS AT WASHINGTON.


have an expression of views from
both parties upon this great issue.
1t is well for the country that the
politicians at last see the necessity
of graphing with this question. For
more than twenty years Congress
has made use of make-shifts and con-
sequently question of overwhelm'
ing Importance and of danger to the
country has been made shuttle
cock by both parties. Some south
ern senators already propose that
the negro shall be cOlonized upon
the banks of the Congo, or disperse
themselves among the states Of the
northwest, but theimpracticability OF
either proposition cannot be mani
fest to the merest student of polite
al economy. The negro will not ex-
patrIate himself, nor will the Ameri-
can people insist on his Punishment
to the equatorial provinces. He is
not of migratory nature and will
therefore be reluctant to sever the
associations of life-time-separate
himself from the home of his ances-
try and enter into competition with
the energetic and aggressive white
population of the north and west.
The southern representatives In
sist that the Acknowledgement of the
negro has endangered civilization in
the south, and that the suppression
of the negro vote has become neces-
sary in order to prevent anarchy and
save life and property. The Rapub-
licans on the other hand insist that
the negro, having been clothed with
all the rights and privileges of citi'
zenship, should be made secure in
the exercise of all his political rights.
However different the views OF pub
lie men may be upon this question.
all must agree that so long as it re.
mains unsettled it viii prove source
of irritation and distrust and be the
cause of petty warfare and local ln'
surrection. No measure can be
framed by one political party which
will prove satisfactory, consequently,
each side must be willing to concede
something so that the conservative
and patriotic men of the country
may be able to agree upon some plan
or settlement of this vexed question.
The present administration seems
to be as sorely vexed as was the pre-.
ceding one over the distribution OF
patronage, and the angry discomfort
which prevailed here under
Cleveland's administration has not
been succeeded by that happy feel
ing of satisfaction which should
characterize a well-regnlated family.
The scope of the civil service law Is
being gradually extended with the
result of constantly decreasing the
number of places which may be call
ed political appointments. To salts
fly all the applicants seems an i'm
possibility, and the disappointments
are both numerous and bitter. 1t Is
unfortunate that the party in tue
state or county does not settle these
disputes at home instead of bringing
them to Washington. 1t would seem
that state or county executive
committee, as the case might be,
ought to be able to determine which
applicant is most deserving and the
endorsement of that body should
deter dozen other applicants from
importuLing the authorities at
Washington. If each county execu
tive committee were called together
after an election in which its party
was successful, and an invitation
issued to all applicants to present
their claims, a conclusion could be
reached upon the merits of the can
didate which would be far more just
and satisfactory than the result OF a
scrubrace in which the less deserv'
ing often succeeds over the person
who has stronger claims. This
course would not only serve to pre-
vent mistake but it would relieve
the appointing power of vast respon'
sibility and save leading public men
much annoyance and much valuable
time. Home rule is good doctrine
TO apply to America as well as t.
Ireland, and each city or county
should say who among its citizens
are deserving OF party re cognition'
People living outside ought to have
No voice in the determination OF
such matter.
There are few if any democrats
here who defend the course OF Coy
ernor Wilson in giving the certifi'
cate of election to the opponent OF
Charles B. Smith, of the Parkers'
burg district, and | confidently pre-
dict that he will be awarded a seat
in Congress at comparatively early
day. A strong fight will be made
against Atkinson and McGinnis, and
| should not be surprised il the OPP
position would resort to filibusterlng
in order to prevent action on these
cases until the close of the present
session, if not until the next Con
gress.
1t is matter Of surprise that four
years of democratic rule failed to
bring to the surface on the democrat
ic side any men of brilliant parts.
There are number in the House
such as Carlisle, Mills, Randall and
Breckenridge, who are men or fair
ability, but not one of them posses
ses the ability or qualities necessary
to fit him for leadership. On the
republican side the standard of lead
ership is not so high as it was some
years ago, and it would thus seem
that mediocrity is gradually taking
the place of the qualities which raise
some men conspicuously above their
fellows. Mr.. Randall has for years
been the most adroit leader on the
democratic side, but he is on his
death. bed and will never again take
his seat in Congress. There is no
one able to fill his place, for whilst
Mr.. Carlisle is fitted in some respects
for that duty his attendance at the
House can never be relied upon with
anything like certainty.
q w " RJACK