Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-02-23
Communicates.

we have had the benefit of two more
communication under the headings,
respectively, of Office Seeking and
{. Jeffersonian Democracy" in the
first of which he says 1.-THE whole
world seems to be turned upside
down." aud asks what has done it /?
He then proceeds TO answer the ques-
ton himself by stating that it is self.
ishness, personal ambition and thirst
for office, relating how patriotic (?)
the candidate is, and how devoted to
the interests of the dear people; how
pressing have been the demands on
him to become candidate, and how
unpatriotic it would be for him to de-
cline under such circumstances. &c.,
and then adds that all smile except
the candidate and those who have
axes to grind" Reckon the axes
around the Junction are in a good
condition, or the writer would join in
the SMILE" The Office seeker is
hardly disposed of before the officers
are TAX en- in hand, whom he accuses
of magnifying the Importance of their
office and of themselves, by thought
lessly and ignorantly supposing that
the attention they are receiving is
tribute to their efficiency and ability,
when in fact it is merely from self in
terest or rather is intended for fat
terry for the better accomplishment of
selfish ends" 1t seems to be some
what difficult to comprehend the OBJ
jects and aims of the writer, as he is
down on the candidates, very severe
on the officers. criticizes the Demo-
cratic party and its leaders, being es-
pecially severe on Hill and German,
and says he has very serious objec-
tions to Cleveland, and even reaches
out and gives President Harrison
going over for his management of the
Chillian difficulty. and utterly de-
plores the departure Of the good old
Jeffersonian doctrine that ''office
should seek the man and not man the
office" and plaintiVely asks what has
become of it? 1t was taken i'll at the
death of Jefferson and fingered along
until the demise of Jas. Buchanan,
and it now ''rests in peace" Sew
eral attempts have been made to res
urrect it, but am sorry to say they
resulted in failure. So what are we
to do? Let us take hold of doc
trine that is good enough for any
body if it is honestly carried out, and
that is if we knoa1 we have an up
right, efficient officer who does his
whole duty, and who fears no frowns
and courts no favofs, retain him I'M
til we are satisfied that public SEN
timent and public interest demand q
change, and in the matter of the ma
jority of our county officers we do
not think change is demanded by a
majority of the people. In regard
to the election of U. S. Senators by
direct vote of the people we all join
in hearty amen, even though it be
a plank in an outside party's plat
form. 1t strikes the minds of the
people that this whole thing is in
tended as an effort to get up senti-
ment TO GUST certain officers of the
county, as one of the strongest Dem
ocratic strongholds in the county is
accused, if not directly, Indirectly,
of conniving with the opposite party
by using saddlebag influences to re-
tain the old set in power. We sup
pose he means to say that certain
ones need not be in hurry to pay
their taxes, &C., if they vote their
way of thinking. No one has doubted
the honesty of the writer's convic-
tions on what he has been writing,
and he deserves credit for wishing
and desiring purity within the party,
but we do not think it is just to make
the above charge unless he can come
forward with the necessary proof to
sustain it. Name certain qualifica-
tons in your candidates whom you
think, if elected, would he an i'm
provement on the present incum-
bents. Further than this, boiling
has been threatened unless certain
rewards were not rendered Demo-
cratic workers-that does not sound
like the old Jeffersonian doctrine
Let the candidates come out fair aud
square and be voted for. and if elected
it is all right, they will be welcomed
if they make good officers. and if de-
feated don't lose your Democracy,
but pick your fiipts and come again
and again until you do win. We do
not belong to a courthouse or any
other clique, but good officers we in
sist upon and must have.