Evening star., 1894-04-03

The democratic party believes in home
rule and the control Of their own affairs by
the people OF the vicinage." That is the
last paragraph in the hOme-rule plank of
the democratic platform which Grover
Cleveland achieved the presidency for a
second time. The expression has every ap-
pearance of sincerity and there was an
era o. buoyant expectation as long as many
among the District of Columbia democrats
regarded it as perfectly honest announce
mcnt by which the chief executive would
surely be governed. But with the nominal
ton of Charles II. ]. Taylor of Kansas as
recorder of deeds for the District of Collm-
bia, fam in the Chicago plaIfOI m has about
disappeared Even the most enthusiastic
RpolOSist for the presidential breach of con-
tract cannot find knot-hOle in the plank
through which to evade honest and indis-
n&nt criticism, for the convention declared
In unmistakable language that I'VE hold
that the officials appointed to administer
the government of any territory, together
with the District of Columbia and Alaska,
should be bona fide residents of the terri
tory or district in which their duties are
to De performed" In this matter, however,
the President refuses to be bound by the
platform which he pledged himself to sup
port, and as the people of the District of
without that right of appeal to the ballot,
which most other American citizens ell 10y
they can do no more than make vocal pro-
testation against the imposition upon them
Of a nonresident. 1t was fOndly imagined
that when the office of recorder of deeds
was legislated into the salaried class that
1t would no longer be used as political pap
for the suStenance of colored politicians
whose homes were in far away commun-
tiles, but the imaginings We're vain and the
hopes that blossOmed so beautifully but
prematurely, have withered and are now
mingled with the dust That the President
should have made a local selection, either
white or colored, instead of going to Kan
sas or anywhere else outside of the District
of Columbia for a nominee, is a conclu-
sion that admits of no debate. The office
Is a purely and peculiarly local one. 1t is
sustained by fees paid exclusively By prop
erty owners of the District, and the sur
plus receipts of the office. beyond the sal
aries and expenses, provide the national
government with revenue which, in all fair
ness, should be, but is not, applied to the
work of local Improvement Mr.. Charles
II. ]. Taylor cuts but small figure in this
matter. He sought the position, as did at
least one or two residents of the District,
and he received the honor of nomination by
President who deems himself superior to
his party platform and not amenable to the
rulings Of common equity. Mr.. Taylor hay-
ing, it is presumed, rendered Mr. Cleveland
important service, had to be paid for the
work he did, but as the Senate failed TO
permit Mr.. Taylor to represent tue United
States as minister to Bolivia, and as the
President did not want to give Mr.. Taylor
his personal check, the chief executive
has called uTOn the property owners
of the helpless District of Columbia to
Gquidate his political Indebtedness TO the
Kansas negro whose name is now be-
fore the Senate for confirmation. 1t is
reasonable to presume that the Senate COM
mittee on the District of Columbia will
ask the Senate committee on Foraian Rela-
tions why Mr.. Taylor was regarded as unfit
TO enter the diplomatic service, and upon the
information thus obtained will probably
reach conclusion as to whether Mr. Tay-
lor-f untitled for association with Roiiv-
ians-is proper person to achieve Official
prominence at the National Capital But if
1t should turn out that Mr. Taylor is an
angel in ebony. the fact would not excuse
his Importation from Kansas to ill a purely
local office at Washington. Kansas can
not spare such being; the District of Co.
lumbia does not want him.
one OF this city's delegates to the Chicago
convention succeeded after much effort in
bringing the home rule plank and the Dis
trict Of Columbia into close relationship
1t Is respectfully suggested that a District
delegate to the democratic coavaation of
1876 endeavor to secure the insertion in the
platform of the last paragraph of section IL
of the platform of 1892, after adding there
TO the words "and the District Of Column
bla. so that it will read: We tender oI;r
profound and earnest sympathy to those
lovers OF freedom who are struggling for
nome rule and the great cause Of local self
government in Ireland and the District CT
Columbia"