Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-06

not consider that it is required either to
admit or to deny the propriety or the Cor
rectness of the conjecture of the President
as to the reasons by which 1t was guided
In declining to confirm the original nomi-
nation. The President attempts to justify
the denomination of Matthews by stating
First, that the fitness Of the nominee has
been demonstrated; second, that the pre-
vious opposition to his appointment among
the citizens of the District has largely sub
sided; third, that he desires in this way
to tender just recognition and good faith
toward our colored fellow-citzens.
1T is sufficient answer to the first two
reasons alleged to say that neither could
have been applicable when Matthews was
appointed in August Immediately after the
adjournment of the Senate, for at that
time his fitness had not been demonstrated
nor had there been any interval for local
opposition to subside
Until suggested by the President the
Senate was not aware that just recognition
or coed faith to our colored fellow citi-
Zens' vas involved in the question; and II
has never before been urged that a per-
son S nomination for an office should be con-
f1rmed or rejected because he was black or
becS Use he was white.
As to Just Recognition.
This classification has been abolished by
the suppression of the rebellion and by the
amendments of the Constitution, and is no
longer properly to be recognized in dealing
with public affairs. The Senate, however,
in view of the message Of the President,
cannot forbear to apprise him, since he has
raised the race issue, that Frederick Doug
lass was, 1t is understood, requested to re-
resign the office of the recorder of deeds
In the District of Columbia in order that
James c. Matthews might be appointed to
the place. Without doubt, Frederick Doug
lass is the most distinguished representa-
tive of the colored race, not in this coun-
no TnS q
ton would have been rendered to our col
ored fellow citizens by the retention of
Frederick Douglass, rather than by his
enforced retirement in order to reward an
unknown and obscure partisan, who had
never been slave, and therefore repre-
scented the enfranchised race only by the
accident of color. The devotion of the
President to the political and civil advance
ment of the colored race might have been
equally attested and good faith might have
been as strongly evirced by the retention
OF Douglass in the office whose duties he
was discharging to the satisfaction of the
people, unless it is to be understood that
Just recognition is to be rendered only to
those members of that race who are sup
posed to entertain particular political opin-
IONS In such case the issue of race dis
appears, and the test is politics.
Local Office.
1.-THE Senate has no official information
other than that contained in the message
L
white or black. He is admitted to be a
citizen of New York. The office for which
he is nominated is strictly local. The COM
pensation for the performance Of its duties
is not paid by the government, but mainly
by the citizens of the District having papers
to be recorded therein.
His confirmation is opposed with sub
stantial unanimity by the citizens Of the
District without regard to color, politics
or occupation The just principles of self
government, we'll as the declarations of
both political parties, justify their desire
that the duties of the office of recorder of
deeds should be performed by some resident
of the District, acceptable to those whose
property is to be affected by his acts, and
who pay the entire expense of its admin
istration."
On the 9TH of February after a consider
able debate the resolution was adopted by
the Senate, 20 to Is, and the injunction of
secrecy was removed from the entire case,
46 to l, and the whole proceedings were
ordered to be printed.