Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-02
A TRUE DEMOCRAT.

A TRUE DEMOCRAT.
The administration tackled the wrong
man when. in effect it put it before Dis
trict-Attorner Il. r. Lassiter that he
must resign his oficeeor else relinauish
his right to serve his party in Virginia.
Mr.. Lassiter nobly chose to resign
rather than abandon his principles, and
we much mistake the people Of Virginia
81 this manly stand of his does not make
him very dear to the popular heart
In 1892 Mr.. Lassiter succeeded MIR. f. c.
Venable as the chairman of our party in
the Fourth Congressional District and
his zeal and activity in his work were
such as to commend him to the attention
OF Dir. Cleveland, who made him United
States District Attorney for this district
OF Virginia to succeed Mr.. Borland, who
was Mr.. Harrlson's appointee. That Mr..
iassiter has discharged the duties of his
Office with ability and fidelity there
seems to be no question. But some per-
son, a bolter. no doubt. called the atten-
ton of Attorney General Harmon to the
fact that Mr.. Lassiter had again been
made chairman. this time to succeed Mr.
Epes, now our nominee for Congress.
Mr. Lassiter might have made his peace
with Harmon and Cleveland by resigning
the Craftsmanship and agreeing to take
10 active part in the pending canvass in
Virginia, but he refused to avail himself
of that course. He boldly stood up for his
i, nm I'm
preference to Withdrawing from the posi-
ton he holds in our party.
The letters of Mr.. Lassiter 10 Attorney
General Harmon present his side Of the
case conclusively. And we may add that
had Mr.. Lassiter been boiler and active
in the boilers party. instead of occupying
the position that he does. no one believes
the administration would have discovered
that he was breaking one of the rules OF
the Department of Justice. The Repub-
licans who preceded Mr.. Lassiter in the
Office Of District Attorney were all parti-
sans. None of them were required 10
keep quiet while their party was fighting
a battle for its existence. And Secretary
Villas, under the first administration OF
Mr.. Cleveland, and Carlisle and Eckels,
under his present administration, have all
been active partisans-a fact which the
authorities at Washington found it con-
venient 20 ignore Yes. and at this very
time numbers OF the Federal office-hold-
ers in and out Of Washington are en-
gagged more or less openly in assisting the
boilers cause. and this. too. with the
knowledge of Cabinet officers, If not of
the President himself.
The course Of the administration with
respect 10 Mr.. Lassiter is a contemplate
peryersion of the powers OF government
Tor the purpose of bulldozing Federal ofii-
olsls into the support of Mckinley, or. az
least. into Withholding their support from
Bryan. But the effect of it in Virginia
viii be the very opposite OF that eoped
for by Harmon and Cleveland A few
Federal ofice-hoders may be compelled
10 keep quiet, but for every such person
forced into inactivity there will be
dozen of unterrlded Democrats 10 de-
nounce this work Of Harmons and 10
turn 1t to account for Bryan.
with few exceptions Mr. Cleveland's
appo.ntees in Virginia have been parti-
sans for the past three years. And this
course of theirs, so far from having been
dlsapproved by the administration. was
IN some cases. we cannot but believe.
suggested by the administration. Not a
few OF them became very active just be-
fore the primaries were held TO elect dele
r-yses 20 Staunton but did we hear any
from Washington then? OF
course not In fact. Mr.. Cleveland him.
self sent for some Of the Virginia Office
holders State and Federal and had talks
With them and put them TO work against
free silver. 1t was all right for those
ofilce-holders to promote the political
views Of the administration. but it is all
wrong for them TO be active In tie sup
port of Bryan. the partys nominee Tor
President.
We are pleased TO sec that the outrage
perpetratcl upon Mr.. Lassiter land
through him upon the people OF Virginia) |
~ not attempted to be justified by any
reference TO ''civil-service rules The
clvil-service system. as II Is now admin
istered. is responsible for enough of hum |
buggery. and II IS well that this arrant |
interference with tho rights of the people |
Is not also saddled upon Il.
Being now altogether freed from en-
barrassment on account OF his connection |
with the boss boilers al Washington, Mr.
I.assiter may proceed with HIS work In |
the Fourth District with all OF his heart |
and strength. He has before hira as ex-
ampies the successful campaigns led by |