Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-05-04
McKINLEy'S APPOINTMENTS.

| " McklNleTS APPOINTMENTS.
Although we have read column after
column of effort to throw suspicion on
the motives of President Mckinley in
appointing certain Democrats to high
offices in South Carolina, and elsewhere
in the South, still we have not been able
to see anything especially discreditable
in such a proceeding.
The time has been in the South when
we were all taught by our leaders to
| look upon a Republican as worse than
criminal. Jailbird, convict, thief, etc.,
were not more opprobrious epithets.
There are those who teach the same
thing yet. There are those who would
have us to ever look back upon the seal
awags, carpetbaggers and thieves OF re-
construction times, and to never forget
that picture in connection with the def
milton of the word Republican. And be-
cause of such appeals to our passions
and prejudices, the politicians have long
since found it unnecessary to even con-
slider us as having reasonable intell1-
gence.
What may have been the motive Of
President Mckinley in appointing men
like Joe Wheeler and Fitzhugh Lee tc
positions of high command in the Span
ish war may be matter Of speculation.
It is possible that the president may
have taken this action for the purpose
of disarming Southern hostility against
the North. If this was his motive, 1t
was not unworthy. 1t may have been
because he recognized in these old war
riors capable commanders who bid fair
to contribute to the success of the cam
paign that was about to be undertaken.
If this was his reason, subsequent de-
velopments proved it's wisdom. But be-
hind it all there must have been
broa der motive than either of those sug-
gested. The government could have
easily whipped Spain and restored quiet
in the Philippines without calling for a
volunteer soldier or appointing an off,
Ger south of Mason and Dixon's line.
In treating the South just as he did the
balance of the country, not only with
regard to major generalships, but with
regard to all other appointments. how
ever, the president showed that he was
big enough to be the chief executive not
only of the North; but Of the whole
United States.
There has been lot of talk lately
of the presidents intention to fill the
Federal offices in South Carolina with
white Democrats, and the recent ap-
pointment of Mr.. Capers to the district
attorneyship is cited as an evidence of
this intention. AS to whether or not
there is anything in this talk, we do not
know; but we certainly hope it is true,
and from the estimate we have long
since formed of President Mckinley, we
will be willing to accept his action
without unseemly suspicion. We be-
lieve President Mckinley to be clean,
broad, patriotic statesman. We know
that there are the fewest number of Re-
publicans in South Carolina who are
capable of filling any public office cred
itably to the administration, them
selves, or the community in which they
live, and we believe that President Nc
Kinley also understands this fact. If,
therefore. the president really is a clean
broad patriotic statesman, it is only
natural that he should seek to fill the
Offices of South Carolina with the best
men he can find for them, and our peo-
pie should feel grateful to him for it.
And suppose the president does fill
the Federal offices in South Carolina
with white Democrats, where is the
harm to come from? After all, there
are only a handful of offices in this
state, and but few Of them are import
ant. All of them put together do not
furnish livings for so many as 500 vo-
ters. 1t does not follow that these vo-
ters would become Republicans because
of their appointments, and even if they
should, it is not likely that they would
be able to influence many others to do
likewise. Surely the whole state is not
to be bought with few Federal offices.
Surely the people of the state are not
to rely exclusively upon those who fill
public offices for their political opinions.
Somehow, it strikes us that under all
the circumstances, there has been en-
tirely too much fuss made about this
patronage matter.
Secretary Root has given inStruc-
tionS bo rahr1ria1 Of tha Confa6ar-