The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-04
An Honest Official.

It vas with genuine regret that wc
read the announcement Of Mr.. D. G.
Richardson in Sundays Times-Dispatch
that he would not again be candidate
for the position of Commemorative at
torncy. Mr.. Richardson has been one
of the best and most efficient prosecut-
ing attorneys Richmond has ever known
and his retirement will be public loss.
II. the discharge of his duties he has
been conservative and kind hearted, but
he has been faithful and brave in uphold
ing tho law In prosecuting those who
Violated 1t, no matter what their sta
ton in life. We wish that the emolu-
ments of the office were such as to JUS
tify him In continuing indefinitely In that
responsible position.
There is another point In Mr.. Richard
sons announcement card to which pub
lie attention should be directed One
reason which he assigns for withdrawing
from the contest for the congressional
nomination Is that the duties of his Of
flee are now pressing, and that In order
TO make a thorough canvass he would
lie compelled TO neglect them. Lawyer
friends had kindly offered to come to his
assistance and to attend to any cases of
the Commonwealth which might arise in
the meantime, but Mr.. Richardson Is SO
conscientious that he Is unwilling to
shift the duties which devolve upon him
upon his lawyer friends although feeling
confident that the interest of the State
would be safe in their hands. He feels
that the obligation is his, and that he
must personally discharge it, He can
not gain his consent even to appear to neg
lcct the interest of the Commonwealth
for his own personal interest, and this,
too, Notwithstanding that he lets out tho
secre, that the position of Common
wealth's attorney does not pay him In
dollars and cents as much as he would
be able to make In the private practice
OF law. He is going to give up this po-
sltoA because he cannot afford to keep
it ut the present remuneration. but so
long as lie Is Commonwealth attorney
hc proposes to give 1t his undivided at
tcntion, and the best service at his COM
M;,nd.
This is indeed n high view for any mar
to take of the position which he occu-
pies, be it public or private, and We
draw special attention to Mr.. Richard
sons declaration of principles not mere
" 10 pay him Il compliment which he
richly deserves, but to hold him up as
ii public exemplar. When n man takes
II Dosition and undertakes at a certain
salary. be 1t great or small. to do the
work involved therein, he enters into {
sacred obligation with his employer
whether the employer be the government
the best service at his command TIL
matter OF pay has nothing TO do with !,
If he assumes the obligation, he mus
in duty discharge 1t faithfully and Ell
iicienily. No man who has the RICH
conception of his duty works simply fc
money. The man who does work &c
money and nothing more Is hiring an
q poor specimen of humanity, The cor
scientious man works from a sense c
llty and no matter what his work Is h
throws into 1t his conscience and n
character, because he knows that his wor
is the expression Of his character an
that he will necessarily be Judged by i
# all office holders were like Davi
Richardson, there would be no occasio
to complain OF the public service.