Year: 1879

THE STATE ASSOCIATIONS.


Much has been said of late respecting the
former State Republican Associations at
the National Capital, and yet we appre-
hend but a partial, and perhaps indifferent,
understanding of their character, ends and
aims has obtained with the public mind
We had given them up as things that
were, under Civil-Seryice Order No. l, until
quite recently, when it was given out,
semi-ofiicially, as we were gwen to under
stand, that the President was prepared TO
forego any objections he had previously
held toward them, and gave his tacit con-
sent that they should be revived and rem
dered efficient, as they had proved formerly;
as an important factor in our political cam
were stricken down by Civil-Service Order
No. |. This intimation was hailed with
profound satisfaction by those who had
been identified with them and understood
their efficiency, and steps were Immediately
taken 10 revive their existence. Much to
the surprise and chagrin of the Republicans
from the several States resident here, it was
announced that the Cabinet had taken the
matter under advisement, and had deter
mined that to revive these associations
would be an infraction of the Civil-Service
Order of the President, from which he has
not in any degree rcceded Or relinquished
his purpose OF crushing them out. This
seemed to settle the question, and all hope
of party aid in that quarter was Immediately
abandoned, and "the mourners went about
the streets"


Now, we find in the New York Tribune
telegraphic dispatch under date of August
10, which is in part, as follows;


A committee having recently been formed
among Ohioans holding office in this city to
perform certain work in connection with the
Ohio campaign, question has arisen as to
whether such action is permissible under the
Cvil-Service Order OF June %. 1877, which was
so construed as to cause the disbandment of
the State associations that formerly 1ourished
here.


This, it will be noticed, does not apply
to any other than the Presidents own State
of Ohio, and hence if the other States whose
associations expired simultaneously with
that of Ohio propose to act in recognizing,
it must be under special dispensation
from the President or the Cabinet, or all
together, for all these associations were
dead alike in sin; for as we learn from the
Tribune dispatch, the sin which caused the
condemnation of all was committed by the
associations of Ohio and Pennsylvania
alone. 1t says further:--


r -
ment that the officers and employees of the
Government will not be intcriered with in any
action which does not violate the letter or
| spirit of the order in question. The old asso.
| Citations might possibly have been kept within
| its letter, but much of their action was known
| by the President 10 have been contrary TO its
] spirit The conspicuous part which they
: undertook to play in the politics of their re.
| spectiye States was not only difficult TO recon.
| cile with faithful discharge of their public
duties here, but was often of character to give
| offence TO other classes of citizens. At least
two of these organizations those of Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio, were represented once or more
by delegates In State conventions, and that OF
Ohio had Que of its members in the State
Executive Committee


What is said of the Ohio and Pennsylva-
mia associations may be true. Indeed, it is
not our purpose to question it but that
scarcely justifes q wholesale condemnation
of them all. understand that one dele
gate was sent from those associations TO the
State conventions Of their respective States
and were admitted to seats, and, as rumor
has IT, they did not behave altogether cir
oumspectly as invited guests The fault in
those cases, however, rested solely with
those conventionsin extending hospitality
that was abused, and which they should
not have extended, for the associations were
not originally organized for any such pur-