New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-07

10 abolish the accursed institution, and ex-
presses hope that Brazil may speedily COM
plete the work Of emancipation recently begun.
The Recommendation Of the message in re-
gard to a modification Of the tariff are such as
will meet the general approval Of the people,
because they are based upon the principle Of
protection to American industry. 1t suggests
that such articles as are not produced at home.
and yet enter largely into home consumption,
but from which very little revenue is reali Ked
be placed on the free list; and, should
further reduction of duties be made. that it be
upon those articles which can best bear it,
without d,starbing home production or reduc
ing the rages Of american labor. This is
complete recognition of the doctrine, and an
admission of the necessity, Of protection to
American labor and American manufactures.
The President puts to shame the cores
pondents and other demagogues who have so
confidently asserted that he was preparing to
make another effort to force San Domingo
annexation through Congress, by not making
the slightest reference to the subject. Having
frankly expressed bis views in his special mes
sage last session, he leaves the whole matter to
Congress.
The Utah ban barism aud the Ku-Klux re-
bellion are disposed OF 10 he disposed Of the
enemies of the country while at the head Of
our armies, and as he disposes of violators of
Law while at the head of the Government. The
Copperheads will find in the message his at.
thorsty, as well as his reason, for suspending
the writ of habeas corpus, and the Saints will
ascertain from it what they must do to escape
the punishment which continuance in sin is
sure to bring upon them. On these two sub
jects the decent, law-abiding, and loyal people
of the nation will very decidedly agree, and the
President may safely rely upon them to sus-
tain him in his efforts to crush out these two
monster evils, let Copperheads. soreheads,
bigamists, and all other opponents Of his ad.
ministration rave and upbraid as they may.
The President but states what all intelligent
men know, and what all honest men will ad-
nit, when he asserts that sit has been the
aim Of the Administration to enforce honesty
and efficiency in all public Offices and that
"every public servant who has violated the
trust imposed upon him has been proceeded
against with all the rigor of the law" And
there may be the same harmony of sentiment
with his statement, that "if bad men have
secured places, it has been the fault of the
system established by law making appropria-
tions," &C., or of those who recommend them,
though we have some doubt upon this point.
And we still more decidedly doubt whether
civil service reform, such as has been FORE
Swallowed by the commission or the press
on that subject, can correct whatever abuses
do exist
Yet we heartily agree with the President that
a civil service reform which can prevent the ap-
pointment Of dad men" is greatly to be desired.
But here's the question. Until there can be some
competitive examination" devised that will
ascertain the heart and power to resist tempta-
ton Of the applicant for Office, we see not how
the civil service is to be saved the possibility
of bad men. Nine out of every ten of the men
who have turned out defaulters sustained un-
Improbable private character when appointed,
occupied respectable positions, and could have
passed any reasonable examination to which
they could have beens objected. Col. HODGE, of
this city, is a very striking instance in point.
If there had been what is called a civil SER
vice reform at the commencement Of the pres
emit Administration, there would probably not
have been one chad man" less appointed to
Office. But the President does not seem to
contemplate a competitive examination, which
shall place rebels and loyal men on an equal
footing, as a feature of his "civil service re-
form" There is nothing in the suggestion he
makes upon this subject which indicates that
he does not think there are loyal men or Re.
publicans enough competent to fill the various
Offices Of the Government. Herein he differs
widely from the men who have made this sub.
ject hobby. They insist that no distinction
shall be made between those who fought for
the Government and now support it and those
who fought against and now oppose it. We
then repeat our cordial approval of the mes
sage as q whole and in detail, with the triaing
modification we have suggested and qualified
dissent from his recommendation upon the
question Of universal amnesty"