The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-07-11
THE KEYNOTE OF THE CAMPAIGN,
Cow. Hayes, Letter Of Acceptanee.

Gov. Hayes Letter Of Acceptance.
The following is the letter Of Gov.
Hayes, accepting the Republican
nomination for the Presidency:
COLUMBUS, OHIO, July 0.
Hon. Ed,card Mcpherson. Hon. Nm.
A.. Ho,oard. Hon. J. II. Rainey and
Others. Committee Of the Republican
National Convention: Gentlemen:-In
reply to your official communication
Of June 18th, by which I am inform
ed of my nomination for the Office of
President of the United States by the
Republican National Convention at
Cincinnati, 1 accept the nomination
: with gratitude, hoping that under
Providence / shall be able, If elected,
to execute the duties of the high Of
fee as a trust for the benefit of all
the people. 1 do not deem 1t neces-
sary to enter upon any extended ex-
animation of the declaration of princi-
Piles made by the convention. The
resolutions are in accord with my
views, andI heartily concur in the
principles they announce. In several
Of the resolutions, however, questions
are considered which r of such i'm
portance that 1 deem 1t proper 10
briefly express my convictions in re-
gard to them. The fifth resolution
adopted by the Convention. is Of par
amount interest. More than 40 years
ago a system of making appointments
10 Offices grew up based upon the
maxim; ito the victors belong the
spoils." The old rule, the true rule,
that honesty, capacity and fidelity
constitute the only real qualifications
for Office, and that there is no other
claim, gave place to the idea that
party services were to be chiefly con-
sidered. All parties, in practice, have
adopted this system. II has been
essentially modified since its first in
PRODUCTION. It has moi, however, been
improved. At first the President,
either directly or through heads of
departments, made all the appoint
ments; but gradually the appointing
power in many cases passed into the
control of members of Congress.
The offices in these cases have be-
come not merely rewards for party
services, but rewards to party leaders.
This system destroys the independ-
ence of the separate departments of
the government. It tends directly
to extravaganza and official incapaci.
ty. It is a temptation to dishonesty.
1t hinders and impairs that careful
supervision and strict accountability
by which alone faithful and efficient
public service can be secured. 1t OBJ
structs the prompt removal and sure
punishment of unworthy officials.
In every way it degrades the civil
service and the character of the Gov
eminent. 1t is felt, 1 am confident,
by a large majority of the members
of Congress to be an intolerable bur-
den and an unwarrantable hindrance
10 the proper discharge Of their legi-
Innate duties. II ought to be abol-
ished. The reform should be thorough,
radical and complete. We should re-
turn to the principles and practice of
the founders of the government, sup
plying by legislation when needed,
that which was formerly established
custom; they neither expected or de-
sired from the.public officer any parti-
san service. They meant that public
officers should owe their whole SER
vice to the government and to the
people. They meant that the officer
should be secure in his tenure as long
as his personal character remained
untarnished, and the performance Of
his duties satisfactory. If elected I
shall conduct the administration of
the government upon these principles,
and all constitutional powers vested
In the executive will be employed to
establish this reform.
The declaration Of principles by
the Cincinnati Convention makes no
announcement in favor Of a single
presidential term. 1 do not assume to
add to that declaration; but believing
thst the restoration Of the civil SER
vice to the system established by
Warrington and followed by the
early presidents, can be best accomp
lished by an executive who IL undel
no temptation to use the patronage o