The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-19
HAYES LETTER
Reform resumption, Paciication, Free
Schools ond but One Term.

COLUMBUS, O., July 8.
To the Hon. Edward Mcpherson, Hon. VIM.
"A: Howard, Hon. Joseph H. Rainey and
others, Committee Of the Republican Ma
tional Convention:
GENr1ENES-ln reply to your official
communication of June 18th, by which
am informed of my nomination for
the office of President of the United
States by the national republican con-
vention at Cincinnati: [ accept the
nomination with gratitude. hoping
that, under Providence, shall be able,
il elected, to execute the duties of the
high Office rs trust for the benefit Of
all the people. I do not deem it ne
examination Of the declaration of
principles made by the convention.
The resolutions are in accord with my
views. and | heartily concur in the
principles they announce. In several
of the resolutions, however, questions
are considered which are of such i'm
portance that deem it proper to brief
~ express my convictions in regard to
them.
CIVIL. SERVICE REFORM.
The fifth resolution adopted by the
convention is of paramount interest.
More than forty years ago system Of
making appointments to office grew up,
based upon the maxim. ''To the vic
tors belong the spoils.' The old rule
the true rnle-that honesty, capaci-
~ 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 considered. All parties in
practice have adopted this system. 1t
has been essentially modified since it's
first introduction. 1t has not been
improved. At first the president.
either directly or through the heads of
departments, made all the appoint
ments; but, gradually, the appointing
power in many cases passed into the
The offices in these cases have become
merely rewards for services to party
eaders.
This system destroys the indepen-
dence OF the separate departments of
the government. 1t tends directly to
extravaganza and official incapacity.
1t is Il temptation to dishonesty. 1t
hinders and impairs that careful super
vision and direct accountability by
which alone faithful and efficient pub
lie servants can be procured. It OBJ
structs the prompt removal and sure
punishment of the unworthy. In
every way it degrades the civil service
and the character of the government.
r. fo1f IN, on,,Htln,,t Jx q lnrrro mo
jority Of the members Of congress, to
he an intolerable burden and unWar-
rantable hinderance to the proper dis
charge of their legitimate duties. 1t
ought to be abolished.
The reform should be thorough, rad
zeal, and complete. We should return
to the principles of the founders of
the government, supplying by legisla-
ton when needed that which was for
merly All established custom. They
neither expected nor desired from the
public officer any partiZan service.
They meant that public officials should
owe their whole service to the gov
ernment, and to the people. They
meant that the officer should be Sc
cure in his tenure us long us his per-
sonal character remained, untarnished
and the performance Of his duties sat
isfactory. IT elected | snail conduct
the government on these principles.
and all constitutional powers vested in
the executive will be employed to es.
tablish this reform.
FOR ONE TERM ONLY.
The declaration Of principles by the
Cincinnati convention makes no an
nouncemcnt in favor of q single presi.
Dental term. l do not assume to add
to that declaration but believing that
the restoration of the civil service to
the system cstal lished by Washington
and followed by the early presidents
can be best accomplished by an eNecu.
tive who is under no temptation to use
the patronage of his office to promote
his own reelection, [ desire to per.
form what regard as a duty in stating
now my inileNible purpose, if elected
not to be IL candidate for election to d
second term.
SPECIE RESUMPTION.
On the currency question I have fire
and stand by my record on this sub
jet. regard all the laws of the Uni
ted States relating to the payment OF
the public Indebtedness, the legal ten
der notes included, as constituting a
pledge and moral obligation Of the
government which must in good faith
be kept. It is my conviction that the
feeling of uncertainty inseparable
from an irredeemable paper currency
with its iluctllation Of values, is one OF
the great obstacles to a revival of con
tidence in business and Il return OF
prosperity. That uncertainty can be
ended in hut one yaN-tha rncIn1nti On