The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-23
THE RUTLAND WEDNESDAY MORNING. AUGUST 90 1876

llOn lhc repeal OF oil authority TO prepare
for redemption of the legal tender notes. 1t
would have been more consistent with fair
dealing and manly conduct to repeal the
act outright by the usc of plain terms. But
such Is not the method Of the democratic
party. Itprefers to act by indrcction on
the currency question and thus leave each
faction Of the party free to claim a victory
for itself, or to deny that 1t meant to do
what 1t has done. In this matter 1t has
acted upon the assumption that the people
are easily deceived by the arts of politi-
clans. Processing to favor resumption 1t
has committed itself to the repeal\ of the
only existing legislation looking to The re-
denption of the nations promisesA De
n1unc.ng the republican party for haXipa
failed TO redeem the legal tender notes II
attempts TO repeal the act of republican
congress which provides for their redemp-
ton at an early day.
Pretending that the act is hindrance to
resumption II proposes no substitute for it.
Gov. 1ilden's party has had control of the
popular branch of congress through SEES
sion of almost unprecedented length, in
which 1t has done much mischief and little
good, but in all that time it has not passed
or attempted to pass a single act looking to
redemption of the legal tender notes. 1t
has conttnted itself with attempting to I'M
do what had already been done in that d-
rection. If the act of 1876 Is imperfect or
for the purpose in view, why
has not the democratic house attempted
proper notifications instead of obstinately
upon its repeal and the abandon
ment of all effort for resumption? Does
Gov. Tilden's party pretend that it means
to resume before the first day of January,
1879? If not, upon what ground docs it
claim that the act of 1875 ls q hndrance to
resumption? Gov. Tlden declares that the
act of 1875 is the shadow without
the substance of resumption, and advises
the democratic house TO remove the shadow
instead of adding the substance. This Is
not the quality of craftsmanship which the
times demand. The people are not SO g-
norsnt or stupid as TO be deceived by such
hollow pre,ences and shallow devices for
harmon zing the party. Politicians who
resort 10 such subterfuges deceive only
themselves At no time in the history of
the country have the people been more
keenly alive to their own interest or more
fully aroused on all subjects of public con-
Germ. In times of general prosperity and
thrift, when money getting is easy and tax
alton sits lightly upon them, the masses OF
the people are apt to become more or less
indifferent to what we call politics. But
when there comes general depression of
trade and business, and the necessary exer-
tons Of government are not easily met,
they must and do look with careful scru-
tiny into the conduct of public affairs and
the acts of public men. They will not be
deceived or msled by false clamor or lnsin-
cere pretences. Their very necessities de-
mand the highest order of statesmanship
and honesty of purpose in dealing with the
currency question. The restoration of a
sound currency is necessary to all classes
and professions. The laborer and produc-
or can be prosperous only when compensa
ton is certain and its purchasing power
fixed and steady. Capital, which is the
fruit of labor, is never secure go long
as values are measured by an
uncertain and fluctuatng stand
ard. The platform of the democratic
party, the letters of acceptance of its can
didates, and the conduct of the house of
representatives, taken together, sufficiently
prove that that party cannot be relied on
to bring about resumption. As party it
has neither purpose nor ability to do So.
The controlling element of the party would
dictate and enforce financial policy which
would set the business of the country afloat
on the sea of initiation, without rudder or
compass. The republican party, if it has
not done all that might have been done to
relieve the country of the evils of an in.
coutrover,ible currency, has taken impor.
tant steps in that direction and is fully
committed by its acts and declarations tc
the completion of the work. The act Of
1875 is solemn pledge of the
faith of the government to redeem its legal
tender notes on and after the first of Janu-
airy, 1879, and implies an obligation to
adopt such further legislation as may be
necessary to complete the execution of the
promise. 1t has nominated candidates
whose records and known opinions give
the highest assurance that they will in good
faith labor to make good the party's
pledge.
Gov. Hayes led his party to victory last
year in the great state of Ohio, in alvoca-
cy Of certain and speedy resumption. In
his letter of acceptance of the nomination
for the presidency, he declares that he
stands by his record on this question, and
that the party must go forward in the per-
Torrance of lis pledges, taking no step
back ward.
Mr. Wheelers past course and present
utterance on this subject are free from all
doubt. lie declarci that he regards the
Get Of 1875 as the piighted faith of the ma
ton, AID that il is the duty of congress to
supplement il with such legislation MS may
be necessar yfor its strict fulfillment.
Another work Of great and pressing i'm.
portance is to he done. Among the evils
en,ailed upon the country by the demo-
craticlc party is vicious system of civil
service. The party introduced the maxim
ito the victors belong tho spoils," and un-
der its operation the true test of qualifica-
ton for office gave way to the spoils sys-
TEN. Offices came to be distributed as re-
wards, not only for party services, but for
| ecsonal services 10 party leadeas. The
power to appoint to office, which is a high
public trust, and should be administered
solely in the public interest, has been used
to reward friends and punish enemies. Re-
formations of long exinsing abuses usually
proceed slowly.
The republican party, since its advent to
power, has been confronted by such STU
pendous dangers to the very existence Of
the government and TO the personal and po-
lticsl rights of its citizens, that reform of
this evil, of democratic origin, has neces-
sarily been postponed. Meanwhile, like all
other evils, it has continued to grow. The
present is favorable time for correction
of this abuse and return to the true method
Of civil service.
The republican party now propose to
IN er upon the work with eatnestness and
2 al. The Cincinnati platform strikes at
the very root of the evil by declaring tia,
the constitutional distinction between leg
islative aud executive functions and duties
should be strictly observed, and that sena-
tors nri representatives. should not dictate
app inln, MS to office.
Gov. liayes, by his letter OF acceptance,
which is throue bout a model of frankness
and true craftsmanship, gives particular
prominence to bis own views on the sub
ject No candid man of any party can
read what he says in this respect without
being profoundly impressed with his cour-
age of opinion and his perfect freedom
from the acts and practices of demagogue
and place seeker. He declares IN emphatic
language that the exciting system Of ap-
pointments to removals from the civil