Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-10
THE PREAI
Governor Hayes Letter Of Accent.


~, COLUMBUS, OHIO, July 8. 1876.
Lion. Ed1cdTd McPheTsost, Hon. Vim. a. RO,C
| ara. Hon. Jos. II. Rdiney and 9th rs, O. n
nutee Of the Republican National Convention
| Genuenlen-In reply To your official CON
munication OF June II, by which l am in
1ormt of my nomination for the office o.
President Of the United States by the Re
publican national convention at Cincinnati
| 1 accept the nomination with gratilr lie
| hoping that under Providence I shau be
SoIe, IL ele ctod, to execute the duties of the
hlgn once as a trust for the benefit OF all II,
| people. do not deem 1t necessary to el er
| upon any extended examination OF the dec
!aration of principles mai by the convea-
lion. The resolutions are in accord with nay
views, and be q. ttly concur In the princip e,
they announ 3. In several OF the reso u
| IONS, however, questions are Considered
| Whlcn are or such Importance that dee 10
| 1t proper to briefly eA pr-ss my convIctiu *
| in regard TO them.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The fifth resolution adopted Or the coayen-
ton Ia OF paramount interest. More th AT
| forty years ago system OF making appoint.
ments TO office grew up, based upon the
maxim "to the vic:ors belong the spoils >
| The old rule, the true ru e, that honesty, ca
| pactty, and fidelity constitute the only real
qualincatioDs for office, and that there is no
other claim, gave place To the idea that par
ty services were to be CHIEFLY Considered. All
parties, in practice, have adopted this vs.
tenn: It HIS been essentially modified siace
been improved. AT first, the President,
either directly or through the heads of de-
partme Is, made all the Appointments But
gradually the appointing power In many
cases passe6 into the control of member, OF
Congress. The offices in these ca Is have
become not merely rewards for party ser
vices but rewards for servlcss to party
leaders. This system des Lroys the an
dence of the separate departments of tie
GOvernm'at. sit tends directly TO extra va
gance and official tncapacity." 1t is a temp
pairs that careful supervision aud strict ac-
countabiltty Oy which alone faithful and
efficient public service can be secured
1t obstructs the prompt removal and sure
punishment Of the unworthy. In every wav
II degrades the civil service and the charac.
ter OF the government. 1t Is felt, am pr-
of Congress TO be an intolerable burden and
an unwarrantable hindrance to the proper
discharge of their legitimate duties. 1t
ought gu 1 TO De abolished. The reform should
should return to the principles and practices
ofthe founders OF the government, supplying
oy legislation, when needed, that which was
expected nor desired from the pu bic officer
any partisan service; they meant that public
ofhcers should owe their whole service to
Ine government and to the people; they
his tenure as long as his personal character
remained untarnished anu the perfcrma nee
OF his duties satisfactory. If elected, sh all
conduct the administration of the govern
me1t upon these principles, and all consti-
tutional powers Invested in the executive
will be employed 70 establish this reform.
SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL TERM,
The declaration of principles by the Cir
clnnat convention makes no am 0uncameat
In favor OF a sir gle Presidential term, | 10
not assume to add to that dec aration; bat
believing that the restoI afion OF the cIy''
service TO the system established oy We n
1ngton and followed by the early PrSgiieni !
can be best accomplished by an Executive
VINO is under no temptation to use the pat
ronage OF his office 10 p, Omste his owe ~.
election, desire 10 perform what regs ri as
a DUTY In stating now my iufiexiole pun e.
II elected, lot TO be candidate fer e'e's yu
TO second term.
HIS VIEWS on THE cURRESCY.
On the cur Sncy question / rave f-eQue ~
expressed my views 10 pubic, aud stand ~
laws OF the United States relating to ne
Pay ment OF the pubic indeb teduess, Tue legal
tender notes ipcludCi, as constituting
pledge and moral obligation of the gOvc'a-
ment which must in good faith be k, ~ I.
is my conviction that the feeling OF uarsr
tainty inseparable from an iIretcsms lie
paper currency,. with its fluctuations OF
value, is one OF the great obstacles 20 a rayi-
val OF confidence and busine-s aud 10 q 80
turn OF prosperity. That uncertainty ca
end; In but one way, the resumption of
billy connected with our present mo IS
system IS permitted to continue the grea .6r
Will be the Injury inflicted upon our c. n
m no. interests and all classes OF security.
II elot ed L shall approve every appropri +te
measure To accomplish the dc sired end, a.d
shall oppose any step backward.
OUk PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
The resolution with respect to the public
school system Is one which should receive
the hearty support OF the American people.
Agitation upon this subject is to be appre-
hended until by constitutional amendm at
the schools are placed beyond all danger of
sectarian control or interference. The reput.
lican party is pledged to secure such an
ton on the subject Of the permanent
PACIFICATI0N OF THE COUNTRY,
and the complete protection of all its citiz ans
In the free enjoyment OF all their constitu-
tonal rights, is timely and of great import
ance. The condition OF the southern states
attracts the attention and commands tie
sympathy OF the people of the whole Unton
OF the war. Their first necessity is an intel
ligent and honest administration of govern
ment which will protect all classes OF cIti-
zens in all their political and civil rights.
What the South most needs is "Peace." and
peace depends upon the supremacy ofrag
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL.
stitutlonal rights of any portion of the p:o-
pie are habitually disregarded. A division
OF political parties, resting merely upoh DIS
always unfortunate, and may be disas trous.
The welfare OF the -Outh, alike with that OF
every other pant or the country depends
upon the attractions it can offer to lao :, u
immigration, and 10 capital; but laborefs
will not 60, and capital will not ven DIRE
where the Constitution and the laws are SET
OF ucuducc, anu ulstfhcLiOu, apprehension,
and alarm take the place OF psace-loviog aud
law-abiding social lie. All parts of the
Constitution are sacred, and must be sacred
~ observed-the parts that are new, no .ess
than the parts that are old. The moral and
material prosperity OF the southern states
can be most effectively advancst By a
hearty and generous recognition OF the rights
OF all by all. recognition without reserve
or exception. With such q recognition fully
accorded, 1t will be practicable 10 prom DIS,
by the influence OF all legitimate agencies OF
the general government, the effort OF the
PEOPLE OF these states to obtain for them
selves tho blessings OF honest and CAP able
local government. Ifelectod, shall consider
1t not only my duty, but 1t will be my ardent
desire to labor for the attain meut OF this end.
Let me assure my cOuntrymen of the south
ern states that, II shall be charged with the
duty OF organizing An administration, 1t will
be one which will regard and cherish their
truest interests, the interests of the white
and colored people, both and equally, and
which will put forth its best efforts in behalf
of civil policy which will wipe out forever
the distinction between the North and South
In our common country; with Q civil service
organized upon system which will secure
purity, experience, efficiency and economy;
. strict regard for the public welfare, solely,
In appointments, and the SPEEDY, thorough,
and npsparing prosecution and pc nish ment
Of all public Officers who betray official
trusts; with Q sound currency; with e1uca-