The Portland daily press., 1876-11-01
Our Platform.
Hayes's Letter of Acceptance.
COLUMBUS, OHIO, July s, 1876.

COLUMBUS, OHfo, July s, 1876.
Bon. Edaoard Mcpherson, and others, Committee
of the Republican Noti0ndt Convention
GENTLEMEN,-In reply to your official COM
munication of June 18th, BY which | am in
formed of my nomination for the office of Pres
ldent of the United States by the Republican
National Convention at Cincinnati, l accept
the nomination with gratitude, hoping that
under Providence shall be able, if elected,
TO execute the duties of the high office as a
trust for the benefit of all the people
do not deem it necessary to enter upon any
extended examination of the declaration OF
principles made by the convention. The reso.
lutions are in accord with my views and L
heartily concur in the pr nciples they announce
In several of the resolutions, however, ques-
tons are considered wbioh are of such i'm
portance that deem it proper to briefly express
my convictions in regard to then.
THE CIVIL SERVICE
The fifth resolution adopted by t he conven-
ton is of paramount interest. More than forty
years ago, system of making appointments
to Office grew up, based upon the maxim "To
the victors belong the spolls." The old rule
the true rule-that honesty, capacity and fidel-
ity constitute the only real qualifications for
Office, aud 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 essen
tally modified since its first introduction. 1t
mas uOp, however, De6Q Improved.
At FIRST the President, either directly or
through the heads of departments; made all
the appointments; but gradually the ap-
pointing power, in many cases, passed into
the control of members of CONGRESS. The
Offices. in these cases, have become not
merely rewards for party services, but re-
wards for services to party leaders. This sys
tenn destroys the independence of the separate
departments of the government; it tends d.
rectly TO extravaganza and official incapacity;
-. 49,, 10 d;chn haro md
impairs that careful supervision aud strict ac-
countability by which alone faithful and eff
Gent public service can be secured; it obstrocts
the prompt removal and sure punishment of
the unworthy. In every way it degrades the
civil service and the character of the govern
ment. 1t is felt, am confident, by large
ma GRITTY of the memoirs of Congress to be
an intolerable burden, and an Unwarrantabe
hindrance to the proper discharge of their
legitimate duties. IL ought to be abolished
The reform should be thorough, radical and
complete.
We should return to the principles and prac-
tice of The founders of the government, sup
plying by legislation, when needed, that which
was formerly established custom. They neither
expected nor desired from the public officer any
partisan service. They meant that the officer
should be secure IN his tenure as long as his
personal character remained untarn,shed and
the performance of his duties satisfactory. If
elected, shall cocduct the administration of
constitutional powers vested 10 the executive
will BE- employed to establish this reform.
The declaration Of principles by the CincL-
natl convention makes no announcement in IA
vor of single presidential term do not as
sumo to add to that declaration; but, believing
that the restoration of the civil service TO the
system established by Washington and fol-
lowed by the early presidents can be best ac-
complished by an executive who is under no
temptation to use the patronage of his Office to
promote bis own reelection, desire to perform
what regard az a duty, in stating now my in
flexible purpose, if elected, not to be candi-
date for election to a second term.
THE CURRENCY.
On the currency question l have frequently
expressed my views 10 public, and [ stand by
my record 90 this subject l regard all the
laws OF the United States relating to the pay
ment of the public Indebtedness, the legal ter
der notes iuciuded, as constituting pledge add
moral obligation of the government, which
must in good faith be kept. 1t is my convic-
ton that the feeling OF uncertainty lnseparabie
from an irredee msble paper currency, with its
fluctuations of Values is one IF the great obsta
cles to revival of confidence and business, and
to q return of prosperity. That uncertainty can
be ended in but one way-the resumption of
specie payments; but the longer the instability
connected with our present money system is
permitted TO continue, the greater will be the
injury Inflicted upon our economical interests
and all classes of society.
IL tfcCttuy eudil dppIuNc every dppTOpIlhtc
measure to accomplish the desired end, aud
shall oppose any step backward
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The resolution with respect 20 the public
school system is one which should receive the
hearty support of the American people. Agi-
taton upon this subject is to be apprehended,
until, by constitutional amendment the schools
are placed beyond all danger of sectarian con-
troll or interference. The Republican party is
pledged to secure such an amendment.
THE SOUTHERN STATES
The resolution of the convention on the SUBJ
ject of the permanent pacifcatiOn of the coun-
try, and the complete protection of all its
cihzens in the free enjoyment of all their con-
stitutional rights, is timely and of great impor-
tau CO. The condition OF the Southern States
attracts the attention and commands the SYM
pathy of the people of the whole Union. In
their progressive recovery from the effects of
the war, their first necessity is an intelligent
and honest administration of government,
which will protect all classes OF citizens in all
their political and private rights What the
South most needs is peace, aud peace depends
upon the supremacy of law. There can be no
enduring peace if the constitutional rights of
any portion of the people are habitually disre-
gerded. A division of political parties resting
merely upon distractions of race, or upon
sectional lines, is always unfortunate and may
be disastrous. The welfare of the South, alike
with that of every other part of the country,
labor, to immigration and to capital. But
laborers VIII not go and capital will not be ven-
tured where the constitution and the laws are
set at defiance, and distraction, apprehension
and alarm take the place of peace-loving and
law-abiding social life. All parts of The con-
stitution are sacred, and must be sacredly OBJ
-erved, the parts tina. are new no less than the
parts that are old. The moral and material
prosperity of the Southern States can be most
effectively advanced by hearty and generous
recognition of the rights of all by all, recog-
milton without reserve or exception.
With such recognition fully accorded, it
will be practicable to promote by the Influence
OF all legitimate agencies of the general govern
ment, the efforts of the people of these states
to obtain for themselves the blessings of honest
and capable local government.
If elected shall consider il cot only nv duty
but it will be my ardent desire to labor for the
attainment of this end.
Let me assure my country men of the south
ern States that. if l shall be charged with the
duty of organizing an administration, it will be
one which will regard and cherish their truest
lnterests,-the interests of the white and of the
colored people both and equally; and winch
will put forth its best efforts 10 behalf of civil
policy which will wipe out forever the distioc-
ton between North and South in our common
country.
REHABILITATION.
With civil service organized upon a system
winch Will secure purity, experience efficiency
and economy; with strict regard for the Cub
lie welfare, solely, in appointments; with the
speedy. thorough, and unsparing prosecution
and punishment of all public officers who be-
tray official trusts; with sound currency:
with education unsectariaD and free to ali ;
with simplicity arc frugalIty in public aud pri-
vate affairs, aud with fra ernal spirit of bar
noDy pervadIng the people OF all sections and
classes, we may reasonably hope that the Sec
ond century o: our existence a nation wllI
by the blessing of God, be pre-em neut as n
era OF good feeling, aud period of progress,
prosperity and happiness
Very respectfully, your fellow citizen,
r. b. HAYES.