Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-07-20
GOVERNOR HAYES.
HIS LETTER OF FACCEPTAN CE
He Declares for Civil Service
Reform, A Single Presi-
Dental Term, Free and
UnSectarian Schools,
Fraternal Har-
mOny, &c.
GOVERNOR HAYES.


mOny, &c.
COLUMBUS, O., July 9.
The following is the letter of Gov
ernor Hayes, accepting the Republl-
can nomination for the Presidency:
COLUMBUS, July s.
Hon. Ed,card MCPHERSON, Hon.
Wm. Il. HowGrd, Hon. Joseph
II. Rainey md Others, Committee
Of the Republican National Con-
Vention.
GENTLEMEN-In reply to your Off
cial communication of June 18th, by
which [ am informed of my nomina-
ton for the office of President of the
United States, by the Republican
National Convention at Cincinnati, /
accept the nomination with graft
tude, hoping that, under Providence,
/ shall he 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 an extended examination OF
the declaration of principles made
by the convention. The resolutions
are in accord with my views, and l
heartily concur in the principles they
announce.
In several of the resolutions, how
ever, questions are considered OF
such Importance that l deem it
proper to briefly express my convlc-
tions in regard to them.
The fifth resolution adopted by the
Convention is of paramount interest.
More than forty years ago a system
of making appointments to office
grew up, based upon the maxim,
"To the victors belong the spoils." ="
The old rale, the true rule, that hon
esty, capacity and fidelity constitute
the only real qualification 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 its first introduction.
1t has not, however, been improved.
At first the President, either directly
or through the heads Of the depart
ments, made all the appointments,
but gradually the appointing power,
in many cases, passed into the con-
troll of members of Congress. The
offices in these cases have become,
not merely rewards for party services,
but rewards for services to party
leaders. This system destroys the
independence of the separate depart
ments of the Government. 1t tends
directly to extravaganza and official
incapacity. 1t is a temptation to
dishonesty, it hinders and impairs
that careful supervision and strict
accountability by which, alone, faith
ful and efficient public service can be
secured. 1t obstructs the prompt
removal and sure punishment of the
unworthy. In every way it degradcs
the civil service and the character OF
the Government. 1t is felt, l am
confident, by large majority Of the
members of Congress, to be an in
tolerable burden and an unwarranta
Bile hindrancc to the proper discharge
of their legitimate duties. 1t ought
to be abolished. The reform should
be thorough, radical, and complete
We should return to the principles
and practice of the founders Of the
Government, supplying by legisla
ton, when needed, that which was
formerly the established custom
They neither expected nor desired
from the public officer, any partisan
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 charac
ter remained untarnished, and thu
performance of his duties satisfac
tory. If elected, ] shall conduct thu
administration of the Government
upon these principles, and all thu
constitutional powers vested in tn
Executive will be employed to es
tablish this reform.
The declaration Of principles b,
the Cincinnati Convention makes NJ
announcement in favor of singl
Presidential term. / do not assum
tUadd to that declaration. but bcliev
ing that the restoration of the civi
service to the system established b
Washington and followed by tn
. early Presidents can be best accom-
plished by an Executive who is III
der no temptation to use the patron