The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-07-14
COY. HAYES LETTER OF ACCEPT
ANCR.

ooinAi''oo " tno noPothio"A -s~~~~">i ~os@'oh-
GHsrLxxnx-In reply to your official CON-
munication OF june II. BY which am uniformed
Of my nomination for the Office OF President.
Of the United States by the Republican Ma
tional Convention at Cincinnati. Accept the
nomination with gratitude hoping that under
Providence, l shall be able, II elected, 70
execute the duties of the high Office ~ q trust
for the benefit of all the people.
do not deem II 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 I
heartily concur in the principles they announce
In several of the resolutions, however, ques-
tons are considered which are OF such impor-
lance that deem II proper to briefly express
my convictions In regard to them.
The fifth resolution adopted by the conven-
ton is of paramount interest. More than forty
years ago system OF making appointments to
Office grew up, based upon the maxim, ITO the
victors belong the spoils. The old rule-the true
rule-that honesty, capacity. and fidelity consti-
tute the only real qualifications for ofics, 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 the sys-
tenn. IL has been essentially modified since it's
first introduction 1t has not, however, been
improved. At first the President, either di-
reotly or through the heads of departments,
made all the appointments. But gradually the
the control 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 departments
OF the Government. 1t tends directly to ex-
travagsnce and official inoapaoity it is temp
tation to dishonesty; it hinders and impairs
that careful supervision and strict account
ability by which alone faithful and efficient
public service can be occurred ii obstructs the
prompt removal and sure punishment of the
unworthy in every way 1t degrades the civil
service and the character Of the Government !;
it Is felt, am confident, by large majority of
the members OF Congress- to be an intolerable
burden and an unwarrantAble hindrance to the
proper discharge Of their legitimate duties ; it
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
legislation, when needed, that which was for
merly established custom. They neither eK-
pected nor desired from the public officer any
partisan service. They meant that public Off
GERS should owe their whole service to the Gov
eminent and to the people. They meant that
the officer should be secure in his tenure as
long as his personal character remained unfair
nished, aud the performance Of his duties
satisfactory.
II elected, / shall conduct the administra-
ton OF the Government upon these principles,
hilu MI COnsututtOudi pOWoib NoptcQ III VIC
Executive will be employed to establish this
reform.
The declaration of principles by the Cincin-
natl Convention makes no announcement in
favor of single Presidential term l do not
assume to add to that declaration, but believ-
ing 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 his own reelection, i desire to per-
form what regard as duty in stating now
my inaexible purpose, If elected, not to be a
candidate for election TO q second term.
On the currency question l have frequently
expressed my views in public and 1 stand by
my record on this subject. / regard all the
laws of the United States relating to the pay
ment of the public Indebtedness, the legal
tender notes included, as constituting pledge
| and moral obligation of the Government which
must in good faith be kept. 1t is my convic-
ton that the feeling IF uncertainty inseparable
| from an irredeemable paper currency, with its
| fluctuations OF values, ii one OF the great oh
stacles to a revival of confidence and business,
and to return Of prosperity. That uncertainty
| can be ended in but one way-the resumption
OF spscie payments but the longer the insta-
bilty connected with our present money sys-
tenn is permitted to continue the greater will
be the injury inflicted upon our economical in
terests and all classes of society. Ii elected, l
shall approve every appropriate measure to
accomplish the desired end, and shall oppose
any step backward.
The resolution with respect TO the public
school system is one which should receive the
hearty support of the American people. Agita-
ton upon this subject is to be spprehended
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 resolution of the convention on the sub
| ject OF the permanent pacitication OF the coun-
try, and the complete protection Of all its citi-
zens in the full enjoyment of all their consti-
tutional rights, is timely and OF great i'm
portance. The condition of the Southern
States attracts the attention and commands
the sympathy Of the people Of the whole
| Union. In their progressive recovery from the
effects of the war, their first necessity is an in
telligent and honest administration OF Govern
nent which will protect all classes OF citizens
in all their political and private rights. What
the South most needs is peace, and peace de-
Ponds upon the supremacy OF law. There can
be no enduring peace il the constitutional
rights of any portion Of the people are habitu-
ally disregsrded. A division OF political parties
resting merely upon distinction OF race, or up
on sectional lines, Is always unfortunate, and
may be disastrous. The welfare Of the South,
alike with that of every ether part of the coun-
| try, depends upon the attractions it can offer
| to labor, to immigration, and to capital But
| laborers will not 60, and capital will not be
ventured, where the Constitution and the
laws are set at defiance, and distraction, ap-
prehension, and alarm take the place of peace
and loving and law-abiding social life. All
parts of the Constitution are sacred and must
| be sacredly observed, ''the parts that are new
no less than che parts that are DID," The
moral and material prosperity of the Southern
States can be most effectually advanced by a
hearty and generous recognition of the rights
of all by all. "a recognition without reserve
or exception"
| With such recognition fully accorded, it
will be practicable to promote, by the infeuce
of all legitimate agencies of the general Gov
eminent, the efforts of the people of those
States to obtain for themselves the blessings OF
honest and capable local government. IL elect
cd, i snail consider II not only my duty, but il
will be my ardent desire, to labor for the at
tainment OF this end. Let me assure my coun-
trymen of the Southern States that If 1 shall be
charged with the duty of organizing an admin
istration, IL will be one which will re-
gard and cherish their truest in
terests, the interests of the white
and of the colored people, both, and equally,
and which will put forth its best efforts in be-
half of civil policy which will wipe out for
ever the distinction between the North and
South in our common country.
With civil service organized upon q system
which will secure purity, experience, efficiency,
aud economy, strict regard for the public well
fare, solely. in appOintments and the spaadv