The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-07-18

CoLUMBus, July .. The following is
the letter of Gov. Hayes. accepting the
Republican nomination for the Presi-
dency.
CoLUMBus, o., July \, 1876.
! 10 the Hons Edward McPherson, Vim. A.
/ Howard. Joseph II. iaIncy and others of
the COMMITTEES Of the Republican, National
! Convent ion: 40 4.
GESrLEaES In reply 10 your official
communication Of June IL, 10y which
! am informed of my nomination for the
Office of President Of the United States
10y the Republican National Conyen-
/ tion ut Cincinnati, / accept the nomi-
nation with gratitude, hoping that nn-
der Providence [ shall be able, IL elect.
I Ell, To- execute the duties of the high
/ Office as a trust for the benefit of all
I the people. do not deem il necess-
airy to enter upon any extended exami-
nation Of the declaration Of principles
made by the convention. The resolu-
tions are in accord with my views. and
heartily concur in the principles they
announce. In several OF the resolu-
tions, however. questions are consider
ed which are of such importance that
deem il proper to briefly express my
tbbNi'hiOh ih itHuiu W ihNh.
OPTICAL APPOINTMENTS.
The fifth resolution adopted 10y the
convention is of paramount interest. -
More than 40 years ago a system of
making appointments To Office grew mp.
based upon the maxim "to the victors
belong the spoils. Tie old rule, the
true rule, that honesty, capacity aud
fidelity constitute the only real auali-
tications for ofIlce, and that There Is no
other claim, gave place 10 the idea that
party service were TO ne chiefly con-
sidcred. All parties, in practice, have
adopted this system. II has been es-
! sentially modified since its first intro
I duction. IL has not, however, been
/ improved. At first the President eth
er directly, or through the heads OF
departments, made all tue appoint
ments, but gradually the appointing
1 power IN many cases passed into the
/ control of the members of Congress. -
4 The Offices in these cases have become
not merely rewards for party service,
I but rewards for services 10 party lead
ers. This system destroys the indie.
, pendence of the separate departments
I Of the Government. IL tends directly
; To extravegance and official incapacity;
/ il is temptation to dishonesty; II
hinders and impairs that careful super
vision and strict accountability by
which alone faithful aud efficient put-
: lie service can be secured; IL obstructs
I tine prompt removal aud sure punish
! mebt OF the unworthy. la every way
l II de9radcs the civil service aud the
Z oiiaiaCtca Uf Ilsu uOseIuuIoIIt, In il
felt, L am confident, by large majUri.
~ of the members of Congress To he
an intolerable hindrance To the proper
discharge Of their Legitimate duties. -
! II ought to be abolished. The reform
should be thorough, radical and com
plete. We should return To the prin-
ciplcs aud practices of the founders oi
the Government, supplying by legisla.
tiOn, when needed, that which was
formerly established by custom. They
4 neither expected nor desired from the
1 public officers any partisan service.
They meant that political officers shO'd
l owe their whole service 10 the Govern
I ment aud to the people. They meant
that the officer should be secure i'm his
tenure AS long as his personal charac-
! ter remained untarnished and the per
4 fOrmance of his duties satisfactory.
! IL elected, l shall conduct the ad-
( ministration Of the Government upon
these principles, aud all constitutional
powers vested in TIE Executive will he
employed to establish this reform.