Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-07-12
GOVERNOR RAVES, AccEprANcE.


for the Presidency:
COLUMBUS, Ohio July s, 1876.
The Hon. Edward Mcpherson, the |
Hon. VIM. A. Howard, the Hon.
Joseph II. Rainey, and others,
Committee of the Republican Ma
tional Convention.
GENTLEMEN: In reply to your
official communication of juno II, by
which am informed of my nomina-
ton for the Office of President of the
United States by the Republican Ma
tional Convention at Cincinnati. l
accept the nomination with gratitude,
hoping that, under Providence,I shall
be able. If elected. to execute the du-
ties of the high Office as trust for the
benefit of all the people. l do not
deem it necessary to enter upon any
extended examination of the declara-
ton of principles made by the con-
vention. The resolutions are in ac-
cord with my views, and / heartily
concur in the principles they an
nounce. In several Of the resolutions.
however, questions are considered
which are of such Importance that /
deem it proper to briefly express my
convictions in regard to them.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
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 rule, "the true rule,' that
honesty, capacity. and fidelity consti.
tute the only real qualifications for
office, and that there is no other claim.
gave place to the idea that party SER
vices 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.
All first the President, either directly
or through the heads of departments.
made all the appointments But
gradually the appointing power, in
many cases, passed into the control of
members of Congress. The offices in
these cases have not become merely
rewards for party services, but re-
wards for services to party leaders.
This system destroys the indepcnd-
ence of the separate departments of
the government. 1t tends directly to
extravaganza and official incapacity.
II is temptation to dishonesty it him
ders and impairs that careful super
vision and accountability by which
alone faithful and efficient public SER
vice can be secured. II obstructs the
prompt removal and sure punishment
of the unworthy. In every way it
degrades the civil service and the
character of the government. 1t is
felt, | am confident, by a large ma
iority of the members of Congress, to
be an intolerable burden and an I'M
warrantable hindrance to the proper
discharge Of their 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 legislation
when needed that which was former
ly established by custom. They. nei-
Their expected nor desired from the
public officer any partisan service ;
they meant that public officers should
owe their whole services to the gov
eminent and to the peoples; they
meant that the officer should be Sc
cure in his tenure as long as his per-
sonal character remains untarnished,
and the performance of his duties
satisfactory. If elected, shall con-
duct the administration of the gov
eminent upon these principles, and
all constitutional powers vested in
the executive will be employed to
establish this reform.
THE PRESIDENTIAL TERM.
The declaration of principles by the
Cincinnati convention makes no an
nouncement in favor of single Pres
idential term. / do not assume to
add to that declaration but believing
1 that the restoration of the civil ser.
vice to the system established by
| Washington and followed by the ear.
" Presidents, can be best accomplish.
cd by an executive who is under nc
temptation to use the patronage OF
his Office to promote his own re-elec.
ton, l desire to perform what ] re
gard as duty, in stating now IN.
intlcxiblc purpose, if elected, not tt
be a candidate for election to a sec
ond term. On
THE CURRENCY QUESTION,
l have frequently expressed my views
in public, and l stand by my record
OH this subject. Iregard all the law'
of the United States relating to til,
payment of the public Indebtedness
the legal tender notes included, a
5 constituting pledge and moral obi
CATION of the government, which
must in good faith be kept. 1t is m,
conviction that the feeling Of uncer
tainty inseparable from an irredeem
able paper currency, with its fluctua
tons of value, is one of the great oh
stacles to revival of confidence an,
business, and to a return of prosper
ity. That uncertainty can be endet
but in one way, "the resumption o
specie payments" but the longer til
instability connected with on
present money system is permit
: ted to continue. the greater will b
the injury inflicted upon our econom
, ical interests, and all classes of soci
ETY.. If elected l shall approve ever
) appropriate measure to accomplish
l the desired end, and shall oppose an
2 step backward. The resolution wit
respect to
} THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM,
/, is one which should receive the heart
, support Of the American people,
Agitation upon this subject is to b
e apprehended until, by constitutions
amendments, the schools are place
beyond all danger of sectarian con
. troll or interference. The Rcpubl
I can party is pledged TO secure sue
G an amendment.
g The resolution of the convention o
, the subject of the permanent pacifica
ton of the country and the cOmplet
: protection of all its citizens in tn
free enjoyment Of all their constitu
tional rights is timely and of grea
importance.
; THE CONDITION OF THE souTHER
STATES
q attracts the attention and command
f the sympathy of the people of til
n whole Union. In their progressiv
q recovery from the effects of the wa
:. their first necessity is an intelliger
!. and honest administration Of govern
4 ment which will protect all classes {
N clllLcHs III al tIlcII politiCdl anu pi
n vate rights. What the South mo-
p needs is peace, and peace depends W
q on the supremacy of law. There ca
= be no enduring peace if the constitl
, tional rights of any portion of I'll
:, people are habitually disregarded.
E division of political parties, restil
!, merely upon distinctions of race, (
ls upon sectional lines, is always unfo
= = tnnate, and may be disastrous. IT
- welfare of the South, alike with tn.
a of every other part of the country, d,
T" ponds upon the attractions il can off
TO labor, to immigration, and to cap
tai. But laborers will not go, an
capital will not be yentured, wheI
- the Constitution and the laws are s.
= at defiance, and distraction, Apr
hension, and alarm take the place
peace-loying and law-abiding soci
life. All parts of the Constitution al
sacred, and must be sacredly oil
seryed--sthe parts that are new j