The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-07-13

The Hon. Edward Mcpherson, the Hon. VIVA;
A. Howard, the Hon. Joseph II. Rainey, and
Convention.
GENTLEMEN: In reply to your official
communication of June II, by which L
am informed of my nomination for the
Office of President of the United States
by the Republican National Convention
at Cincinnati, I accept the nomination
with gratitude, hoping, that under
Providence. l shall be able, if elected,
to execute the duties of the high Office
as trust for the benefit of all the peo-
pie. I do not deem it necessary to en-
ter upon any extended examination OF
the declaration of principles made by
the convention. The resolutions are IN
accord with my views, and heartily
concur in the principles they announce.
In several of the resolutions, however,
questions are considered which are OF
such Importance that I deem it proper
to briefly express my convictions IN re-
gard 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, 'sTo the victor
belong the spoils" The old rule, 'sthe
true rule" that honesty, capacity, and
fidelity constitute the only real qualiti-
cations for office, and that there is no
other claim gave place to the idea that
party services were to be chiefly consid
cred. All parties: in practice, have
adopted this system. 1t has been essen
TALLY modified since its first introduction.
1t has not, however, been improved.
At first the President. either directly or
through the heads of departments,
made all the appointments. But
gradually the appointing power, III
many cases, passed into the control OF
members of Congress. The offices IN
these cases have become not merely re-
wards for party services, but rewards for
services to party leaders. This system
destroys the independence of the sepa
rate departments of the government. 1t
tends directly to extravaganza and Off
cial incapacity. 1t is temptation to
dishonesty; it binders and impairs that
careful supervision and accountability
by which alone faithful and efficient
public service can be secured. 1t OBJ
structs 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,
I am confident, by large majority OF
the members of Congress, to be an intol-
cradle burden and an understandable
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 legis-
lation when needed that which was for
merly established by custom. They
neither expected nor desired from the
public officer any partisan service; they
meant that public officers should owe
their whole service to the government
and to the people; they meant that the
officer should be secure in his tenure as
long as his personal character remained
untarnished, and the performance of
his duties satisfactory. If elected, [
shall conduct the administration of the
government upon these principles, and
all constitutional powers vested in the
executive viii 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 Presi-
Dental term. / do not assume to add
to that declaration; but, believing that
the restoration of the civil service to the
system established by Washington and
followed by the early Presidents can be
best accomplished by an executive who
is under no temptation to use the pat
ronage of his Office to promote his own
collection, L desire to perform what I
regard as duty, in stating now my in
flexible purpose, if elected, not to be a
candidate for election TO a second term.
On
THE CURRENCY QUESTION,
I have frequently expressed my views,
in public, and / stand by my record on
this subject. [ regard all the laws of the
United States relating to the payment
of the public indebtedness, the legal
tender notes included, as constituting a
pledge and moral obligation of the gov
eminent, which must in good faith be
kept. 1t is my conviction that the feel
ing of uncertainty inseparable from an
irredeemable paper currency, with its
fluctuations of values, is one of the great
obstacles to a revival of confidence and
business, and to 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 per-
nlitted to continue, the greater will be
the injury inflicted upon our economical
interests, and all classes of society. If
elected, [ shall approve every appropri-
ate measure to accomplish the desired
end, and shall oppose any step back
ward. The resolution with respect to
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM,
is one which should receive the hearty
support of the American people. Agi-
tation upon this subject is to be appre
hended until, by constitutional amend
ments, the schools are placed beyond all
danger of sectarian control or interfer-
ence. The Republican party is pledged
to secure such an amendment.
The resolution of the convention on
the subject of the permanent pacifica-
ton of the country and the complete
protection of all its citizens in the free
enjoyment of all their constitutional
rights is timely and of great Importance
THE CONDITION OF THE SOUTHERN
STATES
attracts the attention and commands the
sympathy of the whole Union. In their
progressive recovery from the effects of
the war their first necessity is an intelli-
gent and honest administration of gov
eminent which will protect all classes of
citizens in all their political and private
rights. What the South most needs is
peace, and peace depends upon the SUI
premacy of law. There can be no endur-
ing peace If the constitutional rights of
any portion of the people are habitualiy
disregarded. A division of political
parties, resting merely upon distinctions
of race, or upon sectional lines, is al
ways unfortunate, and may be disastrous.
ILL., r,-all e, af IL, -,