The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1876-07-13
Gov. Unye,, Letter of Acceptance.

senlcu 10 INC pupiiC.
Gov. Hnyes' Letter OF Acceptance.
COLUMBUS, o., July 9.-The following
is the letter of Gov. Hayes accepting the
Republican nomination for the Presiden-
cy:
COLUMBUS, o., July s, 1876.
Hon. Eduard Mcpherson, Hon. lPm. A.
Howard, Hon. Joseph IL. Rainey, nnd
Others, Committee Of Republican Nation
al Convention
GENTLEMEN-In reply to your official
communication Of June Ii, by which
am informed of my nomination tor the
Office Of President OF the United States
by the Republican National Convention
at Cincinnati, / accept the nomination
with gratitude, hoping that under Prov
idence | shall be able, it elected, TO exc
cute the duties of the high office as
trust for the benefit of all the people.
do not deem it necessary 10 enter upon
any extended examination of the decla-
ration of the principles made by the con-
vention. The resolutions arc In accord
with my views, and l heartily concur in
the principles they announce. In sew
cral of the resolutions, however, cues
tons are considered which are OF such
Importance that | deem 1t proper to
briefly express my convictions IN regard
10 them. The fifth resolution adopted
by the convention is of paramount III
terest More than forty years ago sys-
tenn of making appointments to Office
grew up based upon the maxim, "To the
victor belong the spoils." The old rule,
the true rule, that honesty, capacity ana
fidelity constitute the only real qualiii-
cations for office, and that there is no
other claim, gave place TO the idea that
party services were to be chiefly ccnsld-
cred. All parties in practice have adopt
ed 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 departments, made
all the appointments but gradually the
appointing power, in many cases, passed
into the control Of mem bers OF congress.
The Offices in these cases have become
not merely rewards for party services,
but rewards to party leaders. This
system destroys the independence
of the separate departments of the gov
ernment it tends directly to extraya-
gaucc and oilieial incapaclty it is tenn,
patton TO dishonesty; it hlnders and
impairs that careful supervision and
strict accountability by which alone
faithful and efficient public service can
be received it obstructs the prompt re-
moval and sure punishment OF the un-
worthy III every way; it dcgrades the
civil service and the character of the gov
ernment; it is felt, am confident, by a
largo majority Of the members OF con-
gress to be an intolerable burden and
understandable hindrancc to the proper
discharge OF their legitimate duties. 1t
ought to be abolished. The reform
should be thorough, radical and com
plete. We should return 10 the princi-
pies and practice of the founders OF tie
government, supplying, by legislation,
when needed, that which was formerly
an established custom. They neither
expected or desired from the public of
fees any partisan service. They meant
that public officers should owe their
whole services to the government and
to tho people. They meant that the OF
ficer 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 will be employed TO establish
this reform.
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 End
followed by the early presidents can be
best accomplished by an executive who
is under no temptation 20 use TIE pat
ronage of his Office 10 promote his own
reelection, desire 20 perform what
regard as q duty IN stating now my in
flexible purpose, if elected, not 10 be q
candidate TO a second term.
On the currency question | have fire.
quently expressed my views in public,
and I stand by my record on this sub
iect. | regard all the laws Of the United
States relating 10 the payment OF the
public Indebtedness, the legal tendsr
notes included, as constituting pledge
and moral obligation of The government
which must, in good faith, be kept. II
is my conviction that the feeling OF IN
certainty inscparable from an irredeem-
able paper currency, with ITS fluctuations
of values, is one OF the great obstacles 10
a revival of confidence and business, and
to a return OF prosperity. That unccr-
;aintv can be ended IN but ore way
the resumption OF specie payment; bet
the longer the instability connected With
our present money system Is permitted
20 continue, the greater will be the in
jury inflicted upon our economical IN
,ercsis and all classes OF society If
elected, shall approve every measure
to accomplish the desired end, and shall
OPPOSE aay step backward
The resolutgon with tbs respect TO the
pablic school system is one which should
receive the hearty support of the Amer
can people. Agitation upon ihis subject
Is - 70 aVrEclsnisi Ghsils y Se..sl.ls