The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-05

SATURDAY MORNING.
in everything they would attempt. They
stop and wait. The merchant does not buy
for the future consumption Of his
customers. The manufacturer dares
produce fabrics which may not refund
him his outlay. He shuts his factory
and discharges his workmen. Capitalists
cannot lend on security they consider un-
safe. and their funds lie almost without in
terest. Men Of enterprise who have credit
or securities to pledge will not borrow.
CONSUMPTION has fallen below the natural
limits of reasonable economy. Prices OF
many things are under their range in frugal
specie-paying times before the civil war.
Vast masses of currency lie in the banks
untouched. A year and half ago the
legal-tenders were at their largest
volume, and the twelve millions
since retired have been replaced by fresh
issues OF fifteen millions of bank-notes. In
the meantime, the banks have been surren-
dering about four millions month because
they cannot find profitable use for so many
OF their notes. The public mind will no
longer accept shams. 1t has suffered enough
from illusions. An insincere policy in
creases distrust; an unstable policy increases
uncertainty. The people need to know that
the Government is moving in the direction
Of ultimate safety and prosperity, and that
it is doing so through prudent, safe, and
conservative methods, which will be sure to
inflict no new sacrifice on the business Of
the country Then the inspiration Of new
hope and welLfounded confidence will has
ten the restoring processes OF nature, and
prosperity will begin to return. The St.
Louis Convention concludes its expression
in regard to the currency by declaration
of its convictions as to the practical results
of the system:
owe believe such system wcll-devised,
and, above all, entrusted to competent
hands for execution, creating at notice an
artificial scarcity OF currency, and at no
time alarming the public mind into with
drawal OF that vaster machinery Of credit
by which ninety-fve per cent. OF all busi-
ness transactions are performcd-a system
open, public, and inspiring general conf
dence-would, from the day OF its adoption,
bring healing on its wings to all our harrass-
ed industries; set in motion the wheels OF
commerce, manufactures, and the mechanic
arts; restore employment to labor, and re-
new in all its natural sources the prosperity
OF the people.
The Government OF the Uuited States, in
my opinion, can advance to resumption OF
specie payment on its legal-tendcr notes by
q gradual and safe process tending to re-
lieve the present business distress. II
charged by the people with the administers
tion Of the Executive Office l should deem
| it a duty so to exercise the powers with
which it has been or may be invested by
Congress as best and soonest to conduct
the country to that beneficent result.
Civil-Service Reform.
The. Convention Justly affirms that re-
| form is necessary in the civil service, ne
cessary to its purifcation, necessary to its
economy and its efficiency, necessary in
order that the ordinary employment OF the
public business may not be ga prize fought
for at the ballot-boX-a brief reward OF
party zeal-instead of posts OF honor as.
signed for proved competency and held
for fidelity in the public employ" The
Convention wisely added that reform is ne,
cessary even more in the higher grades OF
the public service. President, Vice-Presi.
dent, judges, senators, representatives, cab
met otticers-these, and all others in autho.
rity, IRE the peoples servants. Their official
duties are not q private prerequisite. They
are public trust. Two evils infest the ofh.
cial service OF the Federal Government
one is the prevalent and demoralizing no.
ton that the public service exists not
for the business and benefit OF the whole
people, but for the interest OF the office.
holders, who arc in truth but the servants OF
the people. Under the influence OF this
pernicious error public cmployments have
been multiplied; the numbers OF these
gathered into the ranks OF ottice-holders
have been steadily increased beyond any
possible requirement Of the public business,
while inefficiency, peculation, fraud, and
malversation OF the public funds, from the
high places of power to the lowest, have
overspread the whole service like q
| leprosy. The other evil is the organi-
zation of the official classes into 4
body OF political mercenaries, governing
the caucuses and debating the nominations
Of their own party, and attempting to carry
the elections Of the people by undue infiu-
ence and by immense corruption frauds,
Systematically collected from the salaries or
fees OF office-holders. The official class in
other countries sometimes by its own weight
and sometimes in alliance with the army,
has been able to rule the unorganized masses
even under universal suffrage. Here 1t has
already grown into Il gigantic power, capa-
BILE OF sitting the inspiration OF sound pub
lie opinion and OF resisting an easy change
OF administration, until misgovernments
become intolerable and public spirit has
been strung to the pitch OF q civil reyolu-
ton.
The first step in reform is the elevation OF
the standard by which the appointing pow
er selects agents to execute official trusts.
Next in importance is conscientious fdeli.
ty in the exercise OF the authority to hold
to account and displace untrustworthy or
Incapable subordinates. After these imme-
diate steps, which will ensure the exhibit
tion of better examples, we may wisely go
on to the abolition Of unnecessary offices,
and finally to the patient, careful organiza-
ton OF a better civil-service system, under
the tests, wherever practicable, OF proved
competency and fidelity.
While much may be accomplished by these
methods, it might encourage delusive eXpec-
tations il I withheld here the expression OF
nv conviction that no reform OF the civil
service in this country will be complete and
permanent until its Chief Magistrate is con-
stitutionally disqualified for reelection, eX-
perience having repeatedly exposed the fu-
tility OF seli-imposed restriction by candl-
dates or incumbents. Through this solenl-
nifty only can he be etfectually delivered
from his great temptation to misuse the
power and patronage with which the EXecu-
tive is necessarily charged.
Conclusion.
Educated in the belief that it is the first
duty of a citizen Of the republic to take his
| u %,-o,, L. h n