Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-08-16

i
Secretary has done nothing under his
power to issue bonds. The legislative
command, the official promises fixing
day for resumption, have thus far
been barren. No practical preparations
toward resumption have been made.
There has been no progress. There
nave been steps backward. There is
no necromancy in the operations of
Government. The homely maxims of
everyday life are the best standards of
lts conduct. A debtor who should
promise to pay a loan out of surplus
income, yet be seen every day spend
ing all he could lay his hands on in
rlotous living, would lose all character
Tor honeSty and veracity. His offer of
new promise or his profession as to
the value of the cid promise would
alike provoke derision."
Helthen refers at length to the de-
preston Of business favorite theme
of his-and argues to show, as he once
did before, that his election would re-
suit IN instantaneous improvement.
Civil service reform next attracts his
attention. He then proceeds with great
understanding to talk about the evils
that surround the civil service-for he
has disposed of many offices in his
time and knows how it is. He says:
Two evils infest the official service of
the Federal government. One is the
prevalent and demoralizing notion that
the public service exists not for the
business of the whole people, but for the
interest of the office-holders, who are in
truth but the servants of the people.
The other evil is the organization of the
official class into 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 infu-
ence and by immense corruption funds
Systematically collected from the sala-
rles or fees Of office-holders."
This he says he would put stop to.
In conclusion he says, with character
istic modesty:
Educated in the belief that it is
the first duty of a citizen of the repub-
lie to take his fair allotment of care
and trouble in public affairs, I have,
for forty years, as a private citizen, full
filed that duty. Though occupied in
an unusual degree during all that pc
Rod with the concerns of government,
[ have never acquired the habit of Of
fetal life. When, a year and half
ago, | entered upon my present trust,
it was in order to consummate reforms
to which had already devoted several
of the best years of my life. Know
ing as [ do, therefore, from fresh ex-
perience, how great the difference is
between gliding through an official
routine and working out reform of
systems and policies, it is impossible
for me to contemplate what needs to
be done in the federal administration
without an anxious sense Of the diff
culties of the undertaking. IF sum-
moned by the suffrages of my coun-
trymen to attempt this work, I shall
endeavor, with Gods help, to be the
efficient instrument of theirswill."
HENDRICKS LETTER.
Herdrick's letter has two merits
which Tilden's has not. It is shorter,
and speaks with great bluntness on the
financial question. He says the coun-
try is IN desperate strait, and that the
Resumption bill must be repealed
without ceremony. He does not un-
derstand that that repeal would be a
backward step. He also believes that
retrenchment is our only salvation,
but, like Tilden, he neglects to point
out how to go about it. His general
ties about economy sound well, but
there is nothing practical in them. He
like I-lden, is also Civil Service Re-
former, and would not have man in
Office who had used money for election
purposes. When he and Tilden are
elected all the true and tried men now
in Office will be permitted to remain,
an announcement that cannot fail but
have dispiriting effect upon the
anxious and expectant Democratic
patriots who have been looking upon
the Offices with watering mouths. He
does not believe that any man or party
should involve the schools in political
or sectarian controversy. AS to the
Sc 18th, he is sure that the election of
himself and Tilden would end all strife
and bitterness there. He concludes by
declaring he is in full accord with Mr..
Tilden and the ST. Louis platform,
evidently being apprehensive that no
bodv would be aware Of this unless he
distinctly pointed it out.