Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-08-02
Gov. Hayes Letter of Acceptance

GOV. Hayes Letter OF Acceptance
Rutherford B, Hayes has written let
ter accepting the nomination of the Re-
publican Convention to the office of Pres
ident of the United States.
Mr.. Hayes is represented by his frien dis
and conceded by his opponents to be an
honest man. We therefore receive this
letter as the avowal of his real sentiments
on the subject of government; and we
are not little surprised to and them di-
rcctly at variance with the republican
and democratic ideas on which the Gov
eminent of the United States was founded.
"The old rule, the true rule" says Mr..
Hayes, "that honesty, capacity, and fldel-
ity constitute the only real qualifications
for office, and that there Is no other claim,
gave place to the idea that party services
were to be chiefly considered" Thus ac-
cording to Mr.. Hayes, "honesty, capacity,
and fidelity constitute claim to office.
This he declares to be "the true rule"
Now, the whole theory of free, repub-
lican government is included in this prop
osition, We hold that all offices are es-
tablished and maintained solely and ex-
clusively for the public convenience and
the public advantage, and meyer, in any
degree, for the benefit of the persons
holding them. These persons are to be
fairly paid for their labor, that is all; and
there is no such thing in q free country as
public office existing for the sake Of the
officer. No one, therefore, has any claim
to be Il public officer. Claim, as here
used, means right. A person elected to
office has right to it, unless he forfeits
it, for the term for which he is elected {;
while a person appointed, and removable
at pleasure, may be turned out at any
time.
The doctrine of Mr. Hayes is 'that the
officer should be secure in his tenure as
long as his personal character remains I'M
furnished and the performance of his
duties is satisfactory" That means,
practically, for life. There is hardly any
real difference between term for good
behavior and for life; for if a king, who
holds even by hereditary right, departs
widely from good behavior, revolution
steps in and puts an end to his tenure.
What Here we have bold PROPOSE
ton that the eighty thousand ofiicehold-
ers of the United States shall be convert
ed into permanent aristocracy, holding
their places for life! How long would it
be before this tenure for life would be
converted into hereditary right?
1t is to our apprehension plain propo-
sitiOn to overthrow the Government of
the People, aud to substitute for it u
Government of Established Officeholders.
Mr.. Hayes is undoubtedly honest; but we
believe the sentiment of his letter of ac-
ceptance will be deemed as Odious by the
people of the United States as any ever
expressed by LOUIS NAPOLEON in France.
LOUIS NAPOLEON was at first in favor Of
an empire for life, and then of making it
hereditary
Our fOrefatherS, the founders Of our
Governmel t, entertained sentiments di-
rectly the opposite of those espoused by
Mr.. Hayes. When it was proposed to
make the offices of Senator and President
offices for life, the plan was rejected
They limited the duration of the Office of
Representative in Congress to two years;
that Of President to four; and that Of
Senator to six. There is no law prohibit
ing the continuous reelection Of any Of
these; but custom has limited the Presi-
dent to two terms, and Mr.. Hayes has re-
Gently had an opportunity to see with
what disfavor the idea Of electing an in
cumbent to third term was received.
lrdeed, after distinctly pedging him
self, if elected, to conduct the administra-
ton of the Government upon the principle
of keeping public officers in office during
good behaviour which means for life
to employ all constitutional powers vest
ed in the Executive to that end, he goes
on in the very next paragraph Of his let
ter to announce his "intieXible purpose,
If elected, not to be candidate for cleo
ton to second term" One would sup
pose that a mole could see far enough to
perceive the inconsistency between adj
vocating that all other offices should be
held for life, and insisting that for the
President the doctrine of only one term
is Indispensable.
There is something necessary in the
way of civil service reform, and it Is this:
That no man shall be appointed to office,
or retained in any office, who Is not fully
qualified and of a proper character to dis
charge it's duties. And that is all. Any
measures calculated to perpetuate Office
In individuals tend toward the destruction
of equality and freedom. Under such
system, the arrogance, the insolence of
office would grow apace and vastly until
it would become insuppoItable among
free people.
Frequent changes in public ofllcers--so
that no unfit person is appointed-are
most salutary in their influence. Constant
reduction Of the officers to the ranks is
the true rule in civil life. No monopolies
Of offices and honors universal justice
and equality; these are the true doctrines
Of government. Against theses Mr..
HAYES declares himself opposed New
York Sun.