Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-07-14

vention is OF paramount interest More
than forty years ago system Of making sp-
Pointments TO Office grew up, based upon
the maxim TO the victors belong the
spoils." The old rulo-the true rule-that
honesty, capacity and fidelity 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. All parties, In practice, have
adopted this system. II has been essential
ly modified since It's 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 appoint
Ing power, In many cases, passed into
the control Of members OF Congress. The
offices in these cases have become not
merely rewards for party services, but re-
wards Tor services TO party leaders. This
system destroys the independence Of the
separate departments of the Government.
II tends directly TO extravaganza and official
incapacity; II Is temptation to dishonesty;
1t hnders and impairs that careful super
vision and strict accountability by which
alone faithful and efficient public service
can be secured; II obstructs the prompt
removal and sure punishment Of the
unworthy; in every way II degradcs
the civil service and the character of the
Governments; II is felt, am confident, by
a large majority of the members of Con
gress, TO be an intolerable burden and an
unwarrantable hindrance to the proper dis
charge of their legitimate duties; IL 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
legislation when needed that which was for
mcrly established by custom. They neither
expected nor desired from the public officer
any partisan service. They meant that pub
lie officers should owe their whole service
to the Government and 10 the people. They
meant that the officer should be secure in
his tenure MS long as his personal character
remained untarnished, and the performance
of his duties satisfactory
II elected, | shall conduct the Admlnlstra-
tion of the Government upon these princi-
pies, and all Constitutional powers vested in
the Executive will be employed to establish
this reform.
The declaration of principles by the Gin
cinnati Convention makes no announcement
in favor of a single Presidential 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 Pres
idents can be best accomplished by an EX-
ecutive who is under no temptation to use
the patronage OF his Office to promote his
own reelection, desire to perform what l
regard as a duty, in stating now my inhe1-
ible purpose IL elected, not to be q candl.
date for election to a second term,
On the currency question have frequent
ly 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 Govern
mcnt which must in good faith be kept. 1t
is my conviction that the feeling of uncer-
tainty insepaTable from an irredeemable pa
per currency, with its fluctuations of values,
is one of the great obstacles to revival of
confidence and business, and to n return of
prosperity. That uncertainty can he ended
in but one way--the resumption of
specie payments;' but the longer the
instability connected with our present
money system is permitted to continue,
the greater will be the injury inflicted upon
our economical interests and all classes of
society. IL elected, shall approve every ap-
propTiate measure to accomplish the desired
end, and shall oppose any step backward.
The resolution with respect to the public
school system is one which should receive
the hearty support of the American people.
Agitation upon this subject is to be appre-
hended until, by constitutional amendment,
the schools are placed beyond all danger of
scctarian control or interference. The Re-
publican party is pledged to secure such an
amendment.
The resolution of the Convention on the
subject of the permanent pacificaton of the
country, and the complete protection of all
its citizens in the full 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 people of the whole
Union. In their progressive recovery from
the effects of the War, their first necessity is
an Intelligent and honest administration OF
Government 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 su-
prcmacy of law. There can be no endur-
In AlA ,Asz A..
of any portion of the people are habit
ually disregarded. A division of political
parties, resting merely upon distinction of
race, or upon sectional lines, is always un-
fortunate, and may be disastrous. The well
fare of the South, alike with that of every
other part OF the country, depends upon
the attractions it can offer to labor, to i'm
migration and to capital. But laborers will
not go, and capital will not be ventured,
where the Constitution and the laws are set
at defiance, and distraction, apprehension
and alarm take the place of peace-loving
and law-abiding social life. Ali parts of the
Constitution are sacred and must be sacred
ly observed, d" the parts that are new no less
than the parts that are old" The moral and
material prosperity of the Southern States
can be most etfectually advanced by hearty
and generous recognition of tho rights of
all, by all; "a recognition without reserve
or exception"
With such recognition fully accorded, it
will be practicable to promote, by the in
Buence of all legitimate agencies of the
General Government, the efforts OF the peo-
pie of those States to obtain for themselves
the blessings of honest and capable local
government. II elected, shall consider it
not only my duty, but it will be my ardent
desire, to labor for the attainment of this
end. Let me assure my countrymen of the
Southern States that If | shall be charged
with the duty of organizing an Administra-
UOn, it will be one which will regard and
cherish their truest interests, the interests
of the white and of the colored people both,
and equally, and which will put forth its
best efforts in behalf of civil policy which
will wipe out forever the distinction between
the North and South in our common coun-
try.
With Civil Service organized upon
system which will secure purity, experience,
efficiency and economy, strict regard for
the public welfare, solely, in appointments,
and the speedy, thorough and unsparing
prosecution and punishment Of all
public officers who betray official trusts;
with sound currency; with education
plicity and frugality in public and private
affairs; and with fruternal spirit Of har-
mony pervading the people of all sections
and classes, we may reasonably hope that
the second century of our existence as a
nation will, by the blessing of God, be pre-
eminent as an era of good feeling and pc
riod of progress, prosperity and happiness
Very respectfully, your fellow-citizen,
r. B. HAYES.
Tire Two Men.
Gov Uayes In 1881. Tn 1894 Samu.i 7 uyI