The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-08-11

caucuses and debating nominations of
their own party aud attempting to car
ry the elections Of the people by undue
influence and by immense corruption
funds Systematically collected from
the salaries or fees Of Office holders.
The official class in other countries,
sometimes by It's own weight and some
times in alliance with the army, has
ben able to rule uuoTganiZed Iuassts
even under universal suffrage. Here
il Las already grown into u gigantic
power capable of sitting the inspira-
tions of sound public opinion and or
resisting an easy change of admin
istration, until the misgovernment be-
came intolerable, and the public spirit
has been strung to the pitch Of civil
revolution. The first step III reform l.
the elevation OF the standard by which
the appointing power selects agents /"
execute, official trusts Next ia import
auce is a conscientious hjei-ty In tHe
e.yercise OF authority 10 hold 70 account
and diSDlace Enthusiastically or incaIia-
bIe subordiuates. The public interest
is an honest, skiIlful performance "i
official trust mus; not b+ sicriiiced 10
the usufruct of the incumbent. Ai''
these immediate steps, which WIZ
SrIa the exhibition of better eAaliiP!'9'
". tuay wisely go on to the aDoIitioh
of unnecessary officers, and, finally, 10
a uatieut. careful organization oil
baitar civil service system under
tcsfs wherever practicable, oi proved
co,upetency and fidelity. While much
lar- ffnaEa Ia
ods. it might encourage delusiye eX-
pectations if | Withheld here the expires
sion of my conviction that no reform
OF the civil service in this country will
be complete and perrDnant until its
chief magistrate is constitutionally dis
qualified for re election. experience
having repeatedly exposed the fntility
OF selfiIuposed restriction by candl-
dates or iDcumbeuts. Though this
sIlemnity only can he effectually deliv-
cred frCm his greatest temptation to
misuse power and patronage with
which the Executive is necessarily
charged. Educated in the belief that
it is the first duty of citizen of a re-
public to take his fair allotment of
care and trouble in public affairs,
have for forty years, as a private cit
izen, fulfilled that duty. Though oc-
cupied in an unusual degree during all
that period with the concern OF COVER
mcnt, | have never acquired the hab-
il OF official life. When Il year and a
half ago | entered upon my present
trust. it was III order to consumnate
the reforms to which had already de
voted two OF The best years of my life.
Knowing as | do, therefore, from fresh
experience, 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 Adj
Iniuistration without an anxious sense
of the difficulties of the undertaking.
If summoned by the sulTrages OF my
countrymen to attempt. this work L
shall endeavor, with Gods help, to be
the efficient instrument of their will.
Signed SAMUEL J. TILDEN.
TO GoneIaI John A. McCIernand,
chairman, General William b.
Franklin, Hon. J. }. Abbott, Hon.
JSpannhorst, Hon. H. J. Redfiel d,
Hon. L. 5. Lyon, and others, COM
uittee. etc