The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-07-10
The Republican Ticket.
Gov. Hayes Letter of Accept
anCe.

CINCINNATI July 9.-Ine following Is tne
letter OF Governor Hayes accepting the Repub-
lican nomination for the Presidency:
Columbus, o., July 8, 1876
Hon. Edward MCPHERSON, Hon. VIM. A.
Howard, Hon. j. P. FL. Rayney and others
of the Committee of the Republican National
Convention:
Gentle1nen-In reply to your official commun.
icatiun of June 16, by which l am informed of
my nomination for the Office of President of the
United States, by the Republican National
Convention at Cincinnati, l accept the nemi-
nation with gratitude, hoping that under provi-
dence shall be able. il elected to execute the
duties of the high office as trust for the bene-
fit of all the people
l do not deem it necessary to enter upon any
extended examination of the declaration Of
principles made by the convention The reso-
buttons are in accord with my views and 1
heartily concur in the principles which they an
nounce. In several of the resolutions, how
ever, questions are considered which are of such
importance that deem it proper to briefly ex-
press my convictions in regard to them.
The fifth resolution adopted by the conven-
ton is of paramount interest More than forty
years ago system of making appointments to
office grew up, based upon the MAXIM "to the
victors belong the spoils." The old rule, the
true rule, that honesty, capacity and fl deity,
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
COHSlutr6u All parties III prdCtlCe nave duopl-
ed this system. 1t has been essentially modi-
fed since its 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 appointing power, in many
cases, passed into the control of members of
Congress. The offices in these cases have be-
come not merely rewards for party services,
but rewards for services to party leaders. The
system destroys the independence of the separ-
ate departments os the government; it tends d.
rectly to extravaganza and official incapacity !;
it is a temptation to dishonesty; it binders and
impairs that careful supervision and strict &C
countability by which alone faithful and eff
Gent public service can be secured; it obstructs
the prompt removal and sure punishment of
the unworthy: in every way it degrades the
civil service and the character of the govern
ment. 1t is felt, L am confident, by large
majority of the members of Congress to be an
intolerable burden and an unwarrantable hind
rance to the proper discharge of their legitimate
duties 1t 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 the
formerly established custom. They neither ex-
pected nor desired from the public officers any
partisan service; they meant that public Off
GERS should owe their whole services to the
government and to the people; they meant that
the officer should be secure in his tenure as
long as his personal character remained unfair
nished and the performance of his duties salts
factory. Ii elected, [ shall conduct the admin
istration OF the government upon these prin-
ciples and all constitutional powers vested in
the executive will be employed to establish
this reform.
The declaration of principles by the Cncin-
natl convention makes no announcement in
favor of single presidential term. [ do not
assume to add that declaration, but believing
that the restoration of the civil service to the
system established by Washington and follow
ed by the early presidents, can best be accom-
plished by an executive who is under no tempt
alton to use the patronage of his Office to pro-
mote his own reelection, l desire to perform
what | regard as a duty in stating now my in
flexible purpose, if elected, not to be a candi-
date for election to second term.
On the currency question have frequently
expressed my views IN public and l stand by
my record on this subject. 1 regard all the
ment of the public Indebtedness, the legal
tender notes included, as constituting pledge
and moral obligation Of the government which
must, in good faith, be kept. 1t is my cOnvic-
ton that the feeling of uncertainty and inse-
curty from an irredeemable paper currency
with its fluctuations of value is one of the
great obstacles to a revival of confidence and
business and to return to prosperity. That
uncertainty can be ended in but one way-the
resumption OF specie payment-but the longer
tue INSTABILITY COuuecUeu Win our present
money system is permitted to continue the
greater will: be the injury inflicted upon our
economical interests and all classes of society,
Ii elected, l shall approve every appropriate
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, Agi-
tation upon this subject is to be apprehended
until by constitutional amendment the schools
are placed at bay and all danger of sectional
control or interference are passed. The Re-
publican party is pledged to secure such an
amendment
The resolution of the convention on the sub
Ject of the permanent pacIfcation of the coun-
try and the complete protection of all its citI-
zens in the full enjoyment of all their constitu-
tlonal 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 pro-
gressive recovery from the effects of the war
their first necessity is an intelligent and honest
protect all classes of citizens in all their politi-
cal and private rights. What the South most
needs is peace" and peace depends upon the
supremacy of law. There can be no enduring
peace if the constitutional rights of any por-
portion of the people are habitually disregarded.
A division Of political parties resting merely
upon distinctions of race or upon sectional
lines is always unfortunate and may be dsas-
trous. The welfare of the South, alike with
that of every part of the country, depends up
on the attractions it can offer to labor, to inn
migration and to capital. But laborers will
not go ard capital will not be invested where
the constitution and the laws are set at
defiance, and distraction, apprehension and
alarm take the place of peace-loYing and law
abiding social life. All parts of the constitu-
ton are sacred and must be sacredly observed,
the parts which are new no less than the parts
that are old. The moral and material prospe r.
ity of the Southern States can be more effect
ually advanced by hearty and generous rec
ognition of the rights of all by all; recognition
without reserve rye or exception With such a
cable to promote by the influence of all legiti-
mate agencies of the general government the
efforts of the people of these states to obtain
for themselves the blessings of honest and capa-
BILE local government.
If elected L shall consider it not only my du-
ty, 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 f L
shall be charged with the duty of organizing an
administration it will be one which will regar
and cherish their truest interests; the interests
of the white and of the colored people both and
equally and which will put forth lis best efforts
in behalf of a civil policy which will wipe out
forever the distinction between the North and
South in our common country.
With civil service organized upon system
which will secure purity, experience, efficiency
and economy, strict regard for the public
welfare solely in appointment and the speedy,
thorough and unsparing prosecution and pun
ishment of all public officers who betray Off
cial trust; with sound currency; with educa-
ton unseetarian and free to all; with simplici-
ty and frugality in public and private affairs
and with a fraternal spirit of harmony pervad-
ing the people of all sections and classes, we
may reasonably hope that the second century
of our existence as nation will, with the bless
ing of God, be prominent as an era of good