Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-08-12

{ the Government is moving IN the dl
!. rection of ultimate safety and pros
I perity, and that it is doing so throug
a prudent, safe and conservative meth
D DDS, which will be sure to inhict n
5 new sacrifice on the business of tn
, country. Then the inspiration Of
} new hope and well-founded confdenc,
will hasten the restorative process o
} nature, and prosperity will begin Il
return.
PRACTICAL PREPARATION AND IT.
RESULT.
The st. Louis convention concludes
! its expression in regard to the currency
by declaration of its convictions as
to the practical results of the system
of preparations which it demands. Ii
says I'VE believe such system, we'll
devised, and, above all, entrusted to
competent hands for execution, Great
ing at no time an artificial scarcity OF
currency, and at no time alarming the
public mind into a withdrawal of that
vaster machine of credit by which
ninety-fve per cent. of all business
transactions are performed, system
open, public, and inspiring general con-
fidence will, from the day Of its adop-
ton, bring healing on its wings to all
our harrassed industries, set in motion
the wheels ofcommerce, manufactures,
and the mechanic arts, restore employ
ment to labor, and renew in all its
natural sources the prosperity of the
people" The Government of the
United States in my opinion can ad-
vance to resumption of specie pay
ments on its legal tender notes by
gradual and safe processes, tending to
relieve the present business distress.
If charged by the people with the ad-
ministration of the executive Office,
should deem it duty so to exercise
the power with which it has been or
may be invested by Congress, as best
and soonest to conduct the country TO
that benefcent result.
REFORM IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The convention justly afirms that
reform is necessary in the civil service,
necessary to Its publication, necessary
to its economy and its efficiency, neces-
sary in order that the ordinary employ
ment of public business may not be
X
brief reward of party zeal, instead of
posts of honor assigned for proved com
potency, and held for fidelity in the
public employ. The convention wisely
added that reform is necessary even
more in the higher grades Of public
service - president, vice president,
judges, senators, representatives, cab
net officers. These and all others in
authority are not private perquisj5e
they are public trust. Two evils in
fest the official service of the Federal
Government. One is the prevalent
and demoralizing notion that the pub
lie service exists not for the business
and benefit of the whole people, but |
for the interest of Office holders, who |
are in truth but the servants of the |
people. Under the influence of this |
pernicious error, public employments |
have been multiplied. Numbers of
those gathered into the ranks OF the |
creased beyond any possible require
ment of the public business, while in
efficiency, peeulation, fraud and NAL
versation of public funds from the |
high places of power to the lowest,
have overspread the whole service like |
leprosy. The other evil is the or
ganization of the official class into a
body of political mercenaries, govern
ing the caucus and debating the nom
nations Of their own party, and at |
tempting to carry the elections of the |
people by undue influence and by i'm
mense corruption funds, Systematically |
collected from the salaries or fees Of |
Office holders. The official class in
other countries, sometimes by Its own !
weight and sometimes in alliance with |
the army, has been able to rule the |
unorganized masses, even under uni. |
versal suffrage. Here it has grown |
into a gigantic power, capable Of stiff
ing the inspirations OF n sound public
opinion, and of resisting an easy change /
of administration, till misgovernment |
becomes intolerable, and the public
spirit has been stung to the pitch Of a
strong revolution. The first step in
reform is the elevation of the standard |
by which the appointing power selects
the agents to execute official trusts.
Next in importance is a conscientious
fidelity in the exercise of authority to
hold to account and displace untrust-
worthy or incapable subordinates.
The public interest imam honest, skill !
ful performance of official trust must
not be sacrificed to the use of incum-
bents. After these immediate steps,
which will insure the exhibition of
better examples, we may wisely go on
to the abolishing of unnecessary Offices,
and finally to the patient, careful or
ganization ofa better civil service sys-
tenn, under tests wherever practicable
of proved competency and fidelity.
A SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL TERM.
While much may be accomplished
by these methods, it might encourage
deluslve expectations if | withheld /
here the expression of my conviction
that no reform of the civil service in
this country will be complete and per-
manent until its chief magistrate is
constitutionally disqualified for re.
election, experience having repeatedly
exposed the iutility of self-imposed re-
by candidates or incumbents.
Through this solemnity only can he be
effectually delivered from his greatest
to misuse the power and
patronage with which the executive is
charged. Educated in the
belief that it is the first duty Of a citi-
zen of the Republic to take his fair
allotment of care and trouble in public
affairs, have for forty years, private
citizen, fulfilled that duty. Though
occupied in an unusual degree during
all that period with the concerns of
the Government, have never acquir-
ed the habit of official life. When,
year and half ago, l entered upon my
present trust, it was in order to con-
summate reforms to which | had al
ready devoted several Of the best years
of my life. Knowing as do, there
fore, from fresh experience how great
the difference is between gliding
through an official routine and work
ing outa 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 difficulties of the under-
taking. IF Ifsummoned by the sufirages
of my couutrymen to attempt this work,
| snail endeayor, with Gods help, to
be the efficient instrument Of their
will.
To Gen. John A. McClernand, chair
man, and Gen. w. b. Franklin, the
Hon. j. j. Abbott, Hon. III. j.
Spaunhorst, Hon. III. j. Red6eld.
Hon. Il. S. Lyon and others, com
mittee.
THE Texas Legislature recently
I'm Il. l. - L. / 4