The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-08-05
.g..'' z VOLUME XXIV--NUMBER 997.

rency. Uncertainty Is the prolific par
ent Of mischief in all business, ant
never were It's baneful evils more fell
than now. Men do nothing because they
are unable to make any calculations OF
which they can safely rely. They under.
take, nothing because they fear a loss II
everything they would attempt, and they
stop and wait. The merchant dares moi
buy for the future consumption Of his
customers;' the manufacturer dares moi
make fabrics which may not refund hi
outlay, and he shuts down his fac
tory and discharges his workmen
Capitalists cannot lend on security they
consider safe and their funds be almos
without interest. Men Of enterprise
who have credit or securities to piedg,
will not borrow; consumption has fallen
below the natural limits Of reasonable
economy prices; many things are under
their range in the frugal specie paying
times before the civil war. ID
VAST MASSES OF CURRENCY
lie in the banks unused. A year and q
half ago legal tenders were at their
largest volume, and twelve millions since
retired have been replaced by fresh issues
OF fifteen millions Of bank notes. In the
meantime the banks have surrendered
about four millions a month; because
they can not find profitable use for
many Of their notes. The public mind
will no longer accept shams. II has
suffered enough from illusions. An un'
stable policy. increases distrust and un-
certainty. HH '1'''1
The people need to know that the gov
ernment Is moving in the direction Of ul-
innate safety and prosperity, and that il
Is doing so through prudent, safe and
conservative methods, which will be sure
to inflict no new sacrifices on the business
Of the country. Then the inspiration Of
new hope and well.founded confidence
will hasten the restoring processes Of ma.
ture, and prosperity will return.
The 81. Louis Convention concludes its
expressions in regard 10 the currency by
q declaration Of It's convictions as 10 the
practical results Of the system Of prepara-
lions II demands. It says, ave believe
such system we'll devised, and above all
1NrRusrED TO COMPETENT HANDS
for execution, creating at no time an arti-
fetal scarcity Of currency and at no time
alarming the public mind into the with
drawal Of that yaster machinery credit,
by which 95 per cent Of all business trans
actions are performed. A system open TO
the public and inspiring general conf
dence would from the day Of It's adoption
bring healing to all our harrassed indus
tries, set in motion the wheels OF COM
merce, manufactures and mechanical
arts, restore employments 10 labor and
renew all its natural resources and pros
perity of the people. q
The government oil the United States,
in my opinion, can advance to resump-
tion Of specie payments in It's legal ten
der notes by gradual and safe process,
tending to relieve the present business
and IL charged by the people
with the administration Of the Executive
office should deem it duty 80 to exer-
else the powers with which It has been or
may be invested by Congress as best and
soonest to conduct the country to that
benefcent result.
The convention justly aftirms that re.
form is necessary in the civil service, nec-
essary TO its economy and its efficiency,
necessary in order that the ordinary en-
ployment OF public business may not be
. prize fought for at the ballot box,
brief reward Of party zeal instead Of the
post OF honor assigned for the proved COM
potency and held for fidelity in public
employ. The. Convention wisely added
hat reform is necessary even more in
he higher grades ofpublic seryice-Pres.
dent, Vice President, Judges, Senators,
Representatives, Cabinet oiBces-these
md all others, are not private perquis.
ties; they are public trusts. Two evils
nfest the public service Of the Federal
Government. One is the prevalent and
lemoralizing notion that the public SER
vice exists not for the business and sole
,enelit OF the people butfor the interest Of
he otfice.holders who are in truth are but
he servants Of the people. Under the
influence Of this pernicious error the
public employments have been multi
Piled. The numbers Of these gathered
nto the ranks Of the ofiice.holders have
'teadily increased beyond auy possible
Of the public business,
while In all the departments speculation
raud, mal-administration Of public' |
unds from the highest place OF power
o the lowest, have overspread the whole |
ervice like leprosy. The other evil Is
he organization Of the official class into
. body Of political mercenaries, govern.
ng the caucuses and debating the nomi-
,ations Of their own party, and attempt
Dg to carry the elections Of the people by
Undue influence and by the immense cor.
.uption funds systematically collected
rom the salaries and fees Of the office.
holders. .H". ,.u..
The official class in other countries,
Iometimes by It's own weight and some.
lines inalliance with the army, has been
lble to rule unorganized masses, even
lnder universal suffrage. Here it has
.lready grown into agigantio power, ca.
pable Of controlling public opinion and
II resisting an easy change Of admins
ration, until the misgovernment becomes
and public spirit has been
'trung to the pitch Of civil revolution.
TIE FIRST srEr N REFORM
8 elevation OF the standard by which the
power selects agents to
execute the official trusts. Next in i'm.
oortance is conscientious fidelity in the
exercise Of the authority to hold to
recount and displace the untrustworthy
,r incapable subordinates. Tho public
interests In the honest and skilful per.
ormance Of the official trusts must
rot be sacrificed to Incompetence.
After these immediate steps which will
insure the exhibition OF better examples
We may wisely 60 on to the abolition Of
officers, and finally to the
,areful organization Of better civil ser.
rice system under the. tests whenever
practicable Of proved competency or iidcl:
ty. While much may be accomplished
" these methods, II might encourage de.
usive expectations were l to withhold
lere the expression of.my conviction
hat no reform Of civil service in this
country will be complete and perma-
rent until its chief magistrate is