The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-10
GOV. HAYES LETTER OF ACCEPT
ANCE.
A VERY WEAK MILK-AND-wATER
DOCUMENT.
In Which He Dodges Some Very Vital
Questions.
COLUMBUS, OHIO.

hoping that under Providence | shall be
able, if elected, to execute the duties of the
high office as trust Tor the benefit Of all
people. | do not deem it necessary to en-
ter upon any extended examination Of the
declaration of principles made by the con-
vention. The resolutions are in accord
with my views, and | heartily concur in
the principles they announce. In several
OF the resolutions, however, questions are
which are of such Importance
that | deem 1t proper to express my con-
victions in regard to them.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The fifth resolution adopted by the con
venti0n is of permanent interest. More |
than forty years ago system of making |
appointments to Office grew up, based upon
the maxim, ITO the vctors belong the |
spoils. The old rule, 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. 1t has been essen
TALLY modified since its first introduction.
1t has not, however, been improved. Att
first, the President, either directly or
through the heads Of departments, made
all appointments, but gradually the ap.
pointing power ia many cases passed into
the control Of the members Of congress.
Offices, in these cases, have become, not
merely rewards for party services, but re
wards for services to party leaders. This
system destroys the independence Of the
separate departments Of the government
1t tends directly to extravaganza and Off
cial incapacity. Ii is temptation
to dishonesty. 1t binders and impairs
that careful supervision and strict
accountability by which alone a faithful and
efficient public service can be secured. 1t
obshucts the prompt removal and sure
punishment Of the unworthy. LII every
way it degrades the civil service and the
character of the government. 1t is felt, L
an confident, by large majority OF the
members ot congress to be an lntoleIable
burden and an unwarrantable hindrance to
the proper discharge Of their legitimate
duties. 1t ought to be abolished. The re-
forms should be through, radical and com
pete. We should return to the princi-
| Piles and practice OF the founders Of
! the government, supplying by leg
| isIation, when needed, that which was Tor
merly an established custom. They neither
expected nor desired from a public officer
any partisan service. They L.cant that
public officers should owe their service to
| the government and t. the people.
! They meant that an officer should be Sc
cure in his tenure as long as his personal
character remGind untarnishcd and the
performance Of MS dukes satisfactory. Ii
elected shall conduct the administration
Of the government upon these principles,
and all Constitutional powers vested in the
executive will be employed to establish
this re orm
ONE TERM
The declaration Of principles by
the Cincinnati convention, makes no
announcement in favor Of single presi-
Dental term ID not assume to adj t.
that declaration, but believing that re
storation OF the civil service TO the system
established by Washington and followed
, by the early presidents, can be best accom-
, plshed by an executive who is under &c
temptation to use the patronage of his Of
fec to promote his own reelection, | de
sire to perform that which | regard as {
/ duty in stating now my infexible purpose
II elected not to be a candidate for election
! 10 u second term.
Z TIE CT RRENC1 QU ESTlON.
! On the currency question, | have fire.
, Quentiy expressed my views in public anC
| stand by my record on this subject
regard all laws Of the United States reiat
= ing to the payment of the public indebted
:, ness, legal tender notes included, as con
shutting pledge and moral obligation o
: the government which must in good faitE
: be kept. 1t is my CONVICTION that the feel
. ing of uncertainty inseparable from an il
9 "edeemable paper currency, with its tuc
tuation Of values is one Of the great oh
{ stacles to Il revival of confidence and bust
d ness and to return of prosperity Tha
q uncertainty can be ended in but one way
: the resumption of specie payment. Blu
:, the longer the instability connected wit
our present money system is permitted t
S continue, the greater will be the injur
: inflicted upon our economical interests an
h all classes Of society If elected | sha
. approve every appropriate measure to az
complish the end desired and | shall OF
+ pose any step backward.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
& The resolution with respect to the pub
e lie school system is one which should rC
# ceive the hearty support Of the America
i people. Agitation upon this subject is {
. be apprehendcd until by constitution;
T. amendment the schools are placed bcyou
IS all danger OF seetariau control or interior
t. cnce. The Republican party is pledge
a to secure such an amendment.
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
l.. The resolution Of the convention on tn
u subject Of the permanent pacifcation Of u
y citizens in the free enjoyment OF al! thel
constitutional rights, Is timely and of gre;
Importance. The condition Of the souti
: ern states attracts the attention and con
;. mands the sympathy of the people of tn
! whole Union. In their progressive IT
j coyery from the effects of the war, the
# first necessity was an intelligent and ho1
=. est administration of the government
a which will protect all classes of citizens
- all their political and private rights. Whg
N the south most needs is peace, and peaC
70 depends upon the supremacy of the Lax
= There can be no enduring peace if Il
10 constitutional rights of any portion of I'll
II tpeople are habtually disregarded. A d
al vision of political parties resting mere
nt upon distinctions of race or upon section
Il lines, is always unfortunate and may
~ disastrous. The welfare of the soutl
ii alike with that of every other part
= the country, depends upon the a
u fractions it can offer to labor,
as immigration and to capital; but labo
If ers will not 60, and capital will d
n be invested, where the constitution al
la laws are set at defiance, and distractio
I'll apprehension and alarm take the place
peace-loving and law abiding social lii
All parts of the constitution are sacred al