Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-07-14
GOV. HAYES ACCEPTS.
A straightforward, Manly Letter
With the True Ring Of Reform.

GOV. HAYES ACCEPTS.
A straightforward, Manly Letter,
With the True Ring Of Reform.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 9.-Follow.
ing is the letter of Governor Hayes,
accepting the Republican nomination
for the Presidency:
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 8, 1876.
The Hon. Edward Mcpherson, the Hon. VIM. A.
Howard the Hon Joseph II. Rainey, and Others
Committee Of the Republican National Conven-
ton.
GENTLEMEN: In reply to your Of
fetal communication of June II, by
which I am informed of my nomina-
ton for the Office of President of the
United States by the Republican
National Convention at Cincinnati, /
accept the nomination with gratitude,
hoping that, under Providence, 1
shall be able, if elected, to execute
the duties of the high office as trust
for the benefit of all the people. I
do not deem it necessary to enter up
on any extended examination of the
declaration of principles made by the
Convention. The resolutions are in
accord with my views, and I heartily
concur in the principles they an
nounce. In several of the resolu-
tons, however, questions are con-
sidered which are of such importance
that I deem it proper to briefly ex-
press my convictions in regard to
them.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The fifth resolution adopted by the
Convention is of paramount interest.
More than forty years ago a system
of making appointments to office
grew up, based upon the maxim,
''To the victor belong the spoils. p
The old rule, "thc true rule" that
honesty, capacity, and fidelity con-
stitute 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 prac
tice, have adopted this SYSTEM
1t has been essentially modified
since its first introduction. II
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
ofmembers of Congress. The offices
in these cases have become notmerely
rewards for party services, but re
wards for services to party leaders,
This system destroys the indepen
dence Of the separate departments OF
the government. 1t tends directly
to extravaganza and official incapaci
ty. 1t Is temptation to dishonesty
it binders and impairs that careful
supervision and accountability by
which alone faithful and efficient
public services can be secured. II
obstructs the prompt removal and
sure punishment of the unworthy
In every way it degrades the civil
service and the character Of the
government. 1t is felt, / am conf
dent, by a large majority of the mem
bers of Congress, to be an intolerable
burden and an unwarrantable hind
rance to the proper discharge of theil
duties. 1t ought to be abolished
The reform should be thorough radi
cal, and complete. We should re
turn to the principles and practice Of
the founders of the government, sup
plying by legislation when needed
that which was formerly established
by custom. They neither expected
nor desired from the public officer
any partisan service; they meant tha
public officers should owe their whole
service to the government and to the
people; they meant that the Officer
should be secure in his tenure a.
long as his personal character remain
ed untarnlshed, and the performance
of his duties satisfactory. If elected
| shall conduct the administration o
the government upon these princi
pies, and all constitutional powers
vested in the executive will be EN-
ployed to establish this reform.
THE PRESIDENTIAL TERM.
The declaration of principles by