Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-07-13
90. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT.
True to All His Pledges

ship, duly chosen as the Republican candi.
date by the Republican party on the 10th OF
June, 1875, and duly confirmed as President
by the American people on the 9TH OF No.
vcmber, In the same year. There are really
only two great points before the American
people at this time, and these are the guiding
stars by which the President is conducting
his Administration. We mean National
Reconciliation and Civil Service Economy
and Reform. Judging by the complaints Of
some of our Republican politicians, they
seem to forget that these stars led them to
victory less than year ago, and that without
them the Republican party would have been
shipwrecked, and the country with It, They
appear to be surprised that President Hayes
should be true to the pledges of his party
and of himself. II he has committed any
fault it is because Of his close and conscIen-
tious fidelity to them. Now let us lcok first
at what the Republican National Convention
solemnly bound itself to do on the 18th day
of June, 1876. First, as to the Southern
question and the reconciliation of the sec
tions, we quote resolution No 3 from the
Republican platform. This is one OF the
main points at issue at the present time:
The permanent paciacation Of the Southern sec
tlon OF the Union, and the complete protection of
rights IL duty to which the Republican party
stand sacredly pledged, and we declare
1t to be the solemn obligation of the legislative
and executive departments OF the Government to
put into immediate and vigorous exercise all their
constitutional powers for removing any Just causes
OF discomfort on the part Of any class and for
securing to every American citizen complete lber-
tyand exact equality in the exercise Of all civil,
political and public rights.
Next take two other resolutions, Nos 5
and 9, from the same platform, and you have
what that supreme court of the Republican
party itself decreed as the fundamental law
of our great organization:
3. Under the Constitution the President and
heads OF departments are to make nominations for
to appointments, and the House of Repre-
sentatives is to accuse and prosecute faith
less officers. The best interest OF the pub
lie service demands that these distinctions he
respected that Senators and Representatives who
may be judges and accusers should not dictate ap-
pointments to office. The invarabe rule in ap-
pointment should have reference to the honesty,
fidelity and capacity Of the appontees. giving to
the party in power those places where harmony
and vigor of administration require it's policy to
6, be represented, but permitting all Others to be
to the efficiency of the public service, and the
right Of all citizens to share in the honor Of rem
dering faithful service to the country.
6. We will hold all public officers to a
rigid responsibility and engage that the prosecu-
tion and punishment of all who betray official
trusts shall be swift, thorough and unsparing.
On the Sth of July, 1876, Rutherford B.
Hayes, after having been unanimously de-
clared the nominee OF the Republican party,
accepted that nomination in letter addressed
to the committee of the National Republican
Convention. Let us take his view of the
Southern question. First, in support of the
third resolution of the National Convention,
above quoted, he says:
The resolution is timely and Of great mpor-
tance. The condition Of the Southern States at
tracts the attention and commands the sympathy
gressive recovery from the effects of the war,
their first necessity is an intelligent and honest
administration Of government which will protect
all classes of citizens in their political and private
iUht OF m il non
and peace depends upon the supremacy OF the
law. There can be no enduring peace If the con-
sttntionsl rights of any portion OF the people are
national prosperity of the Southern States can be
most etfectually advanced by hearty and gener.
Gus recognition of the rights of all, by ala rec.
ognition without reserve or exception. 4" III
elected shall consider il not only my duty but IL
will be my ardent desire, to labor for the attain
ment of this end.
On the other point he is If possible more
emphatic and clear. This is the point that
covers the whole civil-service idea, including
appointments to office, the discharge of du-
ties, and compensation for these duties.
Now let the intelligent members of The Re-
publican party read these comments and an
swcr whether President Hayes has in a single
instance departed from these pledges? We
stood upon this platform all through the
Presidential contest last year, we quoted
what the convention solemnly pledged, and
what the candidate solemnly accepted. No.
body ventured to cavil at these repeated and
careful committals. The Democrats them
selves, in their platform at st. Louis on the
2Sth of June succeeding, reiterated, il pos
sible with stronger emphasis, the two great
ideas especially selected and set forth by the
Republican National Convention at Cincin-
natl. We quote again from his Letter of Ac-
ceptance;
the fifth resolution adopted by the convention
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 fidelity constitute the
only real qualification for office. and that there is
no other claim, gave place to the idea that party
services were to be chiefly considered. At
hrst 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 become not merely
rewards party services but rewards for services
TO party leaders. This system destroys the inde-
pendence OF the separate departments of the Gov
ernment IL tends directly to extravaganza and
official incapacity, II is temptation to dishonesty
ii hinders and impairs that careful supervision
and strict accountability by which alone faithful
and efhcient public service can be secured. 1t OBJ
structs the prompt removal and sure punishment
of the unworthy; in every way it degrades the
civil service and the character OF the Government.
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. They neither ex-
partisan services They meant that public officers
should give their whole services TO the Govern
ment and to the people, They meant that the Off
Ger shonld be secure in his tenure as long as his
personal character remained untarnished and the
performance OF his duties satisfactory. II elected,
l shall conduct the Administration upon these
principles, and all constitutional powers vested in
the Executive win be employed to establish this
reform.
And here we insert an extract from the last
paragraph of this Letter of Acceptance:
IL.
States that il shall be charged with the duty oi
organizing an Administration IL will be one which
will regard and cherish their truest interests the
interests Of the white and OF the cOlorcd people
both, aud equally; and which will put forth It's
best efforts in behalf Of civil policy which will
wipe out forever the distinction between North
and South in our common country.
And now for a memorable extract from his
Inaugural Address, March 5, 1877:
Many of the calamitous effects Of the tremendous
revolution which has passed over the Southern
States still remain. DiMcult and embar
rassing questions meet us at the threshold Of this
subject. The people OF those States are still i'm
pOyershed, and the inestimable blessing OF wise
honest and peaceable local self-government is moi
fully enjoyed. Whatever difference OF opinion
may exist as to the cause of this condition Oi
things, the fact is clear that in the progress OF
events the time has come when such government
Is an imperative necessity, required by all the
varied interests, public and private, OF those
States. But II must not be forgotten that only 4
local government which recognizes and maintains
lnVlolate the rights OF all Is true self-gOVern
ment. II must be a government which
guards the interests OF both races, carefully and
equally; II must be government which submits
loyalty and heartily to the Constitution and the
laws--the laws OF the nation and the laws Of the
States themselves, accepting and Obeying faith
fully the whole Constitution as 1t is.
The question we have TO consider fo
the immediate welfare Of those States Of the
Union Is the question Of government or no gov
ernment Of social order and all the peaceful in
dustres and the happiness that belongs to 1t, or
return TO barbarism.
That moral obligation rests upon the
National Government to employ its constitutions
power aud influence to establish the rights Of thu
people II has emancpated, and to protect them II
\ the enjoyment Of those rights when they are in
| fringed or assailed Is generally admitted.
The evils which afiict the Southern States car
only be removed or remedied by the united ant
harmonious efforts Of both races, actuated by mo
| tiyes OF mutual sympathy and regard.
am sincerely anxious 10 use every legitimate in
huence in favor Of honest and efficient local self
| government ms the true resource Of those State
| Tor the promotion of the contentment and pros
| perity OF their citizens.
| Let me assure my cOuntrymen OF tn
Southern States that IL Is my earnest desire to r.
gard and promote their truest interests, the Inter
| ests OF the white and Of the colored people both
and equally, and TO put forth my best efforts In be
| half OF civil policy which win forever wipe ou
in our political affairs the color line and the dis
/ tinctfon hatNyaan Nnrth and Soufh A the and tina