The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-03-08
accepting and obeying faithfully the whole con-

ana the spirit of the constitution and In behalf
OF all that its attainment implies, all so-called
party interests lose their apparent Importance,
and party lines may well be permitted to fall
into insignifcance. ri
The question we have to consider for the i'm
mediate welfare of those States of the Union
Is the question of government or no govern
ment-of social order and all the peaceful in
dustI1es and the happiness that belongs to it,
or return to barbarism. It is Question in
whichsevery citizen of the nation is deeply in
terested, anu with respect to which we ought
not to be in partisan sense either Republ-
cans or Democrats but fellow-citizens and
fellow-men, to whom the interests of a COM
mon country and common humanity are dear
The sweeping revolution OF the entire labor
system OF large portion of our country, and
the advance of 100000 people from a condi-
ton of servitude to that of citizenship upon an
equal footing with their former masters, could
not occur without presenting problems of the
gravest moment, to be dealt with by the eman-
clpated race, by their former masters. and by
the General Government, the author of the
Get of emancipation. That it was a wise. lust
and proVidential act, fraught with good for all
concerned, is now generally conceded through
out the country. That a moral obligation rests
upon the National Government to employ its
constitutional power and influence to establish
the rights of the people whom it has emanci-
pated, and to protect them in the enjoyment of
those rights when they are infringed or as
sailed, is also generally admitted.
The evils which af1ict the Southern States
can only be removed or remedied by the united
and harmonious efforts of both races, actuated
by motives of mutual sympathy and regard.
and, while in duty bound and fully, determined
to protect the rights of all by every constitl1-
tional means at the disposal of my administra-
ton, / am sincerely anxious to use every
legitimate influence in favor of honest and
efficient local government as the, true resource
of those States for the promotion of the con-
tentment and prosperity of their citizens. In
the effort I shall make to accomplish this pur-
pose, I ask the cordial cooperation of all who
cherish an interest in the welfare of the coun-
try, trusting that party. ties and prejudice
of race will be freely surrendered in
behalf of the great purpose to be &C
comphshed in the important work of the
| restoration of the South. 1t is not the political
situation alone that merits attention. The ma
tie, lal development of that section of the coun-
try has been arrested by the social and political
revolution through which it has passed. and
| now needs and deserves the considerate care of
the National Government within the Just limits
prescribed by the constitution and wise public
economy. But at the basis of all prosperity, for
that as well as for every other part of the coun-
try, lies the improvement of the intellectual and
moral condition of the people. Universal suf-
frage should rest upon universal education. To
| this end liberal and permanent provision
should be made for the support of free schools
| by State Governments, and, if need be, supple
mented by legitimate aid from the national
| authority. -.r
| Let me assure my cOuntrymen of the South
ern States that it is my earnest desire to regard
and promote their truest interests-the inter
ests of the white and the colored people, both
and equally put forth my best efforts in
behalf of a civil policy which will forever wipe
out in our political affairs the color line and the
! distinction between the North and South, to
the end that we may have not merely united
! North or a united South, but united country.
| I ask the attention of the public to the para
mount necessity of reform in our civil service, a
reform not merely as to certain abuses and prac-
tees Of so-called official patronage, which have
come to have the sanction of usage in several de-
partments of our Government, but a change
of the system of appointment itself-a reform
that shall be thorough, radical and complete
return to the principles and practices of the
founders of the Government. They neither
expected nor desired from public officers any
| partisan service they meant that public Off
GERS should owe their whole service to the Gov
eminent and to the people they meant that
the officer should be secure in his tenure as
long as his personal character remained I'M
furnished and the performance of his duties
|
nents to Office were not to be made or ex
pected merely as rewards for partisan
| services, nor merely on the nomination
of members of Congress, as being en-
titled in. any respect to the control
of such appointments. The fact that both po-
ltical parties of the country, in declaring their
principles prior to the election, gave a promi-
nent place to the subject of the reform of our
| civil service recognizing and strongly urging
its necessity in terms almost Identical in their
| specific import with those have here employed
must be accepted as conclusive argument in
behalf of these measures. 1t must be regarded
as the expression of the united voice and will
of the whole country upon the subject, and
both political parties are virtually pledged to
give it their unreserved support.
The President of the United States, of neces-
sity, owes his election to Office to the sufrages
and jealous labors of a political party, the mem
bers of which cherish with ardor, and regard as
of essential importance, the principles of their
party organization. But he should strive to be
always mindful of the fact that he serves his
party best who serves the country best
In furtherance of the reform we seek, and as
in other important respects a change of great
Importance, recommend an amendment to
the constitution prescribing term of six years
for the Presidential Office, and fOrbidding re-
election.
With respect to the financial conditi On of the
country, shall not attempt an extended his
tory of the embarrassment and prostration
which we have suffered during the past three
years. The depression in all our varied COM
mercial and manufacturing interests through
out the country which began in September,
1873, still continues. 1t is very gratifying,
however. to be able to say that there are indi-
cations all around us of a coming change to
prosperous times.
Upon the currency question, intimately con-
nected as it is with this topic, l may be permit
ted to repeat the statement made in my letter
Of acceptance that in my judgment the feeling
of uncertainty inseparable from an irTedeem-
able paper currency, with its fluctuations of
values, is one Of the greatest obstacles of a re-
turn to prosperous times. The only safe paper
currency is one which rests upon coin basis,
and is at all times promptly converted into
coin. .r = F..
. adhere to the views heretofore expressed by
me in favor of Congressional legislation in be
half OF an early resumption of specie payment,
and am satisfied not only that this is wise, but
that the interests, as well as the public senti-
ment, of the country imperatively demand it.
Passing from these remarks upon the condi-