The New York herald., 1877-10-20
PRESIDENT HAYES INDORSED.
HIS CIVIL SERVICE REFORM AND SOUTHERN
POLICY THE EXPRESSION OF PUBLIC
OPINION
srRlyorrrLp. Masa. Oct. 10

OPINION.
SrRISorrELD, Masa, Oct. 10. 1877.
The Citizens Hayes Endorsement meeting NJ Holyoke
tonight was a success William Whiting, . prom
nent paper manufacturer. PRESIDED ana long lst OF
ofacers at the meeting included many leading dem
ocras. The following resolutions were passed.
Resolved That rejoice In that has attended
the Efforts ., rresldsnt ayes IN promotin and securing
sue North a. ana & south tina. we gladly bury forever all .ni
south cordai greetings them shs. now
they are permitted 10 exercise tho rights Of sovereign
Resolved That we heartily approve tho policy
civil service reform that and always honesty and
capacity ano no. partisan service shall be the ,ost Of ut
ness ior appointment office, ully ndorsng the motto
''e serves party best who serves country most "
Of country Of the highest mDoranSs and they
should receive from a The OF ths govsrmsnt
may be revived and extended that labor not less than
solid aud permanent prosperity not before equaed in the
Resolved, That copy Of these resolutions
In Congress ""' y anu
Inc following Is tho speech OF PresdentJ. H. seeiye,
OF Amhers. collcge:--
Our pubic mon are not the leaders of the nation,
but are led by current OF public opinion mighticr
than they. This was true in the Revolution and all
through the history OF the nation. Those have been
our leaders and great men who, the rca movement
OF the nation, have been wiling to stand IN the
front rank and be borne along No part OF our history
has been planned by orethouaht, but has come
from unexpected and almost UNCONSCIOUS inspiration
OF tho people, What has been IN this particular
hitherto Is true still. There is an underlying force.
sometimes unseen, but always felt which Is like the
power OF gravity In public life. THIS jorce has an ebb
aud flow. The administration OF Hayes has pros
porous voyage before II n moves with the current
this force, and men, great or small, who essay an
opposite course will DO submerged or tossed aside
What are tho indications OF ns lendcncicsy
what Is the voice OF the people respect
ing the two points OF civil service reform aud the
treatment OF the Souha There certain tendencies
in public opinion already felt aud were TO be dominant
on both points which Will receive Hayes approval
the gratitude OF tho nation. Nothing in puDlic lite
exciles kecner or wider reaching disgust than way
offices have been sought and bestowed We have been
saddlsd with the doctrine that Offices spos
and belonged to the victors offices have been made
a mat ter Of bargain and booty, and even when filled
by wise and honorable men too often regarded
dignity rather than as sacred trust Ohces have
been treated as though earned ana deserved, but
man ever deserved office or had claim TO Office
Ofice is nota reward but a requirement, and In
sense pay Tor service, but demand tor service
to be rendered. Therefore, when office given from
party exigences, ana IRON personal illness, we
have ialsihed the principles OF governmental admins
tration anu must expect fraud, deceit and corruption
President Hayes has taken higher and beIcf stand
than any administration Tor ly years. His letter OF
acceptance awoke hearty and spontaneous applause
II voiced the lving and soon 10 DO the con-
trolling sentiment OF the nation Tho republican
managers had they had the convictions and courage
OF their candidate the election would have boep
matter Of doubt. President Hayes has Kept the pro-
mise of the candidate Hayes Not since John Quincy
Adams hes President spoken SO clearly. Let D,d
him godspeed and mark men and put a ban on them,
whatever their name or station, who seek 10 hinder
right and will have tho approval OF the nation In the
treatment of the southern question. On this tho
publican party has made prodlgi0us mistake from
the end oil the war. We carried on the war the
ground that the Southern states were integral
OF the Union. When the closed abandoned
this high plano Tor exactly the opposite ground. We
said these States had committed suicldethc States
whose citizens VIC had been lighting 10 prove the
Union indivisblc. II We were right In treating tho
Southern rebellion as rebellion, then when the
rebols conquered their Sta,es mad right
to representation in the National Congress and all the
privileges OF government us ever. Had this policy
been then taken should have escaped the blunders
and crimes which have mnde reconstruction painful
and perilous. We remanded these States TO u quasi
territorial condition and sent them military gov
ern0rs. We could hardly have devised better
way TO keep up hatred and increase hostility.
Could the horrors OF tho massacrcs In Louisiana,
mississippi and South Carolina have been exceeded in
number atrocily by any different courscY Would
different process cf reconstructi0n have put larger
number OF Moderate army officers and chief In
CopgressY Broad statosmaIship ought to have shown
that the Federal Union conlral government could
not without the greatest peril, usurp the Judicial,
executive, legislative functions OF any State This
cardinal doctrine have TOO much forgotten aud IL
vas hign time for one OF authority to utter IL
again, AS President Hayes has done He nus
nothing more than reuiirm the equal rights all
the states. He has put himself In the line OF
torical progress ana cannot fa.i uncss history is
meaningless and our institutions a delusion.