The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-09

economy. But at the basis Of all prosperity, for
that as well az 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. 10
this end liberal and permanent provision
should be made for the support OF free schools
/ by State Governments, and, II need be, supple
mented by legitimate aid from the national
authority.
| Let me assure my countrymen Of the South
ern States that il il my earnest desire 10 regard
! and promote their truest interests-the inter
| ests Of the white and the colored people, both
and equally-and put forth my best efforts In
behalf of a civil policy which viii forever wipe
out i'm 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 united South. but a united country.
ask the attention Of the public to the para
mount necessity of reform in our civil service,
reform not merely AZ TO certain abuses and prac-
tees of so-called official patronage, which have
come 10 have the sanction of usage in several de-
partments of our Government, but change
of the system of appointment itself-a reform
that shall be thorough, radical and complete
a 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 10 the Gov
eminent and to the people; they meant that
the officer should be secure in his tenure az
long az his personal character remained UNI
furnished and the performance of his duties
was satisfactory. They held that appoint
ments 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 OH
titled in any respect TO the control
of such appointments. The fact that both po-
litica parties of the country, i'll 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 III their
specific import with those have here employed,
must be accepted as conclusive argument in
! behalf of these measures Ii must be regarded
as the expression of the united voice and viii
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-
sty owes his election to Office to the suffrages
and jealous labors of political party, the men,
beers of which cherish with ardor, and regard az
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 ether important respects change Of great
Importance, / recommend an amendment to
the constitution prescribing term Of six years
! for the Presidential Office, and forbiddng a re-
, election.
With respect to the financial conditi III of the
country, shall not attempt al extended his
: tory of the embarrassment and prostratlon
! which we have suffered during the past three
years. The depression in all our varied com
, mercial and manufacturing interests through
j out the country, which began in September,
Z 1873, still continues. 1t Is very gratifying,
I 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 AZ ii is with this topic, 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 irredeem-
} able paper currency, with its fluctuations of
values, is one of the greatest obstacles OF 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.
, 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-
ton of our own country TO consider our rela-
, tons with other lands we are reminded by i'll
ternational complications abroad, threatening
the peace of Europe, that our traditional rule
of non-interference in affairs of foreign ma
and ought to be strictly observed
The policy inaugurated by my honored prede-
cessor-Gen. Grant-of submitting to arbitra-
! ton grave questions in dispute between our
selves and foreign powers, points to new and
incomparably best fundamentally for the
preservation of peace, and WILL as believe, be-
!, come a beneficent example of the course TO be
! pursued in similar emergencies by other ma
tons.
+ IT, unhappily, questions of difference should
at any time, during the period of my admins
tration, arise between the United States and
any foreign Government it will certainly be
my disposition and my hope to aid in their set
! Element i'll the same peaceful and honorable
way, thus securing 10 our country the great
, blessings of peace and mutual good offices with
all nations Of the world.
Felow-citizens, we have reached the close Of
q political contest marked with the excitement
which usually attends the contests between
great political parties whose members espouse
and advocate with earnest faith their respective
creeds. The circumstances were. perhaps, in
no respect extraordinary save in the closeness
and the consequent uncertainty Of the result.
For the first time in the history of the coun-
try, it has been deemed best, i'll view of the pc
culiar circumstances of the case, that the objec-
tons and questions i'll dispute with reference to
the counting of the electoral votes should be re-
ferred to the decision of a tribunal appointed
for this purpose That tribunal, established
10y law for this sole purpose its members, all of
: them, of long-estabhshed reputation for integ-
rity and intelligence, and, with the exception of
those who were also members of the Supreme
Judiciary. chosen equally from both political
parties, its deliberations enlightened by the
research and the arguments of able counsel,
was entitled to the fullest confidence of the
American people. Its decisions have been pa
tiently waited for and accepted as legally con-
elusive by the general judgment of the public.
For the present opinion will widely vary AZ to
the wisdom of the several conclusions
announced by that tribunal. This is to
be anticipated in every instance where
matters Of dispute are made the subject
of arbitration under the form of law.
Human judgment is never uner1ing, and is
rarely regarded as otherwise than wrong by the
unsuccessful party in the contest. The fact
that two great political parties have in this way
settled dispute in regard TO which good men
differ to the law, less than rs to the proper
course to be pursued in solving the question in
controversy, is an occasion for general rejoic-
ing Upon one point there is entire unanimity
in public sentiment-that conflicting claims to
the Presidency must be anncably and peaceably
adjusted, and that when so adjusted the gen.
eral acquiescence of the nation ought surely to
follow.