Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-03-10
The Presidents Programme.

The Presidents Programme.
Tho inaugural address of Presi
dent Hayes ia just what the coun'
try had reason to expect. 1t lis char
acteristic of the man-irank, hon
eat, straightforward, yet wisely eau
tious In it's recommendations. In
fact it is quite as remarkable in what
it does not say as in what it says;
the entire absence of great promis
es and specific information Oh a
score Of public questions. And it's
modesty is not the least OF its me''
its. 1t deals in generalities from
the necessities of the case, but the
generalities indicate plainly enough
the temper of the new President
and the direction his Administra'
ton will take. The first topic OF
importance il the restoration OF
peace, order, and prosperity In the
Southern States. The President
recognizes the peculiar difficulties
of the Southern problem. The diff
ferences of race are q disturbing
element which cannot be ignored
nor talked down. He insists that
Justice shall he done to both the
white and the colored people ; that
the rights and interests of both
shall be protected, and that the 10.
cal governments of the people shall
be respected and maintained. No
Democrat can wish any more ex-
plicit declaration of the doctrine OF
local self government and the rights
of the individual States under the
Constitution than the President
makes. But he recognizes the fact
that the restoration of the South can.
not he brought about by political
agencies alone. One Of the most
pregnant and sagacious sentences in
address Is that which says: "The his
material Development of that sec
ton of the country has been arrest
ed by the social and political revOlu
ton 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" The South
has been afflicted with politics too
much and too long; now give it in.
dustry, the proper development of
its resources, the improvement OF
it's rivers and harbors, the means OF
quick aud cheap transportation in
a word, open up the whole South to
capital, enterprise, arts, immigra-
ton, and its complete restoration
will become an accomplished fact.
And this would not only wipe out
the color line, as the President sug-
gests, but wipe out the distinction
between the North and the South,
as opposing a rival or even different
sections Of a united country. But
universal education is the only sure
basis for permanent improvement
and universal suffrage; and the
President insists that, while the
States shall make liberal provisions
for the support of schools, their ef.
forts shall he supplemented, If need
be, by the aid of the Federal Gov
eminent. A reform in the civil ser
vice is absolutely required, and the
President insists that the mere cut
ting off Of abuses is not enough
the whole system Of appointment
must be changed, and the officer
should be secure in his tenure as
long as his personal character re.
mains untarnished and the perform
ance of his duties is salts factory.
He goes turther,and urges an amend
ment to the Constitution fixing the
term of the President at six years
instead of four and forbidding his
reelection. But it certainly seems
that this suggestion is hardly con-
sistent with the idea of civil. service
reform. If experience increases the
value of the services of a collector
and postmaster will it not make
those of a President more valuable
alsoi The great objection to the
reelection of President is that he
is tempted to use his immense pat,
ronage of his Office to secure a re-
nomination. But this objection
would he entiiely removed by such
q thorough and radical reform OF
the civil service as the President
recommends. Surely the President
ought to have the powerful motive
to the wise and faithful perfOrma nee
of the duties Of his office which
comes from the expressed approval
Of the people. he should not be
cut off from the appeals and infu.
ences which stimulate even the bes,
men to do better. And certainly
when a President has served the
people faithfully for one term and {
shown a marked fitness for his high
office, the people ought TO have the
privilege of re.electing him; and, /.