The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-03-10

regard. And while in duty bound
and fully determined to protect the
rights of all by every constitutional
means at the disposal of my admin
istratiOn, | am sincerely anxious to
use every legitimate influence i'll
favor of honest and efficient local
SELF, government as the true resource
of those States for the promotion of
the contentment and prosperity of
their citizens. In the effort | shall
make to accomplish this purpose l
ask the cordial cooperation of all
who cherish an interest in the well
fare of the country, trusting that
party ties and the prejudice of race
will be freely surrendered in behalf
Of the great purpose to be accom-
pliShed. In the important work Of
restoring the South, it is not the po-
litical situation alone that merits at
tentiOn. The material development
of that section Of the country has
been arrested by the social and pOlit-
zeal revolution through which it has
passed, and now needs and deserves
the cOnsiderate care of the National
Government within the just limits
nv bllt anu
wise public economy.
But at the basis of all prosperity,
for that as well as for ever other part
of the country, lies the improvement
of the intellectual and moral condi-
ton of the people. Universal suf-
frage should rest upon education. To
this end, liberal and permanent pro.
vision should be made for the sup
port of free schools by the State gov
ernments, and if need be supplement
ted by legitimate aid from national
authority.
Let me assure my cOuntrymen of
the Southern States that it is my ear
nest desire to promote their trueSt
| interests, the interests of the white
and of the colored people both
equally and to put forth my best eff
forts in behalf Of civil policy that
will forever wipe out in our political
affairs the color line, and the distinc-
ton between North and South, to
the end that wemay have not merely
united North a united South, but a
united country.
| | ask the attention of the public
to the paramount necessity Of reform
! in our civil service, reform not
merely as to certain abuses and prac-
tees of 50 called official patronage
| which have come to have the sine
J ton of usage in the several depart
ments Of our government but a
change in the system of appointment
| itself reform that shall b9 tSfOr-
Ough, radical. and complete; ID 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 officers
| Shr uld owe their whole service to
! the Government and to the people.
| They meant that the officer should
! be secure in his tenure As long as hi-
! personal character remained unfair
niShed, and the performance Of his
duties satisfactory They held THAI
appointments to office were NOT to b.
made noy expected merely as re.
wards for partisan services, nor
merely Oaa the nomination Of mem
bers ol Congress, as being entitled in
any respect to the control OF such ap.
pOintmentS.
The fact that both political parties
of the country, in declaring their
principles prior to the election, gave
Il prominent place to the subject of
reform of our civil service, recogni-
ing and strongly urging its necessity,
in terms almost Identical in their
specific rapport with those | have
here employed, must be accepted as
a conclusive argument in behalf uf
these measures. 1t must be regarded
as the expression of tn" united voice
and will Gf the whole country upon
this subject, and both political par
ties are virtually pledged to give it
their unreseTved support.
The President Of the United States
Of necessity owes his election to Of
flee to the suffrage and Jealous labOrs
o. a political party, the members of
which cherish with ardOr, and regard
as Of essential importance, the prin-
ciples of their party organization.
Bus he shONld 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 in other important respect
a change of great Importance, rec
0mmend an amendment to the Con-
stitutiOn prescribing a term of six
years for the Presidential office, and
torbidding reelection.
With respect to the financial con-
dition of the country, | shall not at
tempt an extended history of the
embarrassment and prostration
which we have suffered during the
past three years. The depression in
all our varied commercial and man
ufacturing interests throughout the
country, which began in September,
1873. still continues. 1T is very graf
flying, however, to be able to say
that there are indications all around
Us of coming change to prosperous
times.
Upon the currency question, init
mately connected as it is with this
topic, | may be permitted to repeat
here the statement made in my letter
of acceptance, that, in my judgment
the feeling Of uncertainty insepara-
bic from an irredeemable paper cur
rency, with its fluctuations of values
is one of the greatest obstacles to a
raturn to prnSpnrouS tinaS Tho