The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-03-13


white and Of the colored people both
and equally, and to put forth my beet
efforts in behalf Of q civil policy which
wili forever .lltlW N
WIPE OUT IN ouR POLITICAL AFFAIRS rHR
alN COLOR LINE, laI M
and the distinction between North and
South, 10 the end that we may have
not merely a united North or united
South, but q unibsd country.
ask the attention of the public
TO the paramount necessity Of reform
practices OF so-called official patronage
which have come to have sanction Of
usage in the several departments Of
our government. but
CHANCE or SYSTEM or APPOINTMENT
rrsELf- aa
q reform that shall be thorough, rsdi-
cal and complete. q return to the pnn-
ciples and practices of the founders Of
the Government. They neither ex-
Pected nor desired from public officers
any partisan service. They meant that
public officers should owe their whole
service to the Government and people.
They meant that an officer shonld be
secure In his tenure as long as his per
sonal character remained untarnished
and the performance OF his duties sat
isfaetory. They held that appoint
ments to Office were not to be made nor
expected merely rs rewards for parti-
san service; nor merely on aomination
Of members OF Congress as being enti-
tied in any respect TO
CONTROL or SIGN APPoIsrMEsrs.
The fact that both political parties OF
the country in declaring their princi-
Piles prior to election gave prominent
place to the subject Of reform OF our
civil service, recognizing aud strongly
urging its necessity in terms almost
identical in their specific import with
those L have here employed. must be
accepted as conclusive argument OF
these measures. IL must be regarded
as the expression OF the united voice
aud will OF the whole country upon
this subject. and both political parties
are virtually pledged 10 give their un-
reserved support. The President OF
the United States, of necessity, owes
his election to Office TO the suffrage and
jealous labors OF political party.
members OF which cherish with ardor
aud regard, as of essential Importance.
the principles Of their party orgsniza-
tion. But he should strive to be nj.
ways mindful of the fact that he
SERVES HIS PARTY BEST WHO sEKvEs His
COUNTRY BEST.
In turtherance Of the reform we seek,
and in other important respects,
changes OF great Importance, rcom-
mend Gu amendment to the Constitu-
ton prescribing term Of ak years for
the Presidential office, and forbidding
reelection.
With respect TO
FIsAScIAL MATTERS.
1 will not attempt an extended history
of the embarrassment and ppostration
which we have suffered duriDg the
past three wears. The depression in
all our varied commercial and mann.
featuring interests throughout the
country which began in September
1873, still continues. IL "a very graft
flying. however, 10 be able TO say that
there are indications all around ns of
coming change TO prosperous times.
UPON THE CURRENCY QUESTION.
Intimately connected as il is with this
topic. i may be permitted TO repeat
the statement made in my letter OF nc
ceptance. In my judgment the feeling
OF uncertainty inseparable from an ir-
redeemable paper currency with its
fluctuations of values is ons ef the
greatest obstacles Of q return to pros
porous times. The only sale paper
currency is one which rests upon a coin
basis. and is at sii times .r.i promptly
convertible into .,r. aihere to the
views hei etofore 'Ayrr ed by me in
favor of Congressional legislation IN
behalf OF early resumption OF specie
payment, and I am satisfied not only
that this is wise, but that interests a.
well as the public sentiment Of the
country imperatively demand it,
Passing from these remarks upon the
condition OF our own country to con
/ slider
OUR RELATIONS WIN OTHER LANDS
We are reminded by international com
plications abroad threatening the peace
of Europe that our traditional rule Of
I non-interference in affairs OF foreign
nations has proved Of great value in
part times and ought to be strictly oh
served. The policy inauguratsd by my
honored predecessor, President tfrant,
\ OF submitting TO arbitration grave
questions ia dispute between ourselves
4 aud foreign powers points to new
aud incomparably the best instrumen-
! tallity for the preservation Of peace,
and will, L believe, become the beDe-
ficent example Of conrse TO be pnr-
sued in similar emergencies by other
nations. II, unhappily. questions Of dif.
ference should at any time during tiie
period ofmy ADMINISTRATION arise be-
tween the United States and any for
eign government, ii will certainly be
/ my disposition aud my hope 10 aid IN
their settlement In the same peaceful
and honorable way, thus securing u
our country the great blessings OF
peace aud mutual good Offices with all
nations of tlie world.
1 FeL1ow CrnzKSs: We have reached
the close of political contest. marked
by the excitement which usually at.
tends the contests between great politi.
cal parties, whose members espouse
aud advocate with earnest faith theiI
respective creeds. The circumstauces
were, perhaps, in no respect extraor,li
nary. save in the closeness and the eoh.
sequent uncertainty OF the result. Fol
the first time in the history Of the
country, il has been deemed best, In
view of The peculiar circumstances oI
the case, that tue objections aud ones.
tions In dispute with reference 10 th,
COUNTING or THE EI.ECroRAL VOTE
should he referred to the decision OF Z
tribuuai an oiuted for the purpose
That tribunal. established by law fol
tue sole purpose, its members all a
them men OF long established reputa
tiou for integrity and intelligence, and
with the exception of those VIM are oil
50 members OF the Supreme Judiciary
chosen equally from both political par
ties. its deliberation enl,ghtened b,
the arguments OF able counsel. was
TO rHE FULLEST coxPpEScE..
Of the American people. Its decision,
have been patiently waited for, and ac
cepted - legally. -couclusiye by lh,
general iuj anepf ~ the ppblic.- Fo.
the present, opiniorr viii widely vsr,
a- 10 the wisdom of the sfytraI doneln
sions amounced by that tribunaL Thi
isto he anticipated Ia every ipstanc'
where matters Of dispute are mad,
the subject OF srbittatisn.l under III.
, forms Of Law Human jhlgment 4
never unerfine aud ,- rarely regar.le.
~ otherwise than wrong bv the ms uc