Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1877-03-17

fiuence in favor of honest and efficient
local government as the true resource OF
these states for the promotion of content
ment and prosperity of their citizens.
In this effort / shall make to accomplish
this purpose l ask the cordial cO-Opera-
ton of all who cherish an interest in the
welfare of the country, trusting that
party ties and prejudice of race will be
freely surrendered in behalf of the great
purpose to be accomplished in the i'm
pOrtant work of restoration of the south.
1t is not the political situation alone
that merits attention. The material de-
velopment of that section of the country
has been arrested by the social and pO-
litical revolution through which it has
passed and now needs and deserves the
considerate care of the national govern
ment within the just limits prescribed by
the constitution and wise public eccn-
omy; but at the basis Of all prosperity, for
that as well as for every other part of the
cOnRtry, lies the improvement of the in
tellectual and moral condition of the
people. Universal suffrage should rest
upon universal education. To this end
a liberal and permanent provision should
be made for the support of free schools
by the state governments, and, il need
be. supplemented by legitimate aid from
the national authority. Let me assure
my countrymen of the southern states
that it is my earnest desire to regard
their truest interests-the interests of
the white and of the colored people, both
equally, and to put forth my best efforts
in behalf of civil policy which will for
ever wipe out, in our political affairs. the
color line and the distinctions between
north and south, and in the end that we
may not have merely united north or
united south but united country. l
ask the attention of the public to the
paramount necessity Of the reform of
our civil service, reform not merely as
to certain abuses and practices of So
called official patronage, which have
come to have the sanction of usage in
several departments of our government,
but change of the system of appoint
ments itself-a reform that shall be thor
ough, radical and complete; return to
the principles and practices of the found
ers Of the government. They never ex-
pected nor desired from public officers
any partisan service; they meant that
the public officers should owe their whole
service to the government and to the
people; they meant that an officer should
be secure in his tenure so long as his
personal character remained untarnished
and the performance of his duties sat-
isfactory; they held that appointments
to office were not to be made nor expect
ed merely as regards for partisan services
nor merely on the nomination of men,
bers of congress as being entitled in any
respect to the control of such appoint
ments. The fact that both the political
parties of the country, in declaring their
principles prior to the election gave a
prominent place to the subject of the
reform of our civil service, recognizing
and strongly urging its necessity in terms
almost identical in their specific import
with those l have here employed, must
be accepted as conclusive argument in
behalf of these measures; it must be
regarded as an expression Of the united
voice and will of the whole country upon
this subject, and both political parties
are virtually pledged to give 1t their I'M
reserved support. The president of
the United States of necessity, owes his
election to Office to the suffrage and zeal.
Gus labors of a political party, the men,
bers of which cherish with ardor and re-
gard, as of essential importance, the
principles OF their party organization.
But he should strive to be always mind
full OF the fact that he serves his party
best wso serves his country best, in the
of the reform we seek, and
in other important respects. As a change
of great importance / will recommend
an amendment to the constitution pre-
scribing term of six years for the pres
idential Office, and forbidding a re.elec-
ton.
With respect to the financial condition
Of the country shall not attempt an
extended history of the embarrassment
and prostration which we have suffered
during the past three years. The de-
preston in all our commercial and man.
interests throughout the coun-
try which began in September, 1873, still
continues. tits very gratifying, however,
10 be able to say, that there are indica.
lions all around us of a coming change
10 prosperous times. Upon the currency
question, intimately connected as it is
With this topic, I may be permitted to re-
peat here that statement made in my let
Ter Of acceptance, that in my judgment
.he feeling of uncertainty, inseparable
rom an irredeemable paper currency,
With its fluctuations Of values, is one Of
he greatest obstacles of q return to
times. The only safe paper
is one which rests upon q coin
oasis, and is at all times and promptly
into coin. adhere to the