The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-03-14

Il
welfare of the country, trusting thai
party ties and be prejudice of races
will be freely surrendered in behalf o.
the great purpose to be accomplished
In the importauk work of restoring the
South, it is not 1he political situation
alone that merits attention. The
material development of that section
Of the country Has been arrested by
the social and political revolution
through which It has passed, and
now needs aud deserves the consid.
crate care of th1 National Govern.
inent within thojust limits prescribed
by the Con stitnfion and vice public
economy. Butot the basis of all
prosperity, for That as well as FOR
every other psrunf the country, lies
the improvement of the intellectual
and moral condi1ion of the people.
Universal suffra(e should rest upon
universal educsaioD. To this end
liberal and ptrl = OF provision should
be made tor tue support of free schools
by the State governments. and i
need be, suppleuented by legitimate
aid from national authority. Let me
assure my countevmen of the South.
ern States that il is my earnest desire
TO regard and romote their truess
interests, the interests of the white
and of the colorea people both, and
equally, and to PIT forth my best ef-
forts In behalf Ga civil policy which
will forever wipaout in our political
affairs the color line and the distinc-
tion between NoEth and South, TO the
end that We may have not merely a
united North, or > united South, but
q united country
IbsERyIcE
ask attentiou=of he public to the
paramount necessity of reform in our
civil service-a rkform not merely as
to certain abusessand practices Of so
called official patronage which bavs
come to have the sanction of usage
10 the several departments of our
Government, but > change in the sys-
tenn OF appointments itself, reform
that shall be thoreugh, radical and
complete; o return 20 the principles
and practices of the founders OF the
Government. They neither expect
ed nor desired fsbm public officers
any partisan sctvice They meant
that public = soificers shonld
owe their Whole service to
the Government >nd to the people.
They meant that the officer shsuld
be secure in his tG1ure as lons as his
personal charactsf remained untar-
nisbed and the psfiormance of his
duties satisfactorEs They held the
appointments to o1ice were no. to be
made nor expected merely as re-
wards of psrtisan'services, nor mere
ly on the nomination of members OF
Congress, as being entitled 10 sny re-
spect to control anch appointments.
The fact that both the great political
parties of thes sOuetry in declaring
their principals prior 70 the election
gave prominent place 20 the subject
of reform of our civil service, recog-
niziug and strongly urging its neces-
sity in terms almost identical in their
specific import with those bave
here employed, must be accepted as a
conclusive argument in behalf of
these measures. 1t must be regar-
ded as the expression of the united
vote. aud viii Of the whole country
upon this subject, and both political
parties are pledged TO give it their
uareserved support The President
of the United States of necessity
owes bis election to Office to the suf-
frage and jealous labor of q politi-
cal party. the members of which cher
ish with ardor and regard as Of es-
seutial importance the principles of
their party organization, but we
should strive to be always mindful
ofthe fact that he serves bis party best
who serves the country best. In
furtherance of the reform we seek,
and in other important respects, g
change of great importance. | rec
ommend an amendment TO the Con-
stitution prescribing term of six
years for the Presidential Office aad
forbidding reelection
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE COUNT
Nv
With respect to the financial condi-
tion of the country, | shall not at
tempt an extended history Of the en-
barrassment and prostrstion which
We have suffered during the past three
years The depression in al our va
ried commercial and manufacturing
interests throughout the country,
which began in September, 1878,
still continues 1t ia very gratifying,
however, TO be able to say that there
are indications ali around Us OF
coming change to prosperous times
Upon the currency question, inti-
mstely connected as it is with this
topic, may be permitted to repeat
here the statement made in my letter
of acceptance, that in nv Judgment
the feelings Of uncertainty insepara-
ole from az i-redeemable paper cur
rency. with its fnctus tions Of values,
is one ofthe greatest obstacles 10 q
return to prosperous times The only
safe paper currency Is one which
rests UPON coin basis and is ST all
tines promptly convertible into coin
| adhere to the views heretofore ex-
pressed BY me in favor Of Congress
sional Legislation in behalf of an early
resumption Of specie payments; and
l am satisfied not only that this is
wise, bat that the interests, as well as
the public sentiment of the country,
imperarively demand it
RELATIONS WITH OTHER LANDS
Passing from these remarks upon
the condition of our own country to con-
slider our relations with other lands.
We are reminded by international COM
plications abroad, threatening the
peace Of Europe, that our tradition
al rule OF noainterference in the af-
fairs Of foreign nations has proved Of
great value in past times and ought
TO be strictly observed The policy
iEaugurated BY nv honored prede-
cessor, General Grant. in submitting