The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1877-03-29

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mani and nrosperity of their citizens
In this effort shall make to accomplish
this purpose / 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
considerable 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
country, lies the improvement of the ill.,
tellectual and moral condition of the
people. Universal suffrage should rest
upon universal education. To this end
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 a united north or
united south but united country. /
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; a 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 mem
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 q
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 ] 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 mem
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
fl, OF the fact that he serves his party
best W serves his country best. in the
lurtherance of the reform we seek, and
in other important respects. Asa change
IT great Importance ] will recommend
III amendment to the constitution pre-
,cribing term of six years for the pres
dental Office, and forbidding a reelec-
lion.
With respect to the financial condition
ii the country | shall not attempt an
history of the embarrassment
md prostration which we have suffered
Turing the past three years. The de-
preston in all our commercial and man ,
lfacturing interests throughout the coun-
ry which began in September, 1873, still
continues. tits very gratifying, however,
o be able to say, that there are indica- I
ions all around us of a coming change
o prosperous times. Upon the currency ,
IuestiOn, intimately connected as it is
With this topic, l may be permitted to re-
'eat here that statement made in my let i
er of acceptance, that in my Judgment
he feeling of uncertainty, iDseparable Z
rom an irredeemahle paper currency,
With its fluctuations of values, is one of -.
he greatest obstacles of return to i
prosperous times. The only cate paper
urrency is one which rests upon coin
asis, and is at all times and promptly
inverted into coin. / adhere to the
Jews heretofore expressed by me in ia.
or OF congressional legislation in behalf c
an early resumption ofspecie payment, t
nd / am satisfied notonly that this is wise,
ut that the interests as well as the pub.
C sentiment Of the country imperatively
emand it.