The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-08-23
Of the law. 20 ell, and security 10 the enjoyment
OF political and civil rights.

disappointment TO many Republicans throughout
the United States, who deeply sympathized with
their Republican brethren IN nat state. / did and
DO share in that feeling, and yet / feel and know
that every step taken b. President Hayes was
right, In slriet accordance with bis constitutional
duty, aud from the highest motives Of patriotism.
Some are foolish enough TO talk Of his abandoning
the oolOrod people and their constitutional rights.
President Hayes from his early manhood has
periled on many battleaelds In the
great cause Of liberty he sympathizes
OF the colored people than those who falsely ac-
cuse him, and / believe this day that the policy
he has adopted will do more 70 secure the full
practical enforcement of those rights than tho en-
plOyment OF an army tenfOld greater than the
army OF the United States.
THE EQUAL RIGHTS OF FREEDMEN
Are Low placed on the same constitutional footing
as ours. Unarmed. unorganizad, deienseless and
ignorant as they have been, they can only realize
tho full enjoyment Of their rights when eduea-
ton dispels their ignorance, and teaches
them how to defend their rights. The policy Of the
President will make II possible In the Gull States
for them 10 secure the aid and Eympa-
thy OF an influential portion Of the
whites. It has also secured 10 them
the pledge Of honor OF the local State governments
10 protect every man IN full equal, civil and pOliti-
cal rights. No people can be more Interested IN
observing this pledge than the governing white
men OF the South. The ultimate safety Of their
life and property depends upon II, Tho people Of
the United States will hold them to 1t, and now,
when by this
POLICY OF PRESIDENT HAYES
They have what they call home rule, upon their
self proclaimed promise that nome rule means the
equal protection in equal civil ana political rights
OF all they have 10 fulfill tins promise or
stand dshOnOred before the civilized
world. The amendments TO the Constitution will
stand, and they will be enforced, but Il 10 far bet
ter this shall be done by the consent OF all, IN the
interest OF all, than by the agency OF an army.
Constitutional rights can only BIO secured by legal
means. The whole Southern policy OF President
Hayes is TO secure constitutional rights not only
I nv larQl hnt nv n0nRptIIl fmHanE nv "a N annual IN
the interest and honor OF all classes, but. II this
fails, II | do not greatly err he Will not be wanting
in the exercise Of the full powers OF his great
Office 10 secure the civil rights Of all, without dis
tinctiOn OF race, color or condition.
Another question OF administration promptly
received the attention Of President HAYES.
IL has been the standing promise OF both polit-
ical parties for fifty years TO secure
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM,
without defining what was meant by this phrase;
but old abuses grew and new abuses were devised
by which tho civil service OF the Government was
largely made an agency to control the action Of
parties, and TO influence the rising or falling for
tunes OF politicians, while the public service was
a secondary consideration. Upon this subject the
President had clear and radical views, and has not
h~esitated, against the opposition OF many IN his
own party, TO enter upon the reform OF these
abuses.
whether true or not, It has been believed that
the in New York, the great agency
for the collection of the duties on imported goods,
was especially open to these abuses, and that the
public interests were sacrificed 10 the advance
ment OF the political and peeuniary interests OF
individuals. Tho President directed that q thor
ouRh Investigation, free from political bias, should
be made there by independent men OF both par
ties, aimed, not at individuals. but at the system
itself. 1t was In the progress OF this investigation
that he issued the order about which SO much COLI
plant has been made.
Here II is:
mo oflcer should be required or permitted to take
part in the management Of political organizations, eau
cuses, conventions or election campaigns. Their
right to vote and to express their views on public cues.
tons, either orally or through the press, is not denied,
provided It docs not interfere with the discharge OF
their official duties. No assessment for political pur-
poses on officers or suDordinates should be allowed"
This order was promptly met with denunciation
as an invasion of the rights OF individuals, and its
meaning and purpose grossly perverted.
IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY,
Where our political movements are more free from
the influence Of Offce-holders, there has always
been a strong popular feeling against the inter
position OF machine politicians. The people here
are abundantly able, without the aid of ofilce-hold-
ers, to manage their con INVENTIONS, caucuses and or
CARNATIONS, and 1t has always been a matter Of
complaint even In our counties and cities when
ever rings of Ofice-holders are formed, who are Of
~fensively ~oticious In controlling popular conven-
lions, and, as a rule, such things. have not
been tolerated But in the great
cities the otfice-holders are selected, not o1ly to be
active at the election, or to influence the election,
but to run the machinery by which nominations
are made and %caucuses held. They select delegates
to conventions, pay their expenses, control their
votes, appear as President, Secretary or guiding
genius Of the convention, and thus tho whole ma
Cnl0eTY OF pOllIlCb ID I'LL OllCt-uUluluE mOHOpUlyS
offensive to the mass OF the people, and tending to
prevent the just control Of political movements
by free, unbiased popular opinion.
1T WAS THIS ABUSE,
The greatest Of all, that the President struck d.
rectly of. The President has not, and never did,
object to the most active men being appointed to
and aspiring for office. He would naturally select
from among the most active men In private life
those who are TO hold public offices, and, other
things being equal, would select one OF his own
party rather than one of the adverse party. AT all
events that Is my OWL view. l think 1t would be
a shade dishonorable for q man TO seek
an office from the party whose successes
and principles he, opposed, Though be
may accept an office rendered to him.
the great political organizations composed of large
masses OF people, friends rather than adversaries
should be selected. But there are occasions
THE PARTY LINE
Should not be drawn. and, in all cases where
parties put up bad men il is the first bOunden duty
Of every good citizen TO refuse to vote for them,
and thus compel the selection of the best men
for office. But where anyone has attained office,
either by appointment or election, he ought not to
consider that he is therefore 10 be the ruling. guild
ing manager OF conventions and caucuses
with q view to put up this Republican and put
down another, or TO pull down this Democrat to
nut up another. HI ought TO hold his office with
seemly modesty, leaving TO the people. to run the
machinery OF their own political organizations.
There never was and never will be danger In
our system that the necessary movements of the
people need the guidance OF paid oHice-holders.
or late tho influence OF othce-holding In politics
has grown worse and worse. When, eighteen
years ago, l heard a prominent member OF the
House Of Representatives declare that 1t cost him
FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO BE ELECTED,
I was happy to respond for you that If l had spent
five hundred dollars IN securing my election l
would have been defeated, and ! can say in your
presence, for You Know II, that the custom then
prevailing prevented any large expenditure Of
money, and that, though four times elected to
Congress in this district, I did not and could not,
without danger to myself, spend any considerable
sums on my election. But Of late the expenses OF
popular elections have 30 increased that we are in
danger of the very evils that for q hundred years
d~isgraced the election OF the members OF the House
of Commons, and led 70 laws Of the greatest Sc
verify against bribery and corruption.
believe in the Ordor OF tho President, ana hope
he will stand by II, and II he adds TO the good work
of his Administration the breaking down OF this
ohHce.holding Oficiousness in tho management Of
campaigns, this running OF
oAucUsEs AND CONVENTIONS
By ofaoe.holders, and forced assessment from un.
willing ohice-holders for political purposes, and
will secure TO the people o free, unbiased control
of their primary movements in the election Of
officers, he will have accomplished o work second
only IN importance TO the paclfioation OF the
South.
interfere with the right OF any officer
lie questions, either orally or through the press,
and at your invitation talk to you to-day, but
you would regard It as offensive I / should under
take TO manipulate your conventions 10 secure the
way with your free choice In popular movements.
And this 10 all that the order OF President Hayes
undertakes 20 prevent.
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM.
leone now TO speak OF some Administrative re-
fnr,,a thaF ara fguallU tho auhtpnt Of nnmAQOH1Onl