The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-07

place to tho subject OF our civil
service, recognizing and strongly urging
its necessity in terms almost identical in
their specific import with those I have
here employed, must be accepted as a
conclusive argument in behalf of those
1t must be regarded as the
of the united voice and will
OF the whole country upon this subject,
and both political parties arc virtually
pledged to give it their unreservcd sup
port.
TIE PRESIDENTS TENURE SHOULD EE
SIX YEARS.
The President of the United States, of
necessity, owes his election to Office to
the suffrage and jealous. labors
of which cherish with ardor and
regard as Of essential importance
the principles of their party or
ganization but he should strive to be al
ways mindful OF the fact that he serves
his party best who serves his country
best. In fllrtlcrancc of the reform we
seek, and i'll other important respects,
and 4 change Of great importance, / rec
ommcnd III amendment to the constitu-
ton prescribing a term of six years to
the Presidential Office, and torbidding a
reelection.
OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION..
With respect to the financial condition
of the country, l shall not attempt an eX-
tended history of the embarrassment and
prostitution which VIC have suffered dur
ing the past three years. The de-
preston in I'LL our varied commercial
and manufacturing interests throughout
the country, which began in Septem-
Der, 1873, still continues. 1t is very graf
flying, however, to be able to say that
there are indications all around us of a
coming change of prosperous times.
THE CURRENCY.
Upon the currency question, intimately
connected as il is with this topic, l may
be permitted to repeat there the state
ment made in my letter of acceptance
that in my Judgment the feeling of I'M
certainty inscparable from an irredecma.
bic paper currency, with it's fluctuations
Of values, is ono of the greatest obstacles
to Il return to prosperous times. The On
ly safe paper currency is one which rests
upon a coin basis, and is ut I'LL times
and promptly convertible into coin. ]
adhere to the views heretofore expressed
by me in favor Of Congressional legisla-
ton in behalf of an early resumption of
specie payment, and l am satisfied not
only that this is wise, but that the inter-
estS as well as the public sentiment OF
the country ~impcratively demand it.
INTERNATIONAL COMPLICATIONS.
Passing from these remarks upon the
condition Of u own country to consider
our relations with other lands, we are
reminded by tho international complica-
tons abroad, threatening the peace OF
Europe, that VI traditional rule of non
interference in the affairs of foreign ma
tons have proved of great value in past
times, and ought to be strictly observed.
The policy inaugurated by my honorcd
predecessor. General Grant, of submit
ting to arbitration grave questions in.dis-
putc between ourselves and foreign pow
ers, to a new and Incompatible mode of
settling international dislutcs-thc best
instrumentality of the preservation OF
pcace-and. will, as L believe. be-
come a bcnciicent example of the
emergencies by other nations. If,
%uniappily, questions of difference should
at any time during the period OF
my administration arise between the Uni
ted States and any foreign government, it
will certainly he ray disposition and my
hope to all in their settlement in the
same peaceful and honorable way-thus
securing t. u country the great bless
ings of peace and mutual good Offices
with all the nations of the world.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS OF III
ELECTORAL COMMISSION.
Fellow citizens, we have reached the
tie close Of 4 political contest marked by
the excitement which usually attends the
members cspOllsc and advOcnt3 with earn
est faith their respective crcctlS. The cir
cumStanccS were perhaps in NJ respects
extraordinary, sav in the closcncss and
consequent uncertainty Of the result. FOl
the first time in the history of the coun-
try, it has been deemed best, in view OF
the peculiar circumstances Of the case,
that the objections anu questions in dis
plltc with reference to he counting of tho
electoral votes should be ref rrcd to the
decision of Il tribunal appointed for this
purpose. sThlt tribunal established by
law for this sole purpose, It's members all
of them men of long established repllta-
ton for integrity AMI intelligence, aud
with the exception Of these who arc also
members Of the Supreme judiciary, c.Io-
sen equally from both political parties, its
deliberations enlightened by the research
and the arguments Of able counsel, was
entitled to the fullest confidence Of the
American people. Its decree has been
patiently awaited and accepted rs con-
elusive by the general Judgment Of the
public. For the present, opinion will
widely vary as to the wisdom of tho sew
eral conclusions announced by that triDu-
nal. This is to be anticipated III every in
stance where matters of dispute are made
the subject .ofarbitration. Under the forms
of law human Judgment is never unerr-
ing, and is regarded as otherwise than
wrong by the unsuccessful party in the
contest. The fact that two great political
parties have in this way settled Il dispute
in regard to which good men differ as to
the fact and the law, no less than as to the
proper course to be pursued in solving
the questions in controversy, is an occa-
sion for general rejoicing. Upon one point
there is entire unanimity in public senti-
mcnt-that conflicting claims to the
Presidency must be amictbly and peace
ably adjusted, and when so adjusted, the
gcnaral acquicsccnce Of the nation might
surely follow. 1t has been reserved for Il
government of the people where the right
of suffrage Is universal; to give to the
world the first example i'll history of
great nation in the midst of i struggle OF
opposing parties for power, hushing its
party tumults to yici'. the issue OF the
contest to adjustment according to tho
forms Of law.
AN EARNEST EFFORT
Looking for the guidance Of that Divine
hand by which the dcstinics of nations
and individuals are shaped, l call upon
YOU, Senators and Representatives, judy
n.,l Eulln,t 1ifiuni. hnrn nnl nA,nr1,.