The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1877-03-08

shall make to accomplish this purpose ask
the cordial cooperation of all who cherish
on interest in the welfare of the country
trusting that party ties, and the prejudice
Of race, will be freely surrendered in be-
half of the great purpose to be accomplish
cd. In the important work of restoring
the South, it is not the political situation
alone that merits attention. The material
development Of that section of the country
has been arrested by the social and politi-
c,l revolution through which it has passed
and now needs and deserves the considerate
care of the National Government, within
the Just limits prescribed by the Constitu-
ton aud wise public economy.
EDUCATION A NECESSITY.
But as the basis of all prosperity, for
tbat as well as for every other part of the
country, lies in the Improvement Of the in
tenectual and moral condition of the peo-
nle. 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 it need be, supplemented
by legitimate aid from national authority.
Let me assure my countrymen Of the South
crn States that it is my earnest desire to
regard and promote their trust, interests,
the interests of the white and of the colored
people both, and equally, and to put forth
nv best efforts in behalf of civil policy
which will forever wipe out in our political
affairs the color line and the distinction be
tween North and South, to the end that
we may have not marel ely united North or
a united South, bat a united country.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM PROMISED.
ask the attention of the public to the
raramont necessity Of reform in our Civil
Seryicc-a reform not merely IS to certain
abuses and practices Of so-callcd official
patronage which have come TO have the sane
ton of usage in the several departments of
our government, but a change in the sys-
TEN Of appointment itsalf-a reform that
shall be thorough, radical and complete, a
return to the principles and practices OF
the founders Of the government. They
neither expected nor desired from public
officers any partisan service They meant
that public officers should owe their whole
service to the government and to the peo-
, le. They meant that the officer should
be secure in his tenure rs long as his per
sonal character remained untarnished aud
the performance of his duties satisfactory
Trey held that appointments to Office were
n3t 70 be made, nor expected, merely as
rewards fur partisan services, nor merely
on the nomination Of members Of Congress-,
as being entitled in any respect to the con
troI Of such appointments.
The fact that both the great political
parties Of the country in declaring THEN
principles prior to the election gave a
prominent place to the subject Of reform OF
our Civil Service, recognizing and strongly
urging lis necessity in terms almost identi
cal in their specific import with those
have here employed, must be accepted as d
conclusive argument in behalf Of these
measures it must be regarded as tie ex
preston of the united votes and will Of the
whole country upon this subject. and both
political parties are virtually pledged tC
Give Il their unreserved support. The
President of the United States of necessity
owes his election 10 oI1ce to the suffrage
and a,ous labors Of roitical party, the
members Of which cherish with ardor and
regarded as Of essential Importance, tht
principles Of their party organization.
A4EEDHENT OF THE CONSTITUTION.
But he should strive to be always mind
ful cf the fact that he serves his party bes
who serves the country best. In further
ancc Of the reform we seek. and in othe
important respects, a change Of great I'M
purtance, | recommend an amendment tC
the Constitution prescribing term Of 81
years for the Presidential Office, and for
l;l-lil..r y rn nl-..ti In