Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-05

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prominent place 20 the subject a the
reform OF our civil service, recognizing
and slrengly urging lie necessity In terms
almost Identical Ia their upeciRe import
with those ! have here employed, muat
be accepted a. conclusive argument IN
behalf Of these measures, ID must be
regarded as ~ expression Of the united
voice aud will OF The whole country upon
this euhjeet aud both political parties
are virtually pledged 20 rive Il their an,
reserved support The President Of
the United Statoe, OF necessity, owe his
election TO office 10 the eufrage aud zeal.
Qua lahnrs OF a political party, the mem.
hers OF Witch cherish with ardor aud 70.
card, "a ct essential Importance, tho
principles OF their tarv organization.
But he should strive TO BE- always mind.
sal ol the fact that he serves hls party
hes, who serves his country best, Ia the
Mrtherance OF the reform we seek, and
Ia other important respects, ASS change
It great Importance | will recommend
an amendment 10 the constitution pre-.
segiaing a term OF ak years for the pres.
iden,ial office, aud f%orbidding q 70 cleo.
tom
With respect to the financial condition
Of the country | shall not attempt an
extended history OF the embarrassment
and ptosfation which We have suffered
during the past three years. Tho do.
preston 10 all our oommeroialan aud man.
etaoluring interests throughout the coun.
try which began ia September, 1873, still
continues, 1t isyery gratifying, however,
to De able to say, hat there are indica.
tons all around US Of a coming change
TO prosperous times. Upon the currency
question, intimately connected as il is
With this topic, | may be permitted to re.
peat here that statement made in my
letter OF acceptance, that in my judgment
the feeling OF uncertainty, i~nseparable
from m irredeemable paper currency,
with its fluctuations OF values, is one Of
the greatest obstacles OF q return to
prosperous times, The only safe paper
currency is one which rests upon a coin
basis, and is at oil times and promptly
converted into coin. | adhere to the
views heretofore expressed by me in ia.
vos of congressional legislation in behalf
Of an early resumption Of specie pay
ment, aud | am satisfied not only that
this is wiSe, but that the interests as we'll
as the public sentiment Of the country
imperatively demand it,
Passing from these remarks upon the
condition Of our own country to consider
our relations with other lands, we are re.
minded by the international compiled.
lions abroad threatening the peace Of
Europe that our traditional rule of nom
interference in the affairs Of foreign ma.
tons has proved Of great value 10 past
times and ought to be strictly observed.
The policy insugurated by my honored
predecessor, President Grant, Of sub.
hitting to arbitration the grave questions
in dispute between ourselves and foreign
powers, points TO o new, add incompara-
bly,, the best fundamentally for the
preservation OF peace, and will, as
| believe, become a benefcent ex.
ample Of the course to be pursued
in similar emergencies by other nations
it, %unhsppily, questions Of difference
should at aay time during the period Of
my administration arise between tie
United States and any foreign govern.
ment. II will certainly be my disposition
ard my hope to aid in their sstI sment
in the same peaceful and honorable way,
thus securing to our country the great
blessings OF peace and mutual good
Offices with all nations Of the world.
Fellow-citi7a Ems, we have reached the
close Of g political contest marked BY
the excitement which usually attends the
contests between great political parties,
whose members espouse and advocate
with earnest faith their respective
creeds. Circumstances we're perhaps
in no respect extraordinary save in the
o~losaRess and the consequent ubeer.
talnty Of the result, For the Grat time
10 the history Of the couptEy 1t has been
deemed best, in view Of the peculiar
circumstances Of the case, that the oh.
jectiops and questions in dispute with
reference to the counting Of the electo.
raj votes should be referred 10 the de-.
cision Of a tribunal appointed for this
purpose, that tribunal established by
law for this sole'purpose; its members all
OF them men OF long established reputa.
ton for integrity and intelligence and
With tho exception Of those who
are members of the supreme iu.
dietary, chosen equally from
both political parties, Its delibera.
ton, enlightened By the research and the
argu meAts Of able counsel, was entitled
10 the fullest confidence Of the American
people. Its decisions have been patient.
" waited for and accepted as legally CON
elusive by the general judgment Of The
public. For the present, opinion will
widely vary aR TO the wisdom Of the sew.
essi conclusions announced by tribunal.
This is to be anticipated in every ia.
stance where matters OF dispute are made
the subject Of arbitration under the
forms Of law. The human judgment ia
never unerring and is rarely REGARDED AZ
otherwise than wrong By The unsuccess.
fol party ia tho contest. The fact that
two great political parties have in thia
way settled q dispute, in regard to which
good men differ as to the law no less than
as to the proper course to be pursued in
solving the question 10 controversy, ia an
occasion for general rejoicing. Upon
one point there is entire anauimity in
public sentiment--thst the conflict
ing claims to the Presidency must be
amicably aud pesceably adjusted. aud
that when so adjusted the general acuui.
escenoe of the nation ought surely to
follow. 1t has been reserved for a gov,
eminent OF the people where the right Of
suffrage is universal, to give to the world
the first example in history OF a great
nation in the midst Of q struggle OF op.
posing power hushing its party tumults,
10 yield the issue OF the contest to ad,
ju5tment according to the forms Of law,
looking for the guidance of that divine
baud by which the destinies of nations
and individuals are shAned