Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-03-14

universal education. To this end liberal
and permanent provision should be made
for the support OF free schools by State Gov
ernments, and, if need be, supplemented by
legitimate aid from the National authority
Let me assure my countrymen Of the
Southern States that 1t is my earnest desire
to regard and promote their truest intere SITS
| the interests of the white aud of the col
ored people, both and equally-and put forth
my best efforts in behalf Of civil policy
| which will forever wipe out in our political
affairs the color line and the distinction be.
tween the North and South, to the end that
we my have not merely united n forth or a
united South, but united country.
| CIvIL-sERv1CE REFORM.
| ] ask the attention OF The public to the
| paramount necessity Of reform in our civil
| service, reform not merely as to certain
abuses and practices Of so-called official
| patronage, lch have come to have The
sanction of usage in several departments of
| our Government, but change of the system
OF appointment itself-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 pub
lie officers should owe their whole
service to the Government and to
the people; they meant that the officer
| should be secure in his tenure as long as his
| personal character remained untarnished
and the performance Of his duties was salts
| factory. They held that appointments to Of
| nee were not to be made or expected merely
! as rewards Tor partisan services, nor merely
on the nomination Of Members Of Congress
as being entitled in any respect to the con-
| troll of such appointments. The fact that
| both political parties of the country, in de-
| claring their principles prior to the election,
gave prominent place TO the subject of the
reform OF our civil service, recognizing and
strongly urging its necessity In terms al
4 most Identical in their specific import with
those | have here employed, must be ac-
cepted as a conclusive argument in behalf
OF these measures 1t mus be regarded as
the expression of the united voice and will
OF II. whole country upon this subject and
both political parties are virtually pledged
To give 1t their unrescrved support
The President of the United 5 ates, of ne
cessity, owes his election to Office to the suf-
frhge and Jealous labors of political party,
the members of which cherish with ardor
and regard as of essential impor ance the
principles Of their party organization. But
he should strive to bc always mindful Of the
fact hat he serves his party best who serves
the country best.
THE PRESIDENTIAL TERM
In furthcrancc OF the reform we seek, and
as IN other lmpor ant rcopects change of
great Importance, recommend an amend
ment To the Constitution prescribing a term
= u.
forbi;ding reelection.
FINANCIAL.
with respect to the financial condition If
the country, shall not attempt an extended
history OF the cmhdryas smcnt and prOstra-
ton which we have suffered during the
pust three years. The depression in all our
varied commercial and manufacturing n
tercsts throughout the country, which be-
gan In September, 1873 still continues 1t
Is very gratifying, however, to be able 10
say that there are indications all around US
OF a coming change to prosperous times.
reE CURRENCY AND SPECIE PAYMENTS
Upon the currency question, intimately
connected as it i, with this topic | IN ~ be
permitted to repeat the statement made in
my letter OF acceptance, that in my judg-
ment the feeling of uncertainty inScuarahle
from an lrrcdccinsbe paper currency with
It's fluctuations OF values, is one of the great
est obstacles of II return TO prosperous times.
The only safe paper currency is the one
which rests upon coin basis, and is at a 4
times promptly convertible into coin.
! adhere to the views heretofore expressed
by me in favor of Congress iOnal legislation
in behalf Of an early resumption of specie
payment and | am satisfied not only hat
this is wise, but that the interests. as well as
the public sentiment of the country imper-
atlvely demand il
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Passing from these remarks upon the con-
diton of our own country TO consider our
relations with other lands, We are reminded
by international complications abroad,
threatening he peace of Europe, that our
traditional rule of interference in az
fairs of foreign nations has proved of great
value In past times, and ought To be strictly
observed,
ARBITRATION
The policy iuaugurated by my houored
predece. sor--Gcn. Grant-of submitting to
arbitration grave questions in dispute be-
tween ourselves and foreign Powers, points
TO anew and incomparably the best instru.
mentality for the preservation of peace and
Will ~ believe, become "a bencACent ex.
ample OF the course to be pursued in SINH.
lar emergencies by other Nations,
II, unhappily, questions OF difference
should at any time, during the period of my
Administration, arise between the United
States and any foreign Government, it will
certainly he my disposition and my hope to
aid In their settlement in the same peaceful
and honorable way, thus securing 10 our
country the great blessings OF peace and
mutual good offices with all nations of the
world.
THE RECENT POLITICAL CONTEST
Fellow ctiEcns we have reached the close |
II q political contest marked with the ex-
element which usually attends the contests !
between great political parties, whose mem.
hers espouse and advocate with earnest faith |
their respective crecds. The circumstances |
were, perhaps, in no respect extraordinary
save in the Closcness and the consequent un.
certainty OF the result
THE ELECTORAL tribunal AND THE pREsi
pENCY.
For the first time in the history of the
country, 1t has been deemed best, in view of
the peculiar circums ances uf the case, that |
tie objections and questions in dispute with /
reference to the counting OF the Electoral /
votes should be referred To the decision OF a !