The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-03-09

of four millions of people from
condllien of serviiude TO that of cit
izenshlp upon an equal footing with
their former masters, could not oc-
cur without presenting problems OF
the graVest interest 10 De dealt with
oy the general government, the au-
thor of the act of era nciPation.
mat IT wss wisP. just and provi-
GENITAL &C., frSpght wi h good for all
concerned. IS no g. generally conced-
ed thFou2 bout the country, aud that
q moral obligation res upon the
national government to employ It's
constitutional power ct Influence
10 establish the rights of ne people
IL has emsncipated, and 10 protect
them in the enJoymen OF those
rights, where they are iafringed up
on or assaiiej,. Is also generally adj
mitted. The evils which sfii ct the
Southern States ces only be re-
moved or reme6ied by united aud
harmonious effort of both races, ac-
tuatsd by motives OF mutual Gym
paihy and regard. and while in d u
~ bound aud fully determined 10
protect the rights OF al, by every
constitutional means at my dispo-
sal in my administration, l am sim
cerely anxious to use every iegiti-
mate influence in favor of honest
and efficient local governments as
the true resource for those > a.es
for the promotion OF the content
ment and prosperity of their citi-
zens. In the effort I shall make to
accomplish this purpose l ask the
cordial cooperation of all who
cherish an interest in the welfare of
the country, trusting that party ties
aud prejudices OF race will be freely
surrendered in behalf II the great
purpose to be accomplished. In
the important work of the restora-
ton of the South it is not the po-
liticaI situation alone that merits
attention. The material develop
ment of that section of the country
has been arrested by the social and
political revolution through which
it has passed, and it now needs and
deserves considerable care from the
national government, within the
just limits prescribed by the consti-
tuition and wise public economy.
But as the basis of all prosperity
for that, as we'll as for every other
part of the country, is the improve
ment of the moral and Intellectual
condition of the people, universal
suffrage should rest upon universal
education. To this end liberal and
permanent provisions should be
made for free schools by the state
government, and if need be, supple
mented by legitimate aid from the
national authority. Let me assure
my countrymen of the Southern
States that it is my earnest desire to
regard ana promote their truest in-
terests-the interest of the white
aDd of the coiored people both and
and to put forth my best
efforts in behalf of a civil policy
which will forever wipe out in our
political affairs the color line and
the distinction between north and
south, and to tie end that we may
not haye merely a united north or
united south but united country.
/ ask The attention of the public
to the paramount necessity of re-
form in our civil service-a reform
not merely as to certain abuses and
practices of the so-called official
which have come to have
the sanction of usage in the several
of government, but a
change of the system of appoint
ments itself; reform that shall be
radical ana complete;
return to the principles and practi-
ces of the founders of the govern
ment. They never expected. nor
desired, from public officers, any
psrtiZan service. They meant that
public officers should owe their
whole service to the government
and to tire people. They meant an
officer should be secure in his ten
IRE as long as his personal charac-
Ter remained untarnished, and the
performance of his duties satisfac-
.ory. They held that the appoint
nents to office were not to be made
Or expected merely as rewards for
DartiZAn services, nor merely on the
of members of congress,
Is being entitled in any respect TO
he control of such appointment.
The fact that both of the political
parties of the country, in declaring
heir principles, prior to the cleo
ion. gave q prominent place to the
object of the reform of our civil
service, recognizing and strongly
lrging its necessity in terms almost
IDENTICAL in their specific import
VII b those l have here employed,
must be accepted as conclusive ar
yument in the behalf of those meas
Tres. 1t must be regarded as an
Of the united voice and
will of the whole country upon this
Iubject, and both of the political
parties are virtually pledged to give
[ their unreserYed support.
I he president of the Uuited States |
of necessity owes his election TO of
ice to the outrage aud Jealous Ia
)ers of political party, the mem
1ers of Which cherish with ardor,
Ind regard as of essential import
Lnce, the principles OF their party |
,rganiza ion. Bat he should strive |
10 be always mindful of the fact,
hat be serves his party best who
serves his country best. In further
Lnce of the reforms we seek, and in |
)ther respects, change of great
l recommend an amend
nent TO the constitution, prescrib-
ng the term of six yeras for the
office and forbidding
. reelection.
With respect to the financial con-
litiou of the country, 1 shall not at
empt an extended history of the
I'M barIassment and prostration we
nave suffered during the past three
depression in all our va
led commercial and manufacturing
interests throughout the country,
v hich began in September, 1873. |
There are indications all around of
/ coming change to prosperous
lines. Upon the currency question,
connected as it is with
his topic, I may be permitted to
'epeat here the statement made in
ny letter of acceptance, that in my
Judgment the feeling of uncertainty
from an irredeemable
paper currency, with its fuctus-
ions of values, is one of the great
,st obstacles OF q return 10 prosper
1us times.
The only safe paper currency is
one which rests upon coin basic,
md is at ali times and promptly
Iato coin. I advert to