The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-03-15

for partisan services, or merely on the
of members of Congress as
being entitled in any respect to the
control Of such appointments. The
fact that both political parties of the
country. in declaring their principles
prior to the election, gave prominent
place TO the subject of the reform of
our service, recognizing and strongly /
urging its necessity, in terms almost |
identical in their specific import with |
those have here employed, must be
accepted as conclusive argument in
hehalf of these measures. 1t must be
voice aud will of the whole country
upon this subject, aud both political
parties afe-virtualiy pledged to give
their unrf rived support. The Presi-
dent of the United States, of necessity
owes his election to. Office to the suf-
frage and Jealous labors of the political
party, the members of which cherish
with ardor and regard as of essential
importance the principles of their Or
ganiZatiOn, but lie should strive to he
always mindful of the fact that he
serves yhis party best who serves the
county best. II / ii furtherance of the
reform we seek and I'm otherim portant
respects a change of great Importance,
/ recommend an amendment to the
constitution prescribing a term of six
years for the Presidential office. and
fjrbidding reelection.
With respect to the financial cOndi-
tion OF the country shall not attempt
an extended history of the embarrass-
ment and prostration which we have
suffered duriags the past three years.
The depfessien In; our varied COM
mercialz and man ufaetufing interests
throughout the country, which began
in 1878, still continues. It is very graf
flying, however, to be able to say that
there are indications all around us of a
coming change to prosperous times.
Upon the currency question, init
mately connected al it is with this
subject, may be permitted to repeat
here the statement made in my letter
of acceptance, that, in my judgment.
the feeling of uncertainty inseperable
with its fluctuations. Of, value, is one of
the greatest obstacles to a return TO
.prosperous times. The only safe paper
currency is one which rests upon a coin
basis, and is atgall times, and promptly
converted into coin! [ adhere to the
views heretofore expressed by me in
favor of Congressional legislation in
behalf of an early resumption of specie
payments, and am satisfied not only
I tthatsthis iswise, but that the interests
"a wss4lsaS the pui,lie sentiment of the
country, in,peratively demand it.
q Passing from remarks upon the con-
ditiOn of our own country to consider
our relations with other lands, we are
reminded by International cOmplica-
lions abroad, threatening the peace Of
! Europe that Olir'national policy only of
non-interference in affairs of foreign
nations has proven of great value in
I past times, and ought to he strictly OH
served. The policy inaugurated by my
hpnored predecessor, President Grant.
submitting to arbitration grave uues-
ftions in disputelbetweeil ourselves and
fUreign powers, points to u new and in
| conlrarlblyA the best. .instrumentality
for the nreSeFEation of peace. and will,
as / helieve. hecome a beniticent ex-
ample of the course to be pursued i'm
similar emergencies by other nations.
IF, upl,hppily, questions of difference
should at any time during the period
of my administration, arise between
the United States aud any foreign gov
ernment, twill certainly be my dis
position and my hope to aid in their
settlement in the same peaceful and
|. honorable way, thus securing to our
country the great blessings of peace
and mutual good offices with all the
nations of the world.
r., FellOw-citiZens, we have reached
the close sofsa political contest marked
by the excitenentS which, usually at
enfsst y etseHttsts between great polit-
icai parties whose members espouse
aud advocate, With an intense faith,
their respective creeds. The circum-
stances were, perhaps, in no respect
extraordinary except in the closeness
and consequent uncertainty of the re-
sult. For the first time in the history
of the country, it has been deemed best,
| in view of the peculiar circumstance OF
| the case, that the objections and ques-
tions in dispute with reference the
counting of the electoral votes should
be referred to thedecision of a tribunal
appointed for this purpose. A tribu-
nal was established iiy law for this sole
purpose, and its members were all men
of long established Populations for integ-
rity and intelligence, and, with the ex-
ceptiOn OF thosefw hO are also mem bers
OF the supreme Judiciary chosen equally
from both parties. Its deliberations
enlightened by the research and the
arguments of: the able counsel, were
entitled to the firmest confidence of
the American people. It's decisions
have been patiently waited for and ac-
cepted as legally conclusive by the
general judgment Of the public. For
| the present opinions will widely vary
as to theawisdsm of the several cOnclu-
siOns announced by the tribunal. This
is to be anticipated in every instance
where matters of dispute are made the
subject of arbitration under the forms
of law. Human Judgment is never
funerriny, and is rarely regarded as
otherwise than wrong Iy the unsuc-
cessfQl party in the contest. The fact
that the two great politicalparties have
i'm this way settled II dispute in regard
to which good men differ, as to law, no
less than asto the proper course to be
pursued i'll solving this question in
controversy, is an occasion for general
rejoicing. Upon one point there is
certa n unanimityinl public sentiment,
that conflicting claims to the Presiden-
,y Inust be aIiic:,bly and peaceabiy
adjusted, and that when so adjust ed
the general aeGuiesence of the nation
orgiit surely To follow. 1t has been
re escrved for Il government of the peo
pie where the right of suffrage is udi-
varsal. to give To the world the first
~xam pie in the history of nation in
the midst of struggle of opposing
parties for. power. hushing its party
Iinults to- yield The issue of the con-
st To adjustment according to the
{ rms of law. Looking for the guild
anee of that Divine hand by which the
daetinies Of nations and individuals
are shaped, c,l upon you, Senators,
Representatives, Judges and fellow
citizens, here and everyw where, to unite
wi til me in all earnest effort To secure
to our country the blessings not only
of national prosperity but of justice,
peace and union. A union depending
not upon the constraints of force, but
upon the loving devotion of free
people, That all things may be 50 or
dered and settled upon the best and
surest foundation, that peace and hap