The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-12-06
yens of Utah that the law was in contra
ynntinn with the constitutional Qlaran.

is now removed. The supreme court of
the United States has decided the law to
be within the legislative power OF con.
gress, binding as II rule OF action f0r all
who reside within the territories. lhere
is no longer any reason for eleay or htSl-
tation in its enforcement. III should De
firmly and effectively executed. III not
sufficiently stringent in its provisions, 1t
should be amended, and in aid OF the
purpose in view | recommend that more
comprehensive and more searching metll-
DDS for preventing us well as Furnishing
this crime be provided. If necessary 10
secure obedience 20 the law, the ENJOY
ments and exercise OF the rights or citl-
Zenshp in the territories OF the United
States may be withheld or Withdrawn
from those vino oppose the enforcement
of the law on this subject.
TIE ELECTIONS
of the past year, though occupied only
with state Offices, have not failed To elicit
in the political discussions which attend
ed them all over the country new ana de-
cisive evidence of the deep interest winch
the great body of citizens take III the pro-
gresS of the country towards Il more gen
eral and complete establishment, al
whatever cost, of universal security ana
freedom in the exercise Of the elective
franchise. While many topics OF polll-
cal concern demand great attention from
our people, both in the sphere OF natloh-
al and state authority, | lnd no reason
to qualify the opinion | expressed III my
last annual message, that no temporary
or administrative interests OF govern
ment, however urgent or Welghty, VIII
ever displace the zeal of our people III de-
Tense of the primary rights OF citizenship
and that the power of pubic opinion Will
override all political preJudlces and All
sectional and state attachments. In ue-
handing that all over our wide territory
the name and character OF cltlzen OF lle
United States shall mean one and the
same thing and carry with them unchal-
lenged security and respect. | earnestly
appeal to the intelligence ana PATRIOTISM
of all good citizens of every part OF The
country, however much they may be Ill
vided in opinions on other political sub
jectS, to unite in compelling obedience
to existing laws, aimed at the protection
of the right of suffrage. | respectfully
urge upon congress to supply any defects
i'm these laws which experience has
shown and which it is within It's power
to remedy. | again invoke the C0Opera-
ton of the executive and legislative au-
thorities of the states in this great pur-
pose | am fully convinced that II the
public mind can be set at rest on this par
amount question Of popular rights, no
serious obstacle will lhWart or delay the
complete paciiication of the country or
retard the general diffusion of prospect
ty.
In a former message | invited the at
tentiOn OF congress to the reformation OF
THE CIVIL SERVICE
of the government, and expressed the in
tention of transmitting to congress us
early as practicable a report upon tins
subject by the chairman OF the civil ser
vice commission. In view of the rae
that, during II considerable period, the
government of Great Britain has been
dealing with administrative problems
and abuses, in various particulars analo-
gOuS to those presented III this country,
and that in recent years the measures
adopted were understood to nave been
effective and in every respect highly sat
isfactory. | thought it desirable to have
fuller information upon the subject, ana
accordingly requested the chairman
of the civil service commission to
make thorough Investigation for this
purpose. The result has been an elabo-
rate and comprehensive report. The re-
port sets forth the history Of the partisan
spOil-syStem III Great Britain and OF the
rise and fall of the parliamentary patron
age and of official interference with the
freedom of elections. II shows that al
ter long trials of various kinds of eXami-
nations, those which are competitive ana
open on equal terms To all, and which are
carried on under the superintendent OF
Il single commission, have with great adj
vantage been established as conditions
of admission to almost every official
place in the subordinate administration
of that country and Of British India. The
Al
extent of the labor involved in its prepa-
ration, and the omission of congress to
make any provision either for the cons
penSatiOn or the expenses of the com
mission, has been postponed until the
present time. 1t is herewith transmitted
to congress. While the reform measures
of another government are of 10 author
ity to MS, they are entitled to influence to
the extent to which their intrinsic Wis
dom and their adaptations To our cOnStl-
buttons and social life may commend
them To our consideration The views |
have heretofore expressed concerning
the defects and abuses in our civil adj
ministratlon remain unchanged, except
in SO far as IN enlarged experience has
deepened my SENSE of the duty both of
officers and of the people themselves to
cooperate for their removal. The grave
evils ANA perlIS OF partisan spoil system
of appointment To office and OF the Office
tenure are now generally recognized. In
the resolutions of the great parties, in re-
ports of departments, in the debates and
proceedings of congress, the messages of
executives, the gravity of the evils has
been pointed out and the need OF their
reform has been admitted. To command
the necessary support, every measure of
reform must be based on common right
and justice, and must be compatible with
the healthy existence of great parties,
which are inevitable and essenti | in Il
free state. When the people have APP
proved policy ut national election
congress confidence in the officers they
have selected and the advisers who, III
accordance with our political institutions
should be consulted as to the policies
which it is their duty to carry into effect,
is unquestlonable. 1t is eminently prop
er that they should explain it before the