Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-01

new and decisive evidence Of the deep inter-
est which the great body Of citizens take in
he progress of the country towards Q more
sc.e'al and complete establishment, Mt what
ever cost, of universal security and freedom
| in the exercise of the elective franchise.
While many topics of political concern de-
mand great attention from our people, both
in sphere of national and State authority, 1
find no reason to qualify the opinion ! ex-
pressed in my last annual message, that no
temporary or administrative interests of gov
eminent, however urgent or weighty, will
ever displace the zeal of our people in the
defence Of primary rights of citizenship, and
and that the power of public opinion will
| override all political prejudices and all Sec
tional and State attachments, in demanding
that all over our wide territory the name and
character of citizen of the United States
shall mean one and the same thing, and carry
with them unchallenged security and respect.
| earnestly appeal to the intelligence and
patriotism of all good citizens Of every part
| of the country however much they may be
divided in opinions on other political sub
jects, to unite in compelling obedience to ex-
| isting laws aimed at the protection OF the
| right of suffrage.
| l respectfully urge upon Congress to sup
ply any defects in the laws which experience
has shown and which it is within its power
to remedy. again invoke cooperation Of
| executive and legislative authorities OF States
| in this great purpose. l am fully convinced
that if the public mind can be set at rest eR
this paramount question of popular rights,
no serious obstacle will thwart the com
plete pacifcation of country or retard general
diffusion of prosperity.
| In former message, / invited attention OF
Congress to the subject of reformation OF the
| civil service of government, and expressed
| my intention Of transmitting to Congress -
early as practicable report upon this sub
| ject by the Chairman of the Civil Service
| Commission. In view Of facts that during
considerable period the Government OF
| Great Britain has been dealing with admins
| trative problems and abuses in various par
| ticulars analogous to those presented In this
| country, and that in recent years measures
adopted were understood to have been effect
i've, and in every respect highly satisfactory,
I thought it desirable to have fuller Informs
ton upon this subject, and accordingly
reqested the Chairman of the Civil Service
Commission to make a thorough investiga-
ton for this purpose. The result has been
an elaborate and comprehensive report. The
report sets forth the history of the partisan
spoils system in Great Britain, and of the
rise and fall of parliamentary patronage, and
| of official interference with freedom of cleo
Gus kinds of examinations, those which are
competitive and open on equal terms to all,
and which are carried on under the superin-
| tendence of a single commission, have, with
great advantage, been established a. condi-
| tons of admission to almost every omcial
place in subordinate administration Of that
country and Of British India.
| The completion Of the report, owing to the
extent of labor involved in its preparation,
and the omission of Congress to make any
provision either for compensation or the ex-
penses of the commission, has been postponed
until the present time. 1t is herewith trans
mitted to Congress.
While reform measures of another govern
ment are of no authority for us, they are en-
| titled to influence to the extent to which their
| intrinsic wisdom and their adaptation to our
institutions and social life may commend.
| them to our consideration.
rive shall probably publish the official
message tomorrow morning, or As soon Is it
is delivered to Congress.-ED.