Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-12-03


preventing as well as Furnishing this crime be
provided. If necessary to secure obedience to
the law, the enjoyment and exercise of the
rights and privileges of citizenship in the
Territories Of the United States may be with
held or withdrawn from those who violate or
oppose the enforcement of the law on this
subject
Popular Rights.
The elections of the past year. though
occupied only with State offices, have
not failed to elicit, in the political discussions
which attended them all over the country, new
and decisive evidence of the deep interest
which the great body of citizens take
in the progress of the country toward
more general and complete establish
security and freedom in the exercise of the
| elective franchise While mauy topics of
political concern demand great attention from
our people, both i'll the sphere of National and
State authority, find no reason to qualify the
opinion expressed in my last annual message,
that no temporary or administrative interests
OF Government, however urgent or weighty,
will ever destroy the zeal of our people in de
tense of the primary rights of citizenship. and
that the power of public opinion will over
ride all political prejudices and ali sectional
and State attachments in demanding that all
over our wide territory the name and character
of citizens Of the United States shall mean one
and the same tking, and carry with them unchal-
lenged 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
obedience to existing laws aimed at the
protection of the right of suffrage 1
respectfully urge upon Congress to supply
any defects in these laws which experience
has shown, and which it is within it's power to
remedy I again invoke the co-operation OF
Executive Ia III Of tI,a
States in this great purpose. I am fully con-
vinced that if the public mind can be set at
rest on this paramount question of popular
rights, no serious object will thwart or DELAY
the complete paciication of the country, or re-
tard the general diffusion of prosperity.
CiviI-Service Reform.
In former message invited the attention
Of Congress to the subject of the reformation
OF the civil service Of the Government and
expressed the intention Of transmitting to Con-
gress, Rs early as practicable, a report upon
this subject by the Chairman of the Civil Serv-
Ice Commission. In view Of the fact that
during considerable period the Government
of Great Britain has been dealing with
administrative problems and abuses in
various particulars analogous to those present
ed in this country and that in recent years,
the measures adopted were understood to have
been effective and in every respect highly sat-
isfactory, l thought it desirable to have fuller
information upon the subject, and accordingly
requested the Chairman of the Civil Service
Commission to make thorough investigation
for this purpose. The result has beer an elab-
crate and comprehensive report. The report
sets forth the history of the partisan spoiis sys
tenn in Great Britain, and Of the rise and fall of
the Parliamentary patronage, and Of Of
fetal interference with the freedom of
trials of various kinds of examina-
tons, those which are competitive and
open on equal terms to all, and which are car
ried on under the superintendent of a single
commission, have with great advantage been
established as conditions of admission to almost
every official place in the subordinate admins
Tatlon OF that country and of British India.
The completion Of the report, owing to the ex-
tent of the labor involved in its preparation, and
the omission Of Congress to make any provis-
Ion either for the compensation or the expenses
OF the commission, has been postponed until
the present time. 1t is herewith transmitted
to Congress. While the measures Of another
Government are of no authority for Us, they
are entitled 10 influence to the extent TO which
their Intrinsic wisdom and their adaptation to
our institutions and social life may commend
the m to our consideration The views / have
heretofore expressed concerning the defects
and abuses in our civil administration remain
unchanged, except in 80 far as an enlarged ex-
perience has opened my sense Of the duty both
OF officers and Of the people themselves
W CO-OpOIht0 IOT EASlr REMOVAL 1n0 grave
evils and perils of partsan-spolls system of ap-
polntnent to Office and Office tenure are now
generally recognized In the resolutions Of the
great parties, in the reports of depa tments, in
the debates and proceedings of Congress, ID the
messages of Executives, the gravity Of theee
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 ineviabls
and essential in a free state. When the
people have approved policy at
national election, confidence on the part of
the officers they have selected, and of the ad
visers who, in accordance with our political
institutions, should be consulted in the policy
which it is their duty to carry into effect,
il Indispensable It ia eminently proper that
they should explain it before the people, as
well as illustrate it's spirit in the performance
of their official duties. 1t hardly need be
pointed ous that very different considerations
apply to the greater number of those who
fill the subordinate places in the civil service
Their responsibility is to their superiors
in official position. 1t is their duty to
obey the legal instructions of those upon whom
that authority is involved, and their best pub
lie service consists in the discharge of their
functions irrespective of partisan politics.
Their duties are the same whatever party is in
power, and whatever policy prevails. AS
consequence, it follows that their tenure of
Office should not depend upon the prevalence
of any policy or the supremacy of any party,
but should be determined by their capacity 70
serve the people most usefully, quite
irrespective OF partisan interests. The
same consideration that should govern
the tenure should also prevail in the ap
pointnent, discipline, and removal of these
subordinates. The authority OF appointment
and removal is not perquisiEe which may be
used to aid friend or reward partisan, but
is trust to be exercised in the public interest,
under all the sanctions which attend the
obligation to apply the public funds only for
public purposes. Every citizen has an equal
right to the honor and profit of entering the
public service of his country. The only just
ground of discrimination is the measure of
character and capacity he has to make that
service most useful to the people.
Except in casss where, upon just and recog-
nized principles, as upon the theory Of pen
sions, offices and promotions are bestowed as
rewards of past services, their bestowal upon
any theory which disregards personal merit is
an act of injustice to the citizen, as well as
breach Of that trust subject to which the ap
pointing power is held. In the light of these
principles it becomes of great Importance to
provide just and adequate NEAR s, especially for