Daily Republican., 1879-12-01
THE pREsIDEST's MESSAGE.

a Review OF the Past Year-Ro.
sumption Of specie Paymonss-
POlygamy-CiviI Service Reform
-sOuthern Anairs-FOretgu Re
latiOns and Indian Psliey.
The following Is q condensation Of
the Presidents message read In both
houses Of Congress to day:
After congratulating Congress on the
successful execution Of the Resumption
act and slluding to the familiar fact
that there has been $40,0OO,000 more
coin deposited in the Treasury In ex-
change for legaltendsr notes than there
has been coin paid out for notes re-
deemed, the President adverts to the
general improvement Of trade and to
the large indebtedness incurred by for
eign countries for United States products
which has been partially liquidated in
&59, 900, ,000 OF gold received between
July l and Nov. Is. The annual
amount Of interest saved by the refund
ing operations since March /, 1877, Is
stated at 114, ,297, III, and satisfaction
Is expressed at the fact that the bonds
sold have been largely taken in small
sums, and are held by much greater
numbers Of our citizans than ever be-
fore.
Passing to the question of the cur
rency, and after stating that Of S45,
000, 900 OF silver dollars coined up to
Nov. /, over 1872, 900, 900 still rest in
the vaults Of the Treasury, the Presi-
dent recommends Congress to refrain
from any new legislation on the gene
raj subject Of double standard, and
to content itself for the present with
authorizing the Secretary OF the Treas
ury to suspend the coinage Of silver
dollars till some international agree.
ment can be reached in regard to the
ratio at which the ''market value" of
silver dollar can be kept equal to that
Of q gold one. That is to say, the at
tempt to return 10 q double standard
should be indefinitely postponed.
In regard to the paper currency, the
Presidents views are of q still more
decided character. He regards the re-
tirement Of United States notes with
the csp pacity Of legal tender in private
contracts as "a step to be taken In our
progress toward a safe and stable cur
rency which should be accepted as the
policy and duty Of the Government and
the interest and security OF the peo-
ple." He adds: at is my firm con-
yiction that the issue Of legal-tendsr
paper money based wholly upon the
authority and credit Of the Government
except in extreme emergency, Is with
out warrant in the Constitution, and a
violation Of sound financial principles.
The President clearly intimates that
there should be no farther hesitation
about fulfilling the anticipation Of the
trainers OF the lsgal-tender act, viz,
''the redemption and withdrawal Of
these notes at the earliest possible pc.
riod, consistent with the attainment Of
the object for which they were provid-
ed"
Civil service reform is treated in q
much more elaborate though not less
satisfactory fashion. The President
clearly discriminates between the pro-
priety of allowing Cabinet officers,
who are closely identified with the poll.
~ of the Administration, to explain and
defend that policy before the people,
and the obvious improperly Of permit
ting the holders Of subordinate places,
whose functions are in nowise ideAti-
fed with partisan politics. to step out
of their sphere to become campaign
orators. Sherman or Schurz may make
speeches to help their party, while
WoOdford's admissibility is appar-
parently doubtful, and butchers not
to be thought Of. The general doctrine
is sound, though the practice Of Cab
met officer with Presidential aspira
tions may not differ quite 30 much as
might be desired from that of q Custom
house officer eager to earn tho graft.
tude of the managers Of the party ma
chine.
1t is demonstrable that the inferior
officer who enters into the strife Of
party politics nullifes any efforts which
may be made to lift his Office beyond
the influence Of party changes, and
thereby interferes not only with his
own capacity 10 render the people
faithful service, but with the prospect
Of ever having the duties Of his position
efficiently performed. The President
opens this part Of his Message with the
statement that the views he has hereto
fore expressed "concerning the defects
and abuses Of our civil service admin
istration remain unchanged" and he
closes it by alluding with satisfaction
to the results which the system Of com
pstitive examinations forminor positions
in the Custom house and Post Office has
already achieved.
II will be admitted that nothing half
80 forcible and explicit as the parts Of
this Message relating to civil service
reform has been penned by Mr.. Hayes
since his letter accepting the Cincinnati
nomin alton, and all his intermediate
trihine with the su bject will be forgiven
If his future policy be guided by the
considerations which he now so ably
formulates. But that presupposes the
necessity Of demanding much more tan
gible fruits and far wider enforcement
of the system that have hitherto been
forthcoming. Lot the President give
unmistskabls proofs Of his own earnest
ness and singlsness Of purpose in carry
ing out this most vital of reforms, and
the support Of public opinion, II not the
cooperation Of Congress, which he calls
for will not be withheld. ...
The message has the following in re-
gard to Southern affairs;
The elections of the past year, though
occupied only with State officers, have
not failed to elicit, in political discus