Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-04

an d in aid of the purposes in view, recon.
mend more comprehension and more searching
mt thods for preventing rs well as puDishiDg
this crime, be provided. If necessary to secure
obedience to law, the enjoyment and exercise
of the rights and privileges of citizenship in
the Territories of the ULited States may be
withheld or withdrawn from those who violate
or oppose the enforcement of law on this sub
ject.
PROTECTION OF TIE BALLOT.
The elections of the past year. though ocou-
pied only with Safe offices. have not failed TO
elicit in political discussions which attended
them all over the country new and decisive evil
dence of the deep interest which the great body
of citizens take in the progress of the country
towards more general and complete establish
ment, at whatever cost, of universal security
aud freedom In the exercise of the elective
franchise. While many topics of political con-
Germ demand great attention from our people,
both in tho sphere of national and State au'
thOrity, / find no reason to qualify the opinion
ex pressed in my last annual message, That NO
temporary or administrative interests of the
ever displace the zeal of our people IN defense
of the primary rights of citizenship, and that
the power of public opinion will override
all political prejudices, and that
all sectional and State attachment
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 unchalleDged security and
respect. earnestly appeal to the intelligence
and patriotism of all good citizens. of every
part of the country, however Inuch they may
be divided in opinion on other political sub
Jets. to unite in compelling obedience tn exist
ing laws aimed at the protection OF
Al FL.
urge upon Congress to supply any defects in
these laws which experience has shown and
which it is within its power to remedy.
again invoke the cooperation of the executive
and legislative authorities of States in this
great purpose. am fully convinced that if
the public mind Can be set at rest on the para
mount question of popular rights, no seriOu 8
obstacle will thwart or delay the complete
paciicatiOn of the country or retard the gen.
eral diffusion of prosperity.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In former message invited the attention
of Congress to the reformation of the civil
service of the government, and expressed an
intention, transmitting to Congress os early a.
practicable, a report upon this subject by the
chairman of the civil service commission. In
view of the fact, during considerable period
the government of Great Britain has been deal
ing with the administrative problems and
abuses in various particulars analogous tc
those present, in this country, and that "
recent years the measures adopted were under.
stood to have been effective and in every re-
spect highly satisfactory, thought 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
| been an elaborate and comprehensive report
The report sets forth the history of the partr
san spoil system in Great Britain, and of the rise
| and fall of the parliamentary patronage and Of
| official interference with the freedom OF
| elections, shows that after long trials oil
various kinds of examinations, those which art
competitive and open on equal terms to all
! and whiC b are carried on under the superin-
| tendence of q single commission, have with
| great advantage been established as the con-
dition of admission to almOst every Oficia
| place in the subordinate administration oil
| that country and of British India. The com
| p!etiOn of the report, Owlag to the extent OF
the labor involved in its preparation, and the
| omission of Congress to make any provision
| either for the com pensatIon or the expenses OF
| the commission, has been postponed until the
| presenstime. 1t Is herewith transmitted tc
| Congress. While the reform measures of an
other government are of no authority to u.s.
| they are entitled to influence to the extent
to which their intrinsic
| wisdom and their adaptation
| to our constitutions and social life may DOM
mend them to our consideration. The views |
| have heretofore expressed concerning the de-
! fects and abuses in our civil administration
remain unchanged except in SO far as an en-
| larged experience has deepened my sense oil
the duty, both of officers and of the people
| themselves, to cooperate for their removal
| The grave evils and perils of partisan spOils
| system of appointment to Office. and of the of
fee tenure, are now generally recognized. In
the resolutions of the great parties, in reports
| of departments, in the debates and proceed
| ings of Congress, the messages of executives
| the gravity { the evils has been admitted. II
| command the necessary support every measure
| of reform must be based on common right anC
| justice, and must be compatible with III
h-althy existence of great parties which are
| inevitable and essential In free State.
| When people have approved policy at
| national election confidence in the officers they
! have selected and the advisers who, in accord
ance with our political institutions should b.
| consulted as to the policies which it is thei
duty to carry into effect, is unquestionable.
! Is eminently proper they should explain to tn
people, as well AS illustrate its spirit in tn
performance of their official duties. It hardl,
need be pointed out that very different con
| sideratiOns apply to the greater number o
those who fill the subordinate places in tn
civil service. Their responsibility is to thei
| sCperiOrs in official position. 1t is their dut
| to obey the legal instructions of those upOl
| whom that authority is devolved, and thei
| public service consists in the discharg
of their functions irrespective of pa,
same whatever party is in power, and what
ever policy prevails. As consequence, i
follows that their terms of office should NO
depend upon the prevalence of any policy o
the supremacy of any party. but should be de
/ termined by their capacity to serve the peopl
most usefully, quite irrespective of partisan
| interests. The same considerations that shoult
| govern the tenure, should also prevail in tn
appointment, discipline and removed of thos
| subordinate. The authority of appointment
and removal is not q perquisite whicl
may be used to aid frien
or reward q partisan, but
q trust to be exercised in the public inter
est. The only just ground of discrimination
! ia the measure of character and capacity he hs
| to make that service moat useful to the PEG
pie, except in cases when upon just and recOg
nized principles, it is upon the theory of pen
sioRs, Offices and promotion are bestowed a
rewards for past services. Their bestowal up
on any theory which disregerds personal meri
is an act of Justice to the citizen, as we'll as
breech of that trust subject to which the ap
pointing power ia held.
| In the light of these principles, it become
| of great importance to provide jnst and ade
quate means, especially for every department
| OF large administrative office where persona
discrimination on the part Of the head Is NO
practicable for ascertaining those qualification
to which appointments and removals shout
have reference. To fail to provide such mean
is not OILY to deny the opportunity of ascel
tanning facts upon which the most righteou
claims to Office depend, but of necessity (
discourage all worthy aspirants
handing over appointments and removal
To mere influence and favoritism
If lit is the right of the worthiest claimant t
gain the appointment, and the interest of tn
people TO bestow it upon him, it would seer
clear that q wise and just method of ascertain
ing personal fitness for office must needs be- a
important and paramount function of ever
| wise and Just government.
1t has long since become impossible in th