Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-12-08
ANNUAL MESSAGE
Of the President of the United
States.

congratulate you on the continued and in
| creasing prosperity of our country. By the
favor OF Divine Providence we lave been bless-
| ed during the past year with health. with
abundant harvests, with profitable employment
for all ourpeope, and with contentment aft home
and with peace and friendship with other
! nations. The occurrence Of the twenty fourth
election of chief magistrate has afforded anoth-
er opportunity to the people of the United States
! to exhibit to the world significant example of
the peaceful and safe transmission of
the power and authority of govern
| ment from the public servants whose
terms Of office are about to expire
| to their newly chosen successors This exam
pie cannot fail to impress profoundly the
| thoughtful people of other countries with the
advantages which Republican institutions af-
lord. The lmmediatJ, general and cheerful
| acquescence Of all good citizens, in the result
OF the election, gives gratifying assurance to
our country, and to its friends throughout the
| world, that government based on the
| free consent Of an intelligent and
! patriotic people possesses elements of strength,
stability and permanency not found IL any
| other form OF government. The continued OPP
position to the full and free enjoyment of the
rights OF citizenship conferred upon the colo,ed
| people by the recent amendments to the
constitution still prevails in several of
the late slaveholding states. 1t has,
perhaps, not been manifested in the recent
election to any large extent in acts of violence
or intimidation. 1t has, however, by fraudulent
practices in connection with the ballots, with
the regulations as to the places and manner of
voting and with counting, returning and can
Vasslng the votes cast. been successful in defeat
ing the exercise of the right preservative of all
rights, the right of suffrage, which the consti-
tuition expressly cOnfers upon our enfranchiSed
citizens. 1t is the desire of the good people of
the whole country that sectionalism as a factor
In our politics should disappear. They prefer
hat I'LL
IN solid opposition to any other sec
ton. The disposition to refuse
prompt and hearty obedience to the
equal rights amendments TO the constitu-
ton Is all that now stands in the way of COM
plete obhteration of sectional lines in our polit-
cal contests AS long rs either of the amend
ments is tiagrantly violated or disregarded it is
safe to assume that the people who placed them
III the constitution as embodying the legitimate
results of the war for the Union, and who be-
lleve them to be wise and necessary, viii con-
tinue to act together to insist that they shall be
obeyed. The paramount question still
is as to the enjoyment Of the right
by every American citizen who has
the requisite qualifications to freely cast
his vote and to have it honestly counted. With
this question rightly settled the country will be
relieved of the contentious OF the past. By
cones viii indeed be bygones, and political and
party issues with respect to tho economy and
efficiency of administration, internal improve
ments, the tariff, domestic taxation, education,
finance and other important subjects viii then
receive their full share of attention but insist
ing upon the notification of the results of the
the war VIII unite together III IesOlute purpose
their support all who maintain the authority of
the government, The perpetuity of the Union
and who adequately appreciate the value
of the victory achieved. This determine
ton proceeds from no hostile sentiment
or feeling to any part of the people of eur coun-
try 70 Of fhpi, i,,to Nlr
biity of the amendments rests upon the f1nda-
mental principle of osr government. They are
the solemn expression OF the Will of the people
of the United States, The sentiment that the
constitutional rights of all the citizens must be
maintained does not grow weaker. It will con-
tmue to control the government OF the country
Happily the history OF the late election shows
that IN many parts of the country where oppo-
sltion 10 the tiftcentbamendment has heretofore
prevailed, it is diminishing, and is likely to
cease altogether, if firm and well-consdered
action is taken by congress- trust to the house
and the senate, which have the right
to judge of the election returns aud qualification
of their own members will see to it that every
case of violation Of the letter or spirit of the
fifteenth amendment Is thoroughly investigated
and that no benefit from such violation shall ac-
erue to any person OF party. 1t viii be the
duty OF the executive. with sufficient appropria
tons for the purpose, to prosecute unsparingly
all who have been engaged In de Driving citizens
Of the rights guaranteed to them by the consti-
tuition. 1t is not, however, to be forgotten that
che best and surest guarantee of the primary
rights of citizenship is to be found in that
capacity for self protection which can only be-
long to people whose right to universal suf-
frage is supported by universal education.
FREE EDUCATION.
The means at the command Of the local and
state authorities are, in many cases. wholly in
adequate to furnish free instruction to ali who
need it. This is especially true where, before
emancipation the education of the people was
neglected prevented, Ill the interest of slavery
Firmly convinced that the subject of popular
education deserves the earnest attention of the
people of the whole country with view to wise
and comprehensive action by the government
Of the United States, I respectfully recommend
that congress-, by suitable Legislation and with
proper safeguards, supplement the local educa-
tL0nal funds III the several states where the
grave duties and responsibilities of citizenship
have been devolved on uneducated people, by
devoting to the purpose grants of the public
lands and If necessary by appropriations from
the treasury of the United States Whatever
the government can fairly do to promote free
popular education ought to be done. Wherever
general education is found, peace, virtue and
social order prevail and civil and religious liberty
are secure.
CIVIL SERVICE. REFORM.
In my former annual messages, L have asked
the attention of Congress to the urgent neces-
sity of a reformation of the civil service system
of the government. My views concerning the
dangers of patronage or appointments for
personal Oh partisan considerations have been
strengthened by my observation and experience
in the executlonai Office, and I believe these
dangers threaten the stability of the govern
ment. Abuses so serious in their nature can
not be permanently tolerated. They tend to be-
come more alarming with the enlargement of
the administrative service. AS the growth of
the country in population increases the number
of officers and placenlsn employed, the reasons
are imperative for the adoption of fixed
rules for the regulation of appointments,
promotions and removals; establishing a uni
form method, having exclusively in view in
every instance the attainment of the best quail
ifcations for the position in question. Such
method is alone consistent with the equal rights
of all citizens, and the most economical and
efficient administration of the public business
Competitive examinations in aid of impartial
appointments and promotions have been con-
Quoted for some years past in service of the
executive departments, and by my direction this
system has been adopted in the custom houses
and postoffces of the larger cities of the coun-
TT, Tho air e Vo,