Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-12-16
PRESIDENT HAYES MESSAGE.

FftotG- -CtItSeas u the Senate ami f7oase u h1Fe
| congratulate you on the continued and in
creasing prosp arity Of our country. BY the tayo
OF Diyine Providence we have been blessed, du
ring the past year, with health, with abundan
harVests with profitable employment for all on
people, and with c0ntentment at home, and Will
peace and friendship with other nations.
The occurrence of the tWenty-fourth election o
chief magistrate has aforded another opportunit,
to the people Of the United States to exhibit t.
the world significant example Of the peaceful
and safe transmission Of the power and authority
of government from the public servants who's
terms Of stfce are about TO expire TO their newly
chosen Successors. This example cannot fail t.
impress profoundly, thoughtful people Of Othe
countries with the advantages which republican
institutions afford. The Immediate general, ant
cheerful acquiescence of all good citizens in tin
result Of the election. gives gratifying assurance t
our country, and to its friends throughout til
world, that government based on the free con
sent Of intelligent and patriotic people possess
rs clements Of strength stability and permanency
not found in any other form of government.
sEcTIoNALIsOI.
Continued opposition to the full and free emily
mcnt Of the rights of citizenship, conferred III
The colored people by the recent amendments t
the constitution, still prevails in several Of The
late slaYe-hoIding states. 1t has perhaps, moi
been manifested in the recent election to any large
extent in acts Of violence or intimidation. 1t has
however, by frauduelnt practices in connection
with ballots with the regulations rs to the places
and manner Of voting, and with counting, return
ing and canyasSing the votes cast, been successful
m defeating the exercise of the right preseFyativC
of all rights, the right Of suffrage; which the con-
stitution expressly confers upon our enfranchised
citizens.
1t is the desire Of the good people of the whole
country that sectionalism as factor in pol
tics should disappear. They prefer that no sec
tion nf he gbonlI bn 1IpiteI
position to any other section. The disposition t.
refuse prompt and hearty obedience to the
equal rights amendments to the constitution is all
thatnow stands in the way of n complete obliter-
alton of sectional lines III our political contests
As long rs either Of these amendments is faoraat-
u violated or disFegarded, it is safe to assume
that the people who placed them in the cOnstitu-
ton, as embodying the legitimate results of the
war for the Union and who believe them to be
wise and necessary, will continue to act together
and to insist that they shall be Oheycd. The par
amount 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; bygones will indeed be
hygOnes; and political and party issues with re-
Spect to economy and efficiency of administration
internal improvements, the tariff domestic taxa.
tion education, finance, and dother important sub
jects. will then receive their full share of atten-
ton; but resistance to- and notification of the re
suits of the war. will unite together in resolutt
purpose for their support all who maintain th
authority of the government and the perpetuity o
the Union and who adequately appreciate tn
value Of the victory achieved This determine
tiOn proceeds from no hostile sentiment or feein
70 any part of the people of our country, t.
any Of their interests. The invioabty of tn
amendments rest upon the fundamental pripci
pal of our government. They are the solemn eX
prcssson of the win of the people of the Unitct
states.
The sentiment that the constitutional rights o
all our citizens must be maintained does not grow
weaker. 1t Will continue to control the govern
ment Of the country. Happily the history of the
late election shows that in many parts of tn,
country where opposition to the fifteenth amend
ment has heretofore prevailed it is diminishing
and Is likely to cease altogether, if firm and we'll
considered action Is taken by congress. | trus
the house of representatives and the senate, whcl
have the right to judge of the elections, return
and qualifications of their own members will &c
to il that every case of violation of the letter 0
spirit of the fifteenth amendment is thorough,
investigated, and that no benefit from such viola
ton shall accrue to any person party. 1t vii
he the duty of the executive, with sufficient ap
preparations for the purpose, to prosecute unSpar
ingly all who have been engaged in deprym
citizens of the rights guaranteed to them by tn
constitution.
EDUCATION.
1t is not, however, to be forgotten that the bes
and surest guarantee of the primary rights o
citizenship is to be found in that capacity for self
protection which can belong only to people who's
right to universal suffrage is supported by uni
yerSal education. The means at the command O
the local and state authorities are in many cases
wholly inadequate to furnish free instruction t
all who need it. This is especially true where
before emancipation the education of the peopl
was neglected or prevented, in the interest 0
slavery. Firmly convinced that the subject O
popular education deserves the earnest attcntiO
of the people of the whole country, with view t
wise and comprehensive action by the govenmen
of the United States. | respectfully TecOmmen
that congress, by suitable legislation and wit
proper safeguards, supplement the local educa
tionul funds in the several states where the gray
duties and responsibilities of citizenship have bee
devolved on uneducated people, by devoting t
the purpose grants of the public lands and, if nee
eSsary, by appropriations from the treasury of th
United States Whatever government can fairl
do to promote free popular education ought to b
done. Wherever general education is found
peace, virtue and social order prevail
and civil and religious liberty are secure.
CIVIL SERVICE.
In my former annual message. I have aske
the attention Of congress to the urgent necessit
Of 4 reformation of the cvil-service system of tn
government. My views concerning the danger
partisan cons derationS, have been strengthene
by my observation and experience in the execu
tive office and | believe these dangers threate
the stability of the government Abuses so ser
ious in their nature cannot be permanently toler
ated. They tend to become more alarming wit
the enlargement Of administrative service, as tn
growth Of the country in population increases tn
number of officers and placemen employed.
The reasons are imperative for the adoption Q
fixed rules for the regulation of appointment;
promotions and removals. establishing n uniforT
method having exclusively in view, in every in
stance, the attainment of the best qualification
tor the position in question. Such method alon
il consistent with the equal rights of all citizens
aud the most economical and efficient administra
ton Of the public business.
COMPETITIVE examinations, in aid of impartial ap
pontmeuts and promotions, have been cOnducte
or some years past in several of the eXecutiv
departments and by my direction this system ha
pSen adopted in the Custom Houses and pos
NIlceS OF the larger cities of the country. In tn
city OF New \ orll vertwo thousand positions i
lhe tlNll service have been subject, in their az
PeihlMchts and tenure Of place; to the operatio
ol puohshed rules for this purpose, during tn
past two years. The results of these praetica
tnals nave been very satisfactory and have con
nrmed my opinion in favor of this system OF sc
lection. Ali are subjected to the same tests an
the result Is free from prejudice by personal favo
or partisan influence. 1t secures for the rositio
applied for the best qualifications attainabl
among the competing appliants 1t is an et
fectual protection from the pressure of impo,
tunity which under any other course pursued
largely exacts the time and attention of appoint
inc the officers to their great detriment in the di.
charge of other officials duties, preventing til
abuse of the service for the mere turtherance
private or party purposes, and leaving the en-
ploye of the government, freed from the oblig;
tions imposed by patronage, to depend solely NJ
on merit for retention and advancement, ana VII
this constant incentive to exertion and improv