The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-12-18
Full Text CT the Document,
IS Delivered 10 Congress on Monday
December e,

# favor 81 Divine Providence we have been blessed.
4 uring tho past year, with health, with abund-
4 ant Earyest-, with profitable employment for All
+ orr people. ana with coutentmeut at home and
~ith peace and friendship With other nations.
i The occurrence Of the tweuty-fUuIth election
! Of Chief Magistrate has foried another Op-
pGtInItv I, the people OF the United States
+ to exhibit to the world a significant example
Of the peaceful and safe transmission Of tae
+ power and authority of Government from the
+ public servants whose terms of office are
about 10 expire. to their uewv-chUseu SUCCESS
ors. This example cannot fail to impress pro-
taundly thoughtful people Of other countries
with the advantages which republican m5tltu-
tons afford. The Immediate general and
cheerful acqUiescenCe of all good citizens III the
result Of the election gives gratifying assurance
+ 10 or country and to its friends throughout
the world that q Government based on the free
consent Of an Intelligent and patriotic people
Possesses elements Of strength, stability and
Permanently not found III any other form OF
Government.
Continued opposition to the full and free en-
luyment Of the rights OF citizenship, conferred
upon the cOlOred people by the recent amend
menta to the constitution. still prevails III
traI OF the late slaYG-hOldInG States. 1t has,
perhaps, not been manifested in the recent
election to any large extent in acts of violence
OF intimidation. 1t has, however, by fraudu-
lent practices in connection with the ballots.
with the regulations az 10 the place and manner
canvasslnG the votes cast, been successful in de-
featlng the exercise of the right pTeservatiye Of
all nights, the right of suffrage, which the con-
5tltutlOn expressly confers upon our enfran-
chised citizens
L Is the desire of the good people of the
whole country that sectIOnalIsm as a factor In
our politics should disappear They prefer
that no section of the country should be united
III solid opposition to any other section. The
disposition to refuse a prompt and hearty ODE
dlence to the equal-rights ameudmt nts 10 the
constitution Is all that now stands III the wav
OF q complete Obhtcratou of sectional lines in
our political contests. As long as either Of
these amendments is fagrantlv yio-
lated or disregardcd. it IL safe to assume
that the people who placed them in
the constitution, as embOdying the le-
Ultimate results of the war for the
Union, and who believe them to
be wise and nece sSary, will continue to act to-
Gether and to insist that they shall be 0bcyed
The paramount question still is as to the en-
jOyment Of the right hv every American citizen
who has the requisite qualification to freely cast
his yOt- and to have it honestly counted. With
this question rightly settled. the country will
be relieved OF the contentious Of the past bv-
cones will indeed be bvgOne8. and political and
party issues with respect to economy and eff
cheney OF administration, internal improve
ments, the tariff, domestic taxation, educa-
ton, finance and other important subjects
ton; but resistance to and notification Of
the results of the war Will unite together in res
olute purpose for their support all who main
tain the authority OF the Government and the
perpetuIty of the Union and who adequately
appreciate the value of the victory achieved.
This determination proceeds from no hostile
sentiment or feeling TO any part of the people
Of our country, or to any of their interests
The mvIolabilltv Of the amendments rests upon
the fundamental principles of our Government
They are the solemn expression of the VIII OF
the people of the United States.
The sentiment that the constitutional rights
of all our citizens must be maintained does not
grow weaker. 1t will continue to control the
Government of the country. Happily, the his
tory Of the late election elbows that IN many
parts Of the country where opposition to the
Fifteenth amendment has heretofore prevailed
it il diminishing, and is likely to cease al
together, if firm and well-cOnsldered ac-
ton IS taken by Congress- | trust the House
of Representatives and the Senate, which
have the right to judge of the elections. re-
turns and qualifications Of their own members
viii see to 1t that every case of violation of the
letter or spirit of the Fifteenth amendment Is
thoroughly investigated and that no seneft
fICm such violation shall accrue to any person
or party. 1t viii he the duty of the Executive,
with sufficient appropriations for the purpose,
to prosecute unspGrlugly all who have been en-
gagged in depriving citizens Of the rights guar
anteed them by the constitution.
1t is not. however. to be forgotten that the
best and suTes. guarantees Of the primary
rights Of citizenship Is to hc found in that ca
pacItv for sef-ITUt, CtUu which can ErOug only
10 a people whose right To univ ersal suffrage Is
supported by universal education. The meaus
at the command of the local ana State authori-
ties are. in many cases. wholly inadequate to
furnish free instruction to all who need it.
Ills is especially true where, before emancipa-
ton, the education Of the people was neglect
4
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. | respectfully recommend
that Congress- by suitable legislation and with
proper Safeguards. s0r"'"nent the local cdn-
catLonaI funds in the several States where the
grave duties and responsibilities of citizenship
have been devolved on uneducated people, Icy
devotlng to the purpose grants of the pubic
lands, and, If nee ssary. by appropriations
from the treasury of the United States. What
ever Government can fairly do 20 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.
In my former annual messages. have asked
the attention of Congress TO the urgent neces-
sty Of e reformation OF the civil service svs-
TEN Of the Government. Ny views concerning
the dangers of patronage, or appointments for
personal or partisan considerations haze been
strengthened by my observation and expert
sHct IN the Executive office, and believe these
dangers threaten the stability Of the Govern
ment. Abuses SO serious III their nature can
not be permanently tolerated. They tend TO
become more alarming with the enlargement Of
administrative service, the growth Of the
country in population increases the number Of
officers and plaCemen employed.
~ ~ a
Of fixed rules for the regulation of appoint
ments. promotions and removals. establishing
s uniform method, having exclusively in view
il every instance, the attainment of the best
qualifications for the position in question.
Such method alone Is consistent with the
equal rights of all citizens. and the most eco
nonlcal and efficient administration of the pub
dc business
Competitive examinations. in aid Of impartial
appointments and promotions, have been con-
Quoted for some wears past in several of the
Executive Departments. and by nv direction
this system has been adopted in the Custom
Houses and PostOfices Of the larger cities of
the country. In the city of New York over
two thousand positions in the civil service have
been subject, in their appointments and
tenure of place to the operation of pub
hshed rules for this purpose during the
past two years. The results Of these practical
TRIALS have been verv satisfactory. and have
confirmed my opinion in favor Of this system
Of selection. All are subjected to the same
tests. and the result Is free from prejudice by
personal favor or partisan influence. It Sc
cures for the position applied for the best
qualifications attainahle among the competing
applicants. II is an effectual protection from
the pressure of importantly, which. under
auv other course pursued, largely exacts