The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-12-16
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

T. congratulate you on the continued ana IN
cfeasing prosperity Of our country. BY the
Efavor Of Divine Providence we have beeh
blessed. during the past year, with health, with
abundant harvests, with profitable employ
ment for all our people, and with contentment
at home, and with peace and friendship with
/ other NatiDhs.
| THE RECENT ELECTION.
The occuFTenoe OF the twenty fourth election
of Chief Magistrate has afforded another OPP
portunity to the people Of the United States
| 70 exhibit to tie world asignincant example of
the peaceful and safe Transmission Of the
power and authority Of government from the
public servants whose terms OF once are about
to expire to their newly-chosen successors.
This example cannot fail to impress, profound
| II, thoughtful people of other countries with
the advantages which republican institutions
afford. The immediate, general and cheer
| ful 7acquiescence Of all good citizens
| in the result of the election Kives
gratifying assurance to our country, and to
Its frtends throughout the world, that's Gov
eminent based on the free consent of an intel
ligent and patriotic people possesses elements
of strength, stability and permanency not
found in any other form of government.
Continued opposition to the full and free
enjoyment of the rights Of citizenship con-
ferred upon the .colored people BY the recent
|
In several Of the late slaveholding States. 1t
has. perhaps, not been manifested in the re-
| cent 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, re-
turning and canvasslng the votes cast, been
successful in defeating the tis.t exercise Of the
| suffrage, which the constitution expressly
confers upon our enfranchised citizens.
| SECTlONALIsM.
| It Is the desire of the good people of the
whole country that sectionalism as factor in
our politics should disappear. They prefer
no section of the country should be
section. The disposition to refuse a
prompt and hearty obedience nee To- the
complete Obliteration of sectional lines in our
political contests. AS long as either OF these
Rarded, It is safe TO assume that the people
who placed them in the Constitution. as en-
bodylng the legitimate results of the war Tor
and necessary; win continue to act together,
and to insist that they. shall be o6eyed.
The paramount question -, still is as
every the saSynen Citizen Sss
vote and to have it honestly counted. With
be relieved Of the contentious of the past:
bygones will indeed be bygones; and political
and party issues with respect to economy and
ments. the tariff. domestic taxation, ednca-
| ton, finance and other important subjects,
will then receive their full share of attention;
but resistance to and notification OF the re-
sultsof tine war will unite together in fesolute
purpose for their support all who maintain
the authority OF the Government and the per-
the Value Victory Tbs
determination proceeds from no hostile sem
timent or feeling to any part Of the people Of
70 Ct the rests
upon the fundamental principle of our Gov
| eminent. They are the solemn expression OF
the Will OF tine people OF the unfea States
The sentiment that the Constitutional
| rights of all our citizens must be maintained
the
| Happily, the history of the late election
shows that in many parts OF the country
o Is
ishiag, and is likely to cease altogether, IT
arm and wellconsidered action Is taken
and trust tie the sena aon which,
have the right TO judge of the elections, re-
turns and qualifications Of their own mem
70 81
ment is thoroughly investigated, and that no
benefit from such violation shall accrue to any
OF M pc tine duty OF the
| the purpose to prosecute unsparingly all who
| have been engaged in deprivng citizens of the
to them y the
| best and surest guarantee of the primary rights
of citizenship is to be found in that capacity for
self.protection which can belong only to a peo-
ported by universal education. The means
at the command of the local and State author
tiles are. in many cases, wholly Inadequate to
| furnish free instruction to all who need II.
| This is especially true where, before eman-
cipation, the education Of the people was
Neglected or prevented, in I'll. the interest Of
of popular education deserves the earnest
attention of the people of the whole country,
with view to wise and compromising action
| specially recommend that Congress, by suit
| able legislation and with proper safeguards,
supplement the local educational funds in the
several States where the grave duties and re-
| spOnsibiities of citizen ship have been devOlv-
ed on uneducated people, by devOting to the
purpose grants of the public lands. and, If
Of the United States. Whatever Government
can fairly do to promote free popular educa-
ton ought to be done, Wherever general
order prevail and civil and religious liberty
are secure.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
In my former annual messages 1have asked
| the attention of Congress to the urgent neces-
| sty of reformation of the CivilService sys-
| tenn of the Government. My views concern
for personal or partisan Considerations. have
been strengthened by my obser. alton and ex-
perience in the Executive Office, and believe
these dangers threaten the stability of the
Government. Abuses so serious In their ma
ture cannot be permanently tolerated. They
tend to become more alarming with the Gu
largement of administrative service as the
growth of the country in population increases
the number of officers and placemen en-
ployed. ~ lE.
of fixed rules for the regulation Of appoint
ments, promotions and removals. establishing
auniform method, having exclusively in view,
In every instance, the attainment of the best
qualifications for the position in question.
Such q method alone Is consistent with the
equal rights of all citizens, and the most eco
nomical and efiicient administration OF the
Competitive examinations, in aid of Impair
tial appointments and promotions, have been
and BY nv reo
tion this system has been adopted in the
custom-houses and pOst-oftices Of the larger
York over two thousand positions il, the Civil
Service have been subject. in their appOint-
ments and tenure of place. to the operation Of
past two years. The results # these practical
trials have been very satisfactory. and have
confirmed my opinion In favor Of this system
tests, and the result is free from prejudice by
personal favor o. partisan influence. 1t Sc
cures for the position applied for the best
sppiicsnts II Is am eee,aaI protection from
the pressure of importantly which, under any
other course pursued, largely exacts the
time and attention Of appointing Off
the discharge of other Official duties, prevent
ing the abuse of the service for the mere fur
therance of private or party purposes, and
leaving the emplOye of the Government,
freed from the obligations imposed by patron
age. TO depend solely upon merit for retention
and advancement, and. with this constant in
ccntive to exertion and improvement.
These Invaluable results haze been attained
in high degree in the Offices where the rules
for appointment by competitive examination
have been applied.
A method which has so approved itself by
experimental tests at points where such tests
may be fairly considered conclusive should
be extended to all subordinate positions UNI
der the Government. believe that q strong
and growing public sentiment demands imme-
date measures for securing and enforcing the
highest possible efficiency in the Civil Service,
and Ne profession from recognized abuses.
and that the experiences referred to has DEM
Onstrated the feasibility Of such measures.
The examinations in the custOm-hOuses and
pOst-0ffices have been held under many embar.
easements and without provision for compen-
sation for the extra labor performed by the Of
1lcers who have conducted them, aud whose
cOmmendable interest In the improvement Of
the public service has induced this devotion