The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-12-15
THE RIVER PR S S.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE EPIT.
OMIZED.


A Favorable Showing Of the Commercial
financial and General Condition of
the Country.
we give the following synopsis of the
Presidents message:
81 congratulate you on the continued an6
increasing
PROSPERITY OF OUR UNIT
BY the favor of Divine Providence we have
been blessed during the past year With health.
with abundant harvests, with profitable en-
ployinent tor all our people, and with con.
entmen at home and friendship with other
nations.
The last election was another instance OF
the peaceful transmission of power in this
country, and would impress people of other
countries with the advantages and perma.
nancy of Republican institutions. The right
of suffrage in the Southern States was not
yet assured to the colored populations, and
fraudulent practices in the manipulation of
OASCtAoAC WIZ SuCCCSSlU1 ILL uElCdtluR IIGG-
dom Of the ballot. Sectionalism was the re-
suit Of these practices, for so long as they
are continued, it must influence the finances
Of the constitutional amendments, and cause
them to act together. When the question of
equal rights shall be settled in the South the
country would be relieved of its contentious.
Resistance and notification of the results of
the war would unite all in q resolute purpose
for their support. He hoped that Congress
would see to it that every case of violation Of
the fifteenth amendment would receive its
condemnation.
The means at the command Of the local
and state authorities are, in many cases,
wholly inadequate to furnish free instruction
to all who need it. This is especial true
where, before emancipation, the education
of the people was neglected or prevented in
the interest Of slavery. The subject of popu-
lar education deserved the earnest attention of
the people Of the whole country. He recon-
mended that Congress should foster educa-
tional institutions bg land grants and treasury
subsidies. Wherever general education is
found, peace, virtue and social order prevail,
and civil and religious liberty are secure.
OWL sERvIoE.
His views of the dangers of patronage for
partisan considerations had been strengthened
and they threatened the stability of the
government. They were becoming more
alarming with the enlargement of the admin
istration service. Fixed rules, and the selec.
ton Of those best qualified ii is alone consistent
with the equal rights of citizens and the eff
Gent administration Of public business. The
result Of his system Of competitive examina-
tons, which had been conducted for several
years in some departments, was very s~atisfac-
tory. 1t was a protection from the pressure
of importantly, which largely exacts the time
of appointing officers. The service should
not be abused in the furtherance Of private or
party purposes. He recommended such
legislation as. while leaving every officer as
free as any other citizen to express his politi-
cal opinion and to use his means for their
should also enable him to feel
as safe as any private citizen in refusing all
demands upon his salary for political pur-
purposes.
The most serious obstacle, to an improve
ment Of the civil service and especially to
reform in the methods of appointments and
removals, has been what is known as the
spoils system by which the appointing power
been SO largely enroached upon by mem
Of Congress. The first step in the re-
form Of the civil service must be a complete
between Congress and the Executive
in the appointments. The corrupting doc
trine that ITO the victors belong the spoils,"
as inseparable from Congressional pat
as the established rule and practice Of
in power. The true principles of the
government on the subject of appointments
70 office, have again and again been approved
Of BY the American people, and have not
been called in question in any quarter. He
that an act be passed defining
the relations of members of Congress- with
respect to the appointments to Office by the
President, and also recommended that the
provisions of Section 1867 and the Sections
following, of the revised statutes, comprising
The tenure of Office act of March Cd, 1867, be
1t was the recognized duty and purpose Of
the people of the United States and States to
UPPREss PoLYGAM
where it now exists in our Territories and
prevent its extension. The longer action is
the more difficult it would be to ac-
cOmplish what is desired. The Mormon sect