The Hartford herald., 1880-08-11

IusliiS netueu APPROPRIATIONS, anu Dl
forcing an extra session of Congress
lasting for months, and resulting in con
cessiOns To this usurpating demand
which are likely i'm many States to sub
jeet the majority to the lawless will o
u minority.
OMINoUs SIGNS
OF public disapproval alone subdued
this arrogant power into sullen sur
render for the time being Of a part OI
its demands. The Republican party
has strongly approved the stern refusal
of its Representatives to- suffer the over
throw of statutes believed to be salutary
and just. Ii has always insisted, and
now insists that the Government of the
United States of America is empowered
and i'm duty bound to effectually protect
the elections denoted by the COnstitu-
ton rs national. More than this, the
Republican party holds. rs the cardinal
point i'm its creed, that the Government
should, by every means known to the
Constitution, protect all American citi-
zens everywhere in the full enjoyment
of their civil and political rights. As u
great part of its work of reconstruction
/ the Republican, party gave the ballot to
the emancipated slave as his right and
defense. n large increase in the num-
her Of members of Congress and of the
/ Electoral College from former slave
holding States, was the immediate IT.
suit. The history of recent years
abounds in evidence that i'm many
ways and i'm many places, especially
where their number has been great
enough to endanger Democratic con-
troll, the very men by whose elevation
to citizenship this increase of represen-
tation was effected, have been debarred
and robbed of their voice and their
vote. Ii is true that no State statute or
constitution in 81 many words denies
or abridges the exercise of their politi-
cal rights, but the modes employed To
bar their way are no less effectual. IL
il
SUGGESTIVE AND STARTLING THOUGHT
That increased power derived from the
enfranchisement of race now denied
its share in governing the country,
welded by those who lately sought the
overthrow of the Government, il now
the sole reliance to defeat the party
which represented the sovereignty and
nationality of our people i'm the greatest
crisis OF our history The Republicans
cherish none of the resentments which
may have animated them during the
actual conflict of arms; they long for
full and real reconciliation between the
sections. which were needlessly and la
mentally at strife; they sincerely offer
the hand of good will, but they ask in
return "A pledge of good faith. They
deeply feel that the party whose career
is so illustriOus in great and patriotic
achievement, will not fulfill its destiny
until peace and prosperity are establish
ed in all the land, nor until the liberty
of thought, conscience and action, and
the equality of opportunity, shall be not
merely cold formalities of "a statute, but
living birthrights which the humble
may confidently claim and the power
ful dare not deny.
THE CIVIL SERVICE
The resolution referring to the pub
lie service seems to me deserving of ap-
proval. Surely no man should be the
incumbent of an Office, the duties of
which he is for any cause unfit to per-
form, who is lacking i'm ability, fidelity |
or integrity, which proper administra-
tiOn of such office demands. This SEN
timent would doubtless meet with gem
eral acquiescence, but opinion has been
widely divided upon the wisdom and
of the various reformatory |
schemes which have been suggested, |
and of certain proposed regulations
appointments tn public Office.
The efficiency of such regulations has |
been distrusted mainly because
they have seemed to exalt mere educa-
tional and abstract tests above good /
business capacity and even special fit
Ness for particular work i'm hand. Ii
seems to me that rules which should he
applied to the management of public
service may properly conform, in the
main, to such as regulate the conduct
Of successful private business. Original
should be based upon as
certained fitness; the tenure of Office
should be stable; positions Of RESPONSE
bility should, 81 far a. practicable, he
filled by the promotion of worthy and
efficient officers. The investigation of
all complaints and punishment Of all
official misconduct should he prompt
and thorough. These views, which
have long held, repeatedly declared and
applied when called upon To
act, | find embodied i'm the resolution,
which of course | approve. / will add
that by the acceptance of public Office,
high or low, one does not i'm
my Judgement escape any of his rrspOn-
sibilities as a citizen, and that he should
enjoy absolute liberty to think and
speak and act i'm political matters ae-
,Ording To his own will and conscience,
provided only that he hOnorably, faith
'ully and fully discharges all his official
iuties.
THE RESUMPTION OF SPECIE PAYMENTS,
One of the fruits of the Republican
party, has brought return of abundant
and settlement of many
questions. The restoration
IF sound money, the large reduction of
,ur public debt, and of the burien of
the high advancement of the
public credit, all attest the ability and
courage of the Republican party to deal
with such financial problems as may
hereafter demand solution. Our paper
is now as good rs gold, and
silver is performing its legitimate func-
ion for purposes of change. The prin-
,iples which should govern the relations
IF these elements of currency are sim
Pile and clear; there must be no dete-
coin no dpDrpciafel Daper and