Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE


during the past year, with health. with abund-
ant harveStS, with profitable employment for
all our people and with contentmenJ at home,
ana with peace and friendship with other
nattOnS.
The occurrence OF the twenty fourth election
or Chief magistrate has afforded another oDpor-
tuhity TO the people of the United States TO ex-
hlbft 10 the world significant example OF the
peaceful and safe Transmission OF the power
and authority OF government from the puOliC
servants whose terms OF Office are about TO ex-
pre- TO their IeTly-chOSen SUCCESSORS This
example cannot fail TO impress profoundly
thoughtful people OF other countries with the
advantages which republican institutions af-
forG. The immediate, general and cheerful ac-
qu!escence CT all good citizens In the result OF
the election gives gratifying assurance to our
country. and TO Its friends throughout the
world. that government based on the free con-
Sent OF an inte ligent and patriotic people pos
seSses elements OF strength. stability and per
manency lot found in any other form 6 gov
eTnment
Continued opposition to the full and free en-
joyment OF the rights OF citizenship. conferred
upon the colOred people Ey the recent amend
mentS to the Constitution, still prevails In sew
eral OF the late slayeholdng states. It has, per
haps, not been manifested In the recent eiec-
tion TO any large extent In acts OF violence or
Intimidation. Ii has however by fraudulent
practices In connection with the ballots, with
the regulations as 10 the places and manner OF
voting, and with counting, returning and can
VasslBg the votes cast, been successful in de-
feaung the exercise OF The right pTeServative of
all rights the right OF suffrage, which the Con-
stitutiOn expressly c0nrers upon our enfran-
ChiSed citizens.
tits the desire of the good people Of the whole
country that sectiOnalSm as factor In our
politics should disappear. They prefer that no
section OF the country should be united Ia solid
opposition TO any other section. The dispoSt-
tlon TO refuse prompt aud hearty 0oadi ence
10 the equal-Iights amendments to the ConSti-
tutlon, Is al that now stands in the way or
complete oDllteratiOn OF sectional lines in our
political contests AS long as either of these
amendments is flagrantly violated or di5re-
garded. 1t is safe to assume that the people who
placed them i'll the Constitution as eTnbndvIncr
the legitimate results OF the war for the MON
ard who believe them 10 be wise and necessary
VIII continue 10 act together and to insist that
Ilsy shall De oOe5ed. The paramount question
sun Is. as 10 the enjoyment or The right by
every American citizen who has the re1ulstp
qualification, to freely cast his vote and to have
IL honestly counted With thi5 question rightly
Settltc, the country will be relieved OF the con-
teHtiCnS OF the past; bySoLe5 viii indeed be by
genes; and political and party issues with re-
spect TO economy and efficiency OF administra-
tiCn- internal improvements, the tariff domas-
tic taxation. education, finance and other i'm
poriant subjects, Will then receive their full
share OF attention: but resistance to and NULL
ncation OF the results or the war, win unite to.
gether III TeSoluje purpose for their support all
who maintain the authority OF the government
and The perpetuity OF the union, and who ade-
quately appreciate the value OF the yictt ry
achieved This determination proceeds from no
hostile sentiment or feeling to any part OF the
people or cur country, or TO any OF their inter-
rests upon the fundamental principle of our
government. They are the solemn expression
OF the will 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 viii continue to control the
government OF the country. Happily the his
tory OF the late election shows that in many
parts OF the country where opposition to the
hfteentn amendment has heretofore prevailed
II is diminishing. and is likely to cease alto
gether, II firm ard well-cons1dered action Is
nv nT
TeSentatiyeS and the Senate. which have the
right to Judge or the elections returns and
qu4h1cations OF their Own members, Will see TO
spirit OF the fifteenth amendment is Thoroughly
investigated, and that no benefit from such
violation shall accrue TO any person or party
IL wiz 0e the duty OF the Executive. with SUI
nclent appropriations for the purpose, TO pros
ecute unsparlngly all who have been engaged
in depriving citizens OF the rights guaranteed
10 them by the constitution.
1t Is not. however, TO be forgotten that the
pest and sufeSt guarantee OF the primary rights
or !JZeEship Is TO be found ii that caDacity
for stIl-protecIi0n which can belong OnIT 10 Il
people whose right to universal suffrage IS sup.
ported by universal education. The means al
the command or the local aid state authorities
are in MANY cases, wholly inadequate 10 fur
ni,h free instruction TO ali who Deed it, This is
especially true where. before emancipation The
C0ucattOn OF the people was neglected or pre-
vented, In the interest OF slavery. Firmly con-
Eiuced that the subject OF popular education
deserves the earnest attention OF the people OF
the whole country With q view TO wise and
comprehensive action by the government OF
the United States, / respectfully recommend
that Congress, by suitable legislation and with
proper safeguards, supplement the local educa-
t1onal FUNDS In The several states where the
grave duties and responsibilities OF citizenship
have been deV0lyed on uneducated people, by
deyOting 10 the purpose grants or the public
lanOS, and, II necessary, by appropriations from
the Treasury OF the United States. Whatever
government can Talfly DO TO promote free pop
ular education ought 10 be done Wherever
general Education Is found, peace, virtue and
social order prevail. and civil and religious lib
erty are secure.
In my former annual messages, | have asked
the attention CT Congress the urgent necessity
or reformation Of The civil service system OF the
government. Ny views concerning the dangers
OF patronage. or appointments Tor personal or
partisan considerations, have been strengthened
bJ my observation and experience In the Ex-
threaten the stability Of the government
Abuses SO serious In their nature cannot be per
manently tolerated They tend to become
more alarming with the enhancement of 8d.
Try In population Increases the number OF oil
GERS and placemen employed.
The reasons are imperative for the adoption
or fixed rules for the regulation or appoint
mems, promotions and removals. establishing
UNIFORM method having exclusively In view
In every Instance, the attainment or the best
Quanncatl0nS for the position in question. Such
method alone IS consistent with the equal
night OF all citizens. and the most economical
anu tIicleIt administration OF the public bu5!-
ness.
Competitive examinations in aid OF impartial
appointments and promotions. have been con-
Quoted Tor some years past In several OF the ey-
CCutiVe departments, and by Iny direction this
Sy stem has been adopted "a the custom houses
anG post Offices or the larger cities OF the coun-
try. Ia the City or New York over two thousand
positions In the civil service have been subject
In their appointments ana tenure OF place TO
the operation OF published rules for this puT-
pose, during the past two years. The results OF
theSe practical trials have been very Satisfac.
t0iy, anu nave confirmed my opinion fn favor OF
.LlS :! stem OF selection. All are subjected 70
tne Siine IeS 3, ana the result is free from nra.
IUuice Dy personal IavOT or partisan Influence
II secures lol the position applied for the best
qudilICdllOEs dttanable among the Conneffny
dppnCdi.IS. III IS an effectuai protection from
s@he @ pressure OF importantly which under any
0tHeI course pursued, largely exactS the time
anu aIlehllon or appointing officers TO their
5ieal uelrlncnt IN the discharge or other official
uIuSSar preventing The abuse or The service for
lnc H4el Z i1Ilherance Of private or party mr.
poses, anu leANing the employe OF the govern
ment, Fted from the obligations tTnn0Sad b,,
p tToT age, 70 depend solely upon merit for rS s
Tel ton AID advancement and with tbts .on
slant incentive TO eXeTtloI and iInprova,nort IN
These invaluable results have been aItaina5
In high degree In the Offices where the rmIa,
for appointment by competitive examinatton
have been applied
A method which has so approved ftsaIf hy
experimental tests at points where such teSis
may fairly be considered conclusive should he
extended TO all subordinate positions under he