Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-07-29
NEW YoRK, July Is, 1880.

subjected, sometimes despOiling great
cities, sometimes stifiing the voice of a
whole State, often seating not only in
Congress but on the bench, and in the
Legislatures numbers of men never
chosen by the people.
The Democratic party, since gaining
possession of the two houses of Con-
gress, has made these just laws the
object of bitter, ceaseless assault, and,
despite all resistance, has hedged them
with restrictions cunningly contrived
to battle and paralyze them. This ag-
gressive majority boldly attempted to
extort from the Executive his approval
of various enactments destructive of
these election laws by revolutionary
threats that constitutional exercise of
the veto power would be punished by
withholding appropriations necessary
to carry on the government. And
these threats were actually carried out
by refusing needed appropriations, and
by forcing an extra session of Congress,
lasting for months, and resulting in
concessions to this usurping demand
which are likely in many States to SUBJ
ject the majority to the lawless will of
minority. Ominous signs Of public
disapproval alone subdued this arrogant
power into sullen surrender for the
time being of part of its demands.
The Republican party has strongly
approved the stern refusal of its repre-
sentatives to suffer the overthrow Of
statutes believed to be sllutary and just,
1t has always insisted, and now insists,
that the government of the United
States of America is empowered and in
duty bound to eflectually protect the
elections denoted by the Constitution
as national, More than this. the Re-
publican party holds, as the cardinal
point In its creed, that the government
should, by every means known to the
Constitution, protect ali American
citizens, everywhere, in The full ell
jOyment of their civil. and political
rights. AS great part Of its work of
reconstruction, the Republican party
gave the ballot to the emancipateti
slave as his right and defense. A
large increase in the number of MEM
bers Of Congress and of the Electoral
College from the former slavehOlding
States was the immediate result. The
history of recent years abounds in
evidence that in many ways and in
many places, especially where their
has been great enough to en-
danger Democratic control, the very
men by whose elevation to citizenship
this increase of representation has been
have been debarred and robbed
of their voice and their vote. 1t is
true that no State statue or Constitution
in so many words denies or abridges
the exercise of their political rights,
but the modes employed to bar their
way are no less effectual. 1t Is sug-
gestive and startling thought that the
increased power derived from the en-
of race now denied
its share in governing the country,
welded by those who lately sought
overthrow of the government, Is now
the sole reliance to defeat the party
which represented the sovereignty and
nationality of the American people
in the greatest crisis of our history.
Republicans cherish none of the re-
sentiments which may have animated
them during the actual conflict of arms.
They long for full and real reconcilia-
ton between tile sections which were
and lamentably at strife.
They sincerely offer the hand of good
will, but they ask In return q pledge
Of good faith. They deeply feel that
party whose career Is so illustrious in
great and patriot achievements will not
fulfill its destiny until peace and pros
perity are established in all the land,
nor until liberty of thought, conscience,
and action, and equality of opportunity
shall be not merely the cold fOrmalities
Of statute, but living birthrights
which the humble may confidently
clam and the powerful dare not deny.
The resolution referring to the public
service seems to me deserving of ap-
prOval. Surely no man should be an
incumbent of an Office, the duties of
which he is for any cause unfit to per-
form; who is lacking in the ability,
fidelity, or integrity which proper
of such Office demands.
This sentiment would doubtless meet
with general acquiescence, but opinion
has been widely divided upon the wis
dom and practicability of various re-
schemes which have been
and of certain proposed
regulations governing the appointments
to public Office. The efficiency of such
has been distrusted, mainly
because they have seemed to exalt mere
and- abstract tests above
general business capacity, and even
special fitness for the particular work
In hand.
. 1t seems to me that the rules which
should be applied to the management of
the public service may properly con-
form, in the main, to such as regulate
the conduct of successful private busi-
ness. Original appointments should be
based upon ascertained fitness. The
tenure of Office should be stable. Posi-
tions of responsibility should, so far as
practicable, be filled by promotion of
worthy and efficient officers. The i'm
yestigation of all complaints and the
punishment of all official misconduct
should be prompt and thorough. These
views; which have long held, repeat
edly declared, and uniformly applied
when called upon to act, find em-
bodied in this resolution, which of
course, approve. l will add that by
the acceptance Of public Office, whether
high or low, one does not in my judg-
ment, escape any of his responsibilities
as citizen, and that he should enjoy
absolute liberties to think and speak,
and act in political matters according
to his own will and conscience, provid-
ed only that he honorably, faithfully,
and fully discharges ali his official
duties. isg. - sf 81
The resumption of specie payments,
one of the fruits Of the Republican
party, has brought 8. return of abund-
ant prosperity, and the settlement Of
manyJ distracting questions. The res
toration of sound money, the large re-