Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-12-16
The Presidents Message.

In the supplemen. to this issue our readers
will find the full text Of the message Of Prosi.
dent Hayes, submitted to the two Houses Of
Congresson the 9th instant. In general Its
recommendations are wise and conservative, aud
1t is to be regretted that few paragraphs,
which smack of stalwart republicanism, had
not been omitted. He admits 1t is the desire Of
tho good people of tho whole country that SEQ
tionalism as factor in our politics should dis
appear, and the samo section charges fraudu-
lent practices with tho ballots and in other
respects at tho late election, recommending, for
the enforcement Of The rights Of the blacks
under the constitutional amendments, tho active
prosecution of all offenders, and that Congress,
which is the sole Judge Of tho election returns and
qualification Of it's own members, ''will see to It
that every Of violation Of the letter spirit Of
the fifteenth amendment is thoroughly investi-
gated and that no benefit from suoh violation
shall accrue to any person or party"
His views on civil service reform arc highly
commendablo. Ile recommends tho adoption of
fixed rules for tho regulation Of appointments,
promotions and removals, basing tho claim to
Office upon tho qualification Of tho applicant, to
be ascerained by o system Of competitive ex-
mcnt to Office he recommends "such legislation,
as whilo leaving every officer as free as any
other citizen to express his political opinions
and TO use his means for their advancement
shall also enable him to feel as safo as any
private Citizen in refusing all demands upon his
salary for political purposes" These recon-
mendations are admirable and if the party in
power would practically enforce them, tho coun-
try would soon be in q better condition and on o
better understanding. They look we'll on papor
and breathe O spirit Of true patriotism, but
words and promises arc nothing unless carried
into execution.
The most commendable of MI the rccommen-
dations of the President is that relative to tho
Importance of public education as guarantee
Of good government, and tho consequent duty
Of the government to promote rs far as possible
FREQ popular education. After stating that tho
local and State authorities havo no adequate
means to furnish FREQ instruction to all who
need 1t, and especially in the South, whore such
large population have been lately emancipalcd
md clothed with the right Of suffrage in their
ignorance, he recommends ''that Congress- by
suitable legislation and with proper safeguards,
supplement the local educational funds in tho
several States, whore the grave duties and re-
sponsibilities Of citizenship have been dcvolved
on uneducated people, by dcvoting to the pur.
pose grants of phblio lands, and, if necessary,
py ns sGP % dav d dha
II would aid the South in what sho needs, re-
duoe crimc, improve her citizenship. and in Q
short while largely enhance her farming inte-
rests. A bill Of this kind has been before Con-
eress and during the present session Senator
burnside announced That he would COLL up the
bill at IN carly day. In this connection our
State Senate, on the lth instant, passed tho
following concurrent resolution:
Rcsolued by tho Senate, the House of Repro
sentatiycs concurring, That our Senators and
Representatives in Congress be, and they are
hereby, earnestly requested 10 use their intlu-
cnce and cndeavors for the passage of the bill
now pending before Congress entitled "a
bill to apply tho proceeds of public lands to the
education Of The people," commonly known q:
tho .Goodc Bill" and that the Secretary o.
State bo and ho is hereby, instructed TO forward
to our said Senators and Representatives certi'
fed copies Of this resolution.